Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Almukdad.
Ali, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ali Almukdad – My Journey Through Purpose
My name is Ali Almukdad. I’m a 25-year-old entrepreneur based in Northeast Ohio, specializing in vehicle customization. From personal vehicles to business fleets, every project I take on is designed to be as unique as the client behind it.
My journey started at 16, working part-time alongside my father whenever I wasn’t in school or playing sports. Back then, I had no idea what I wanted out of life. Like many others, I followed the traditional path and enrolled in college. After three years and a handful of corporate entry-level jobs, I found myself feeling more lost and miserable than ever. Things hit rock bottom when I was let go from Amazon during the COVID pandemic. I felt completely directionless.
I returned to work with my father, thinking it would give me another chance to try something different. But after only four weeks, he fired me too. That was my wake-up call.
My father is a firm believer in letting people learn how to “swim” on their own. He told me I could use his equipment, but he would no longer pay me. I was 21. No income, no clients, no sales skills—just hunger. With nothing to lose, I turned to the only tool I had: social media. Within a week, I landed my first client. It was a major project, and I wasn’t ready. My father, both proud and frustrated, helped guide me through it. That one job sparked a hunger in me I had never felt before.
But it wasn’t a smooth ride. I struggled to find consistent work. Eventually, I partnered with my brother—a master technician in the electric vehicle industry. He taught me how cars work, how to take them apart, rebuild them, and understand their mechanics inside and out. That opened my eyes. My creativity had a purpose now.
By February 22, 2022, at age 22, I officially launched CustomsByAli LLC, a vehicle customization workshop offering car wraps, repairs, signage, decals, paintwork, and custom artwork. It felt like my life was finally coming together—until it wasn’t.
Just one month after opening, I discovered a golf-ball-sized lump in my neck. I was diagnosed with stage 3 aggressive B-cell lymphoma. I was terrified. Two days later, I got into a five-car pile-up that totaled my vehicle. I felt like life was testing me beyond my limits. The saying “when it rains, it pours” had never felt so real.
Despite undergoing intense treatment and battling exhaustion, I continued working part-time at the shop. My schedule was brutal—rest and recover one week, work the next. For eight straight months, I pushed through chemo, radiation, and the mental toll it took. I lost my hair, my strength, my sense of self—but I held on. What kept me going was my family’s support and the belief that there was still more for me to do.
I met incredible people during that time. Their encouragement and wisdom gave me strength. I started to believe that my pain had purpose. I began to see that I wasn’t just meant to survive—I was meant to lead, to inspire, and to create.
When I finally completed treatment, I realized the hunger that once drove me was gone—but not because I lost it. It had evolved into something greater: purpose. And with that came authenticity. I poured that energy into my work, my relationships, and my mission.
In the last three years, I’ve kept my head down, learning everything I could about my industry. Today, CustomsByAli is one of the highest-rated vehicle wrap and customization shops in Northeast Ohio, serving hundreds of clients and attracting work from across the U.S. Our work has gone viral on social media, but the real win is the impact we’ve made in people’s lives.
Through every high and every low, I’ve grown into a better man, brother, son, and leader. I live with love in my heart and a commitment to helping others find the one thing that saved me: purpose.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never a smooth road. There are hills and there are mountains that you have to go up. Regardless of the sight of vision always believe your going on the better pathway.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known for my storyline. I am also known for my passion in my industry of vehicle wraps, doing 1 of 1 artwork projects. I am most proud that I have what I feel won in life by staying true to my word and self. What separates me from others Is the fact that I refuse to give up on what I have envisioned, and I will not let anyone get between me and what I believe I deserve.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people I work with do not know I am a cancer survivor. As I do not lead with an example of this information I allow my ability of humility and energy to do the talking for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.customsbyali.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/customsbyali/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/customsbyAli/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@customsbyali
