Manufacturing Talks

Melissa Martin has a whole lot to tell you about what we all need to be doing to rebuild our nation's pipeline of skilled workers. She has not just one, but TWO jobs where she does her part for all that. She's Director of Marketing at LAB Midwest, a distributor for the whole upper Midwest of training curricula and equipment for the workplace and for STEM materials for schools. And she's the producer of the TechEd Podcast, where she helps bridge the gap between the technical education world and the workforce. So she's a true expert in this stuff. Tune in to our Episode 33 and hear her share what schools, businesses, and students should be doing to build the manufacturing workforce we need for the future. This episode aired originally on YouTube on January 17, 2023.

Gabe Draper is a self-proclaimed failed machine shop owner. Now he's in another business to help manufacturers avoid the mistakes he made. He joined us for Episode 34 to tell us all about it. He's co-founder of Factur, his company that hunts customers... for their customers. They're all about lead generation, using their specialized tech and tools to generate high-quality sales. Tune in and hear Gabe talk about how you can diversify your customer base and make your business more robust. Plus he shares some amazing news about his family, and he and I compare notes about bicycling. What's not to love? Check out the whole thing! This episode aired originally on YouTube on February 7, 2023.

One thing it's pretty common for manufacturers to miss the mark on is marketing. Especially today, when just about everything marketing-related is changing so fast, though, it's a critically important topic. So it was a treat for our Episode 29 to host Aaron Marks, who founded Aspire Marketing Group because of the opportunities he saw in this particular vein. Aaron has nearly two decades of marketing leadership expertise, focused on digital and inbound marketing. His specific focus has helped manufacturers and distributors deliver marketing success. His mission is always to construct, manage, and implement strategies that deliver value to both his clients and their customers. Tune in and hear all about it! This episode aired originally on YouTube on November 15, 2022.

It's all too common in manufacturing circles to hear about the operations improvement projects that didn't pan out, the Lean transformation that sputtered, or the cultural reset that never got off the ground. Making sure those kinds of failures don't happen is Dan Burgos's stock in trade. It was lots of fun chatting with him for Episode 31 and hearing his thoughts on what both leaders and front-line workers need to do to make these efforts successful, how to identify a bad employee fit before bigger problems arise, and how to successfully transform your company culture. Tune in and check out the whole thing! And please like, share, and subscribe. And if you're thinking that it's time to go to work on your own culture, you can get a head-start by using Dan's nifty self-assessment tool: https://alphanovaconsulting.com/business-self-assessment-forms/ This episode aired originally on YouTube on Dec. 20, 2022.

Neil Friedman has done a lot of cool things in his time, but maybe the coolest yet is his company's still fairly new product, the circul+ fitness ring. It's got so much going for it: it's unobtrusive, it works for general condition monitoring, exercise, sleep monitoring and improvement, and even help with treating Long Covid. Plus it doesn't have the skin pigmentation glitches that watches do. He joined us for Episode 30 to give us all the details. It's so cool I wrote about it for Forbes! (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2021/12/22/is-the-prevention-circul-wellness-ring-the-future-of-wearable-health-monitors/). Now you can hear all about it straight from Neil. PS - Marilyn Monroe is in there on purpose. Check out the whole thing! This episode aired originally on YouTube on December 6, 2022.

Tech Ed teacher Craig Cegielski of the Eleva-Strum School District in Wisconsin wasn't satisfied just doing the usual stuff when it came to teaching his students the craft and the business of machining. So he came up with an idea: make an actual business out of his upper-level students' work! That's where Cardinal Manufacturing got its start, and now it's a functioning business that teaches not just machining, but other business skills like accounting, marketing, and fundamentals like how to dress, how to shake a client's hand, and how to address people in a business setting. Craig joins us for Episode 26 to tell us all about it. Now Craig wants to see the idea spread all across the US, so he's also become an advocate and a speaker encouraging other school districts to follow his lead. It's an absolutely amazing story, and one that's much-needed in today's manufacturing world, where we not only don't have enough skilled trades workers - we don't have enough work candidates, period! Tune in and check out the whole thing. This episode aired originally on YouTube on October 4, 2022.

Mark O'Brien and I have known each other for a few years, and I've always admired his writing. But when I read his piece entitled, "Give It a Shot," (https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/give-it-a-shot/) I knew I had to have him on here to chat about it. That's why he joined us for Episode 27! "I don’t think we’re quitters. I think we don’t try." That's one of the many memorable lines. The article hit home for me in many ways, some good and some bad. Go read the piece, and give our chat a listen. This episode aired originally on YouTube on October 18, 2022.

Jake heads up one of the business units for The Manthei Group, which is one of the most inspiring family business stories I've ever come across. Five generations ago, a couple of German immigrants came over, settled in what's now a popular resort area in northern Lower Michigan, and began farming. After many fits and starts, and lots of amazing business decisions, their family runs a business that literally spans the globe. And it's all still headquartered right up there in little Petoskey, Michigan (and Jake's dad Ben still lives in the old family farmhouse!) They create everything from plywood to innovative retaining wall "stones." Jake joined us for Episode 28 to share the details. Tune in to hear the whole amazing story. This episode aired originally on YouTube on November 1, 2022.

There was a whole collection of characteristics Nikke Gonzales has that made me want to interview her here on Manufacturing Talks: to highlight just a few, she's an expert in automation for industry and supply chain; she takes on seemingly way too much in her life, just like I do; she brings fresh new perspectives to the sometimes stodgy old "make it" and "move it" worlds; and she immigrated to the U.S.A. from Iceland, which was one of my favorite places I've ever visited! She offered a whole bunch of great thoughts in our discussion. Tune in and listen to the whole thing! This episode aired originally on YouTube on August 23, 2022.

Jason Ray - a former machine shop owner himself - saw an opportunity with the antiquated processes machine shops used to quote their jobs. So he and a friend founded Paperless Parts to help shop owners bring how they do things into the 21st century. He joined us for Episode 24 to tell us all about it. In addition to being a guru on that, Jason is also a wealth of knowledge on the general topic of how to win in today's competitive manufacturing environment. And he should know - since I talked to him a few years ago for the Forbes article I did on Paperless Parts, he's grown his business substantially. Tune in to hear his story, the story of Paperless Parts, and the tips on how you can do business better. This episode aired originally on YouTube on September 6, 2022.

Manufacturers in particular, but really any business in general, can learn a lot from Dave Yonkman! He's the President of his own PR firm, DYS Media, LLC, and he's got a wealth of experience on what works to attract and keep great customers, and how to grow your business. He joined us for Episode 25 to share his thoughts. Here's a preview of our superb chat: make your customers, not you, the heroes in their "stories"! Dave shares a whole lot more excellent ideas - tune in and check out the whole thing. This episode aired originally on YouTube on September 20, 2022.

My pals all over the manufacturing world do amazing things. But let's face it: a lot of us were never educated in running a business. So I took advantage of the opportunity to have my friend Chris Panagiotu on the show to give us all some education. Chris is the owner of CAPitalize Your Finances, LLC. He's a wealth adviser and a certified financial planner. He hosts his own podcast, aptly named the CAPitalize Your Finances Podcast, and he also has a book coming out soon! And he's a heckuva great guy, too. He delivered some really great advice on a few key things those of us in manufacturing should be thinking about and doing. Listen to the whole thing - it'll be well worth your time! This episode aired originally on YouTube on June 7. 2022.

When the American flag they'd received as a wedding present quickly became worn and tattered, Katie and Wes Lyon went looking for something much better, and preferably made in the USA. They couldn't find it, though, so instead they teamed up with their friend Max Berry and founded Allegiance Flag Supply to make their own. After some fits and starts, they found the business model that works, and they not only survived but thrived through the pandemic. Katie visits the "Wall of Metal" for Episode 19 to tell us how they did it. Tune in for the whole thing, and like it and subscribe to hear more great manufacturing stories! This episode aired originally on YouTube on June 21, 2022.

Titan Abrasive Systems started nearly 70 years ago, originally based in the founder's backyard shed, focused on equipment for sandblasting, surface preparation, and surface finishing. For our 20th episode, their President, Brandon Acker, joined me to tell how the company, based just north of Philadelphia, continues today to make high-quality blast room equipment, blast cabinets, dust collectors, and portable blast systems. Plus he educated me about the latest blast media and new applications for blast equipment, along with his own new manufacturing technologies that continue to make Titan one of the highest-quality providers out there. Tune in for a great Episode 20, a learning experience on a piece of the manufacturing world we all take way too much for granted! This episode aired originally on YouTube on July 5, 2022.

Some years ago she had left her engineering career in corporate America to be a stay-at-home mom. But then her father-in-law came calling; he needed her to sort out the finances at his company, Onex, Inc., in Erie, Pennsylvania which is both a product and service outfit for refractory materials and systems for the steel industry and others. Unfortunately, things were a mess, but Ashleigh buckled down and enlisted the frontline workers to help right the ship. She felt so good about the new direction, when the opportunity came along, she and her husband bought the company. Then they decided that it was only right that all those workers share more fully in Onex's success. So Ashleigh did some studying and set things up to convert the company to employee ownership. Then she took a long rest. Nah. just kidding! Actually, she set out to write a book to share her experiences in saving the firm and having her good folks get a part in its ownership. *Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey of Organizational Culture Change* came out in 2020. Tune in to Episode 21 and hear all about all of the above! This episode aired originally on YouTube on July 19, 2022.

I always love it here on Manufacturing Talks when I get to explore a business that's tied to one of my personal interests. As a lifelong bicyclist, then, it was an absolute pleasure getting to chat with Shane Cooper, President and Chief Sockologist of DeFeet International, producer high-quality American-made cycling socks and other apparel. Shane had so much to share - about establishing a business to solve a real problem, about catching the attention of the pro cycling world, and about coming back from setbacks that could have destroyed lots of entrepreneurs. He has a great story. Tune in to Episode 22 and catch the whole thing! This episode aired originally on YouTube on August 2, 2022.

Way up in Houghton, Michigan, there's a little company that's making nearby Michigan Tech University a new destination for space technology. Brad King, who helped found Orbion Space Technologies, picked the location because of the exceptional technical talent the school generates. (And the staggering natural beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula doesn't hurt either.) Tune in to our Episode 17 and listen to the whole story! This episode aired originally on YouTube on May 17, 2022.

Dianna Huff is one of my favorite industrial advocates out there, since we share a passion for American manufacturing (though I will say she beats me big time on actually buying American!) She's had some great experiences in writing about manufacturing and helping producers market their goods in today's digital world. And along the way she's found ways to buy almost everything she uses only if it's made the USA. She recently launched a blog about that, so she's also Publisher of Keep It Made USA, where she helps consumers follow her lead. So it was marvelous to have her on for our Episode 15! Tune and get the whole story straight from Dianna! If you like this, please share, like, and subscribe! This episode aired originally on YouTube on Apr. 19, 2022.

Eric Girouard grew up doing blue-collar work, went to college and learned about business, then worked in the fashion world. But his hometown friends who went into the trades begged him to launch a workwear company to get them the gear they needed. So he did. His friends were right about there being a big market for that. It's been going gangbusters ever since with BRUNT's boots, coveralls, and more. Tune in to our Episode 14 and hear all about it. And subscribe to hear more cool stories like Eric's! This episode aired originally on YouTube on Mar. 29, 2022.

A lot of you probably know about KA-BAR because of their iconic US Marine Corps fighting knife. But the company's history goes a lot farther back than WWII. It's a fascinating story, and today KA-BAR is making some outstanding products (do check out the tactical spork!) CEO John Stitt and Director of Sales and Marketing Joe Bradley joined me to tell me all about it. They're a couple of great guys, and we had a fabulous chat. Do check out the whole thing! This episode aired originally on YouTube on May 3, 2022.

Here's an educational Episode 13 for our manufacturing audience. Aimee Ridella, in her previous job with Weber Shandwick, was the best PR partner I had in helping me find great stories for some of my earliest Forbes articles. Now doing internal communications work at DTE Energy (note: she has since changed jobs again and is working in the autonomous transport arm of General Motors now), she came on to help teach us what people in manufacturing should be thinking about when it comes to PR, and how they might get help in getting their names out there and in putting the best image forward for their companies. It was an absolute treat getting this chance to connect with Aimee again, and to hear her excellent advice from her own experiences. Tune in and catch the whole thing - it'll be worth it! This episode aired originally on YouTube on Mar. 15, 2022.

For our Episode, 11, Mike Kinder tells about his very different staffing company for manufacturing. Back before the pandemic, Mike co-founded his company, Veryable, which introduced an app and other innovations to provide on-demand labor for manufacturing and supply chain companies looking for better way to right-size their workforces. Then came Covid, and what Mike says was a deliberate attack on small business that's hit manufacturers particularly hard. Tune in and hear all about it, and learn what you can do to help yourself in these difficult times for staffing and for keeping your business healthy. This episode aired originally on YouTube on Feb. 15, 2022.

The lumber commodities market can be tough to negotiate, especially for smaller companies. Getting price transparency for buyers and dealing with credit risks for sellers were always a problem, even before today's crazy marketplace conditions. So for Episode 12, Mike Wisnefski joins us to talk about the brand new trading platform he launched to fix things. Mike had been trading lumber since the 1990s, and back in 2009 he saw an opportunity when the CME Group started trading lumber futures on its Globex system. That transition to digital trading eventually led him to help found MaterialsXchange, which digitized the trading of physical lumber. That's made it a heckuva lot easier for the small guys to get what they need, when they need it. Tune in and listen to Mike tell us all about it! This episode aired originally on YouTube on Mar. 1, 2022.

Back in the mid-1970s, a guy named Michael John Stevenson got fed up with labels not sticking to plastic. So he came up with a solution: make the graphics part of the plastic itself! So were born Mold In Graphic Systems (MIGS) and Polyfuze, the companies Stevenson founded to sell his labeling solutions. Now Jason Brownell works with customers on those very same solutions, while also making sure everything at MIGS-Polyfuze is working right. It was a treat to hear him describe their work! Tune in and hear all about it. This episode aired originally on YouTube on Jan. 18, 2022.

This is one whale of a story, about how Chip Barletto, whose day job is scrapping old steel mills in the Pittsburgh area, got wind of a warehouse full of old wooden steel-casting patterns. He corraled his industrial artist buddy Cory Bonnet and off they went to collect what they expected would be a small trove of the antique patterns. Instead they had floors and floors full of them. Tune in to Episode 10 and learn how fate intervened and led to an amazing permanent exhibit and traveling art show highlighting the industrial might of our old steel factories, and the care and craftsmanship of the guys who worked in them. This episode aired originally on YouTube on Feb. 1, 2022.