Talking Industrial Automation

In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, host Lisa Richter sits down with Joe Mazzola, General Manager of McEnery Automation, to unpack his journey from co-op student to company leader. Joe shares how McHenry has grown from a two-person startup to a 30-person team, fueled by long-term customer relationships, CSIA certification, and a culture of engineering excellence. From process automation innovations in brewing and consumer goods to navigating workforce transitions and integrating ERP systems, Joe offers grounded insights on scaling with integrity, embracing flexibility, and building solutions that last. P.S. The Show is always looking for guests! You do need to be part of a company that is a CSIA member with a Gold profile or higher on the CSIA Industrial Exchange but other than that, you are welcome to join this show. Contact Lisa Richter if you are interested. (Linkedin here)

In this special crossover episode of Talking Industrial Automation, host Lisa Richter shares a conversation from Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, featuring outgoing CSIA CEO Jose Rivera. As he prepares to step down after 10 transformative years, Jose looks back on the challenges and triumphs that shaped the Control System Integrators Association—from navigating the pandemic and launching remote certifications to championing emerging leaders and expanding globally. Listeners will gain insights into how CSIA evolved to meet the needs of a new generation of system integrators and why the upcoming Learning Hub could redefine professional development in automation. If you're interested in leadership transitions, association strategy, or the future of industrial integration, this episode delivers thoughtful reflections and a hopeful look ahead. P.S. The Show is always looking for guests! You do need to be part of a company that is a CSIA member with a Gold profile or higher on the CSIA Industrial Exchange but other than that, you are welcome to join this show. Contact Lisa Richter if you are interested. (Linkedin here)

In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, host Lisa Richter sits down with Brian Doyle, CEO of Holden Advisors, to explore how B2B companies—especially in manufacturing and industrial sectors—can unlock growth through value-based pricing. Brian shares insights on navigating market uncertainty, communicating across generational teams, and tackling challenges like tariffs and inflation with pricing strategies that stick. Key Takeaways: Why value-based pricing outperforms cost-plus models How to assess your company's pricing power Common pricing pitfalls during market disruptions The importance of segmenting customers by price sensitivity Tips for sales teams to defend pricing and reduce unnecessary discounting Tune in to learn how pricing can become your company's most powerful growth lever. P.S. The Show is always looking for guests! You do need to be part of a company that is a CSIA member with a Gold profile or higher on the CSIA Industrial Exchange but other than that, you are welcome to join this show. Contact Lisa Richter if you are interested. (Linkedin here)

In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Matt Wise, CEO of E Tech Group as we explore how E Tech Group became a powerhouse in system integration, earning accolades like the 2025 System Integrator of the Year award.  Discover Matt's unique journey from marketing to leading over 600 employees across North America and how his diverse background shapes innovative strategies for tackling industry challenges. Key Takeaways: - Learn about E Tech Group's evolution through strategic acquisitions and its impact on scaling operations. - Understand the complexities faced by clients in automation and how E Tech Group provides tailored solutions. - Gain insights into industry trends, including labor shortages and technological advancements like AI. P.S. The SHow is always looking for guests! You do need to be part of a company that is a CSIA member with a Gold profile or higher on the CSIA Industrial Exchange but other than that, you are welcome to join this show. Contact Lisa Richter if you are interested. (You can finder on on Linkedin here)

In this encore presentation of one of the most listened episodes of Talking Industrial Automation,  Jim Biehl reveals why some businesses thrive and others flame out, based on his decades of experience. Plus, he discusses the No. 1 inhibitor to business growth. Hint: It's not what you think. Register for the CSIA 2025 Conference HERE  

In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Cole Wangsness, who is a Solution Architect at OnLogic.  Since joining the team in 2018, Cole has focused on empowering companies to solve complex technology challenges at the edge -- encompassing both software and hardware -- by leveraging OnLogic's industrial computing solutions and its robust partner ecosystem.  Through his work with customers, partners, vendors and the team at OnLogic, Cole gets to feed his passion for making complex technologies -- such as AI at the Edge & Device Orchestration --  easier to understand and deploy. Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. P.S. The show is always looking for guests! You do need to be part of a company that is a CSIA member with a Gold profile or higher on the CSIA Industrial Exchange but other than that, you are welcome to join ths show. Contact Lisa Richter if you are interested. (You can find her on LinkedIn.)

In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Kyle Ka - roo, who is an Enablement Manager for the Kepware team at PTC. Kyle is the “go-to” technical and commercial resource For Kepware's technology partners, international distributors, and North American resellers, Kyle Carreau is a go-to technical and commerical resource. In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, you'll hear how he uses his decades of experience in Industrial automation -- a heavy focus on Industrial Networking and communications, SCADA/HMI software, and PLCs -- to excel in his role as enablement manager. P.S. The show is always looking for guests! You do need to be part of a company that is a CSIA member with a Gold profile or higher on the CSIA Industrial Exchange but other than that, you are welcome to join ths show. Contact Lisa Richter if you are interested. (You can find her on LinkedIn.)

In this episode, you'll hear from Jim Gillespie, who is the co-founder and chief growth officer of GrayMatter, a leading OT-focused company that provides consulting, services, and curated technology to transform operations and empower people.  Since its inception, GrayMatter has grown to over 290 team members and over $80M in revenue.  Along the way, it also completed 5 acquisitions and achieved national and international recognition. Listen to find how how and why Jim has grown this company to the size it is today.

This episode is a special one –  content from a recent CSIA members-only presentation – a Virtual Keynote Address by Alex Chaukosky, who is director of analytics and consulting for the Bundy Group. But that title really does not give you the full picture because he is also a super whiz when it comes to taking economic and labor data and making it understandable, non-partisan, fact based – and more importantly, actionable. The catch is that this is only a portion of his full presentation and only audio – CSIA members can access the full presentiaotn, including video and slides, at www.controlsys.org/virtual-keynotes. But, it still includes plenty of interesting insights that will help you make good personal and business decisions.  

In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, Kacie Chitwood, an account executive at Miller Resource Group, shares her insights into the job market for controls engineers. Some tidbits: The surprising salary jumps controls engineers can expect in their first five years Creative perks companies are using to attract top talent beyond just salary Why the "skills gap" is a major challenge and how companies are addressing it Tips for candidates on standing out in the job market and negotiating offers The future outlook for industrial automation careers and why it's so promising Whether you're a job seeker looking to advance your career, an employer trying to attract and retain talent, or simply curious about the state of the industry, this episode is packed with actionable advice and insider knowledge.   

Andrew Harris shares his journey from participating in a high school robotics program to leading business development and engineering initiatives at ACS. You'll also hear about ACS's evolution from a spinoff architectural firm to a leader in industrial automation across various industries, as well as the company's holistic approach to project integration, the importance of customer satisfaction, and the challenges and trends in the automation industry. 

The airwaves are blowing up with the potential of AI in industrial automation -- but is it all talk? Not at all, says Bryan DeBois, DIrector of AI at RoviSys, a system integration founded in 1989. In fact, Autonomous AI is solving unsolvable problems right now -- including the brain drain and labor shortage  --  that are plaquing manufacturing throughout the US. FInd out how in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

 From an entry-level job at a sewage plant (spoiler, it's as bad as you think) to writing a science fiction novel to earning four degrees+, Jeromy Peterson has accumulated an unusual mix of experiences over the course of his 25-year career. Hear all about it -- including the 17 years he's spent as CEO and president of Ripple Industries, an automation and control systems integration company -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.    

After 30 years of experience in industrial solution leadership -- ranging from greenfield design and engineering to custom specialized solutions -- Alex Pool launched Masked Owl Technologies.   As President of this SI startup, he uses his decades of experience in a diverse technology and automation landscape -- from the destruction of WWII-era chemical weapons to sequencing paper into NYC's local print shops – to inform this latest venture.   Alex's true passion is in problem-solving and building integrated systems that are unmatched elsewhere.   Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Can we be solving hard problems that make the economy work better? That make the world a more efficient place? Those are the questions that inspired Adam Gluck to leave his engineering job at Uber and found Copia Automation, which brings modern DevOps tooling to industrial automation, standardizing processes to drive quality, efficency, and uptime at scale. Hear all about the past, present and future of this up and coming start up -- as well as its founder -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

It's not often that an industrial autlomation podcast features a rockstar as a guest -- but it's happening today.  Sandy Gennaro -- former drummer for bands as diverse as The Monkees to Joan Jett to Cyndi Lauper -- is here to tell you about his lessons learned from life on the road and other musings. Full disclosure: He is also a keynote speaker for the upcoming CSIA Conference, where he will parlay his experience as a drummer in rock band to leading successful teams.  You also migh be surprised with how much you have in common with Sandy -- all glamour aside.

Meet Ken Hackett, who is Director of Business Development for General Control Systems. In this role, he uses his 30 years of expertise in engineering design, sales, service, and installation of process controls, instrumentation, and electrical systems to partner with clients in the life sciences, industrial, and food beverage sectors. In addition, for the past three years, he has served as President of the ISA Eastern Chapter. Finally, full disclosure, Ken will be a speaker at the upcoming CSIA Marketing Workshop held in conjunction with the 2024 CSIA Conference in Dallas this April. Hear how he has moved through the industry and what he's learned along the way in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

We are doing something a little different with this episode of Talking Industrial Automation because TIA host Lisa Richter was invited to be a guest on the Rivergate Marketing Podcast,  produced by Rivergate Marketing, a full-service digital marketing company and CSIA member. This episode touches on a little bit about a lot of things – from marketing to the CSIA Conference to the upcoming CSIA Makreting workshop.  Even if you don't plan to attend the conference, this crossover episode still offers some insights you might be interested in and maybe even a spicy take or two. (RIP Koozie). If this doesn't sound like something you'd be into, that's okay. IIA will be back with the regular programming with the next episode. For more information about Rivergate Marketing, including the podcast, visit www.rivergatemarketing.com. For more information about the 2024 CSIA Confernece, inlcuding the marketing workshop, visit www.controlsys.org/conference2024.  

Over the course of three decades, Dave Bader, who is Vice President of Business Development at Eurotech, has been involved in several automation revolutions including the evangelism of artificial intelligence at the edge, industrial IoT, and autonomous mobile robotics for industrial and warehouse applications. Serving as the Head of Sales, National Business Develop Manager, National Sales Manager, and Global Channel Manager for a variety of automation and robotics companies, Dave brings a unique ability to convey very highly technical solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.  Get to know him in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Finding a role that allowed her to advance her technical skills while also progessing her career was exactly what Karen Griffin was looking for when she landed at Hargrove Controls and Automations.  She went on to serve in various automation roles over the next 10 years such as engineering leader, main automation contractor program sponsor, senior program manager and controls and automation engineer for the refining, oil and gas, chemicals and pulp and paper industry. Today, Karen is vice-president and managing member representative of Tormod, an asset life cycle company. There she leads a team of 150 professionals including automation engineers and specialists.  Finally, full disclosure, Karen is the Chair of the CSIA Board of Directors. Hear about her career journey -- and advice -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

With more than 18 years of experience in industrial automation with a focus on Open Control, IIoT Industry 4.0, Networking and Cybersecurity, Ira Sharp, director of product marketing automation at Phoenix Contact USA, has seen a few things.  Based on this experience -- and his  active digital presence as a LinkedIn Content creator focused on automation -- Ira share's his thoughhts on where the industry is headed and how system integrators and others can make the most of it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Joining the company just one year after inception, Ben Durbin has climbed through the Cybertrol Engineering ranks to the top spot: CEO. Along the way he's gained on-the-job experience in every corner of the business -- from programming to sales. Hear about his career journey -- and his advice for newer folks -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

After decades of living in the same ecosystem, WIN-911 and SyTech merged to form SmartSights, blending the best of both and triggering a fresh look, brand and approach. Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation from SmartSights CEO Greg Jackson. Greg also reveals what he has learned from his experience as a strategic leader with a unique blend of 30 plus years' experience and achievements in international sales, business development, operations and product solution development. 

Frustrated with the lack of tools to reliably communicate among different process areas, Andrew Thomas decided to do something about it. So in 1995, he and a partner developed real, real-time communication software that resulted in a program called Cogent Real Time Systems. Over the following two-plus decades, he continued to reiterate eventually resulting in what is now called Skkynet -- a platform that enables real-time data connectivity for industrial, embedded, and financial systems, with no programming required. Hear about his journey -- and his predictions -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

For many CSIA members, the Best Practices Manual is THE reason they joined the associaition -- and for good reason. The BP Manual Best Practices Manual is the most comprehensive collection of best practices within a system integrators industry. This crowdsourced, comprehensive document -- written by integrators for integrators -- represented hundreds of hours of collective wisdom going back to the early 1990s. The latest version -- 6.0 -- was released just last month. The BP Committee Chair, Tony Valasek of EOSYS, reveals what's new in this release. Plus a little bit about how the sausage gets made. Prepare to be impressed.

"People are like an unstable PID loop," jokes Keith Mandachit of Huffman Engineering in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. Hear what else he and his fellow panelists Andrew Palmberg (Technical Systems Inc) and Becca Johnson (Gray Solutions) have to share about growing into a leadership role during the encore presentation of a CSIA Emerging Leaders SIG virtual event from 2021.  The discussion is led by John Sullivan of DMC, who is chair of the CSIA Emerging Leaders SIG.  You can sign up for future Emerging Leader SIG events at www.controlsys.org/events.  This content was originally published on the CSIA website.

Drawing on her experience as a certified speaking professional and best selling author, Lisa Ryan offers some advice for companies that want to retain talent and build a company culture that makes employees  want to stay. Along the way, she also gives some tips on public speaking, networking and navigating social awkwardness.  If you want to hear more from Lisa, she will be one of the CSIA Executive Conference's keynote speakers. 

Since April 2019, Stratus has completely revamped its partner ecosystem and the programs that support it, providing greater benefits to the partners while driving double digit growth for Stratus reports Mike Bradshaw, Senior Director - Global Channels and Partner Ecosystem. He explains why in this episode as well as revealing why his kids think he is a spy!

A former colleague once called Theresa Benson “corporate spackle” because she comes in and fills in the gaps quickly, diagnosing issues and moving people forward in the face of ambiguity. As a product storyteller and strategist with over 20 years of experience in high tech, Thersa is currently helping her clients understands what makes something valuable and then helps them tell their story in the way that their market needs to hear. Hear more about her journey in this episode of the podcast. This is Part 2 of a two-parter. 

As hosts of Automation Ladies -- the only podcast -- that we know of -- where women (mostly) talk about Industrial Automation, Alicia Gilpin (Ali G.) and Nikki Gonzales provide a unique perspective on the industrial automation industry. For their day jobs, Ali G. is owner of Process and Controls Engineering LLC. while Nikki is is building an online marketplace and workflow automation platform for industrial automation distributors and their customers to collaborate and bring some sanity to the procurement process at Quotebeam. Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. Note: This episode is Part 2 of a two parter. Part 1 dropped in December 2022 (Episode 78).

As hosts of Automation Ladies -- the only podcast -- that we know of -- where women (mostly) talk about Industrial Automation, Alicia Gilpin (Ali G.) and Nikki Gonzales provide a unique perspective on the industrial automation industry. For their day jobs, Ali G. is owner of Process and Controls Engineering LLC. while Nikki is is building an online marketplace and workflow automation platform for industrial automation distributors and their customers to collaborate and bring some sanity to the procurement process at Quotebeam. Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. Note: This episode is Part 1 of a two parter. Part 2 will be availble in January 2023.

In this episode, we're talking industrial automation as usual but instead of hearing from one or two guests, you're going to get to hear from a lot of them – hot mike style-ish because I grabbed random 2022 Rockwell Automation Fair attendees as they stopped by the CSIA booth and hit record. So what you are about to listen to is a series of micro-interviews from people in all kinds of roles from around the world who were brave enough to step up and talk into the Yeti microphone I set up in a DIY recording studio – which was literally … a cardboard box. I'll let the results speak for themselves.

Daren Dieleman parlayed a background in accounting and finance into a 10-year career with a worldwide system integration firm, Interstates. He spent most of that time leading the automation delivery teams, but recently he transitioned to a senior leadership role driving company strategy and strategic partnerships.  Hear more about Daren -- including his dream job -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Fresh out of college, Dan Barrera had three offers -- including his dream job. But he turned it down for one with an automation company. And he's never looked back. Today is is a product manager at Bosch Rexroth where he is product manager for one of the company's latest controls platform: ctrlX AUTOMATION. Hear about his journey and why he is so passionate about the industry in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Technology enthusiast and entrepreneur Shawn Tierney took two decades of experience as an automation specialist and turned it into content development and training business with more than  75,000 followers across his blog, podcast and YouTube platforms. Hear how and why he built this whole new career in industrial automation in this episode.

After moving their family out of state to start Huffman Engineering based on a PO, Wendy and Howard Huffman were handed a piece of paper that said the project they left everythy for was cancelled. But despite that setback -- and early Hot Stove Lession -- the Huffmans went on to spend the next three decades building a business they can feel proud of.  Hear about their journey, core values and success stories in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Did you know NASA uses WIN-911 software to test the rockets for the new Artemis program? Hear about other examples -- such as how Dubai keeps aquatic species alive in the middle of the desert, New Zealand monitors seismic activity and UK company in its environmental remediation across Europe from Cody Bann, WIN-911 Software's director of engineering. Plus, find out the Win-911 origin story and more in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

System integrators are in a unique position to impact billions of peoples' lives, which makes it imperative that the industry take DE&I seriously exlains Cassy Garner in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. She also believes its just plain good for business -- which is backed d up with data -- and solving other challenges like recruitment and retention. Cassy also provides other persepctives about life at Banks Integration -- the West Coast branch of E Tech Group doing work in life sciences, pharmaceuticals and emerging technologies such as cellular agriculture and cultivated meat. ------------------------------------------------------- Show Notes: If you are interested in learning more about DE&I or volunteering for Y'allomation Office Hours checkout these resources: Contact Cassy https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassy-gardner/ Checkout https://www.yallomation.org/  Follow folks on LinkedIn: https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/diversity-and-inclusion-workplace-influencers Melinda Epler founder & CEO of Change Catalyst https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindaepler/ Lily Zheng DE&I strategist, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/ Subscribe to Feminuity's email newsletter https://www.feminuity.org/ Read: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram Kendi Citations: Crash test bias – Consumer Reports Article McKinsey: Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters

The concept of business value can be used like GPS to help businesses find the best route. In this encore presentation moderated by Bryan Powrozek of Clayton & McKervey, panelists Jane Tereba (Capital Valuation Group), Ben Smith (Clayton & McKervey) and Clint Bundy (The Bundy Group) as they discuss the key factors in determining a business's value -- and how to manipulate those levers strategically to position it for growth, and, ultimately, develop a succession plan. Even if your day-to-day responsibilites have nothing to do with the overall business strategy, understanding these concepts offers you a glimpse into what the C-suite cares about -- and helps you leverage that knowledge to further your career.  

With more than 20 years experience in sales and marketing, Xavier Mesrobian has witnessed first-hand how industrial automation has evolved. Cybersecurity, remote monitoring, predictive analytics and artifical intelligence are just a few topics he covers in this epsiode of Talking Industrial Automation.

The Future of Work, the importance of benchmarking and even a bad pun or two make an appearance during this special crossover episode with the host of The Sound of Automation, Bryan Powrozek of Clayton & McKervey. Plus, you'll also get a sneak peak into the agenda for the upcoming CSIA Executive Conference.

To emphasize its unique business model as an employee-owned organization, PRemier System Integration re-branded to EOSYS in 2021. What does that mean exactly? Tony Valasek breaks it all down and more in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Meet Walker Mattox, who self-identifies as a recovering serial entrepreneur who finally found home as the founder of Gray Solutions, a Gray company in 2018, and hasn't looked back.  Hear how, as founder, he led the exponential growth of Gray Solutions from two solutioneers to the 12th largest system integrator as recognized by Control Engineering in this episode.

With an interest in the intersection between people, software and the physical world, Tor-Inge Eriksen started as a consultant, where he worked on projects in agriculture, health care, aquaculture, shipping and manufacturing. He soon realized that the knowledge of people in the field was underused, and decided to commit to building a software as a service product with his co-founders. In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, you;ll discover how Tor and his company, Clarify, combine human context and industrial data for daily decisions. Plus, you'll hear his thoughts on industry pain points and trends.

Sportswriter, radio host, emcee, trade publisher – and even a Jeopardy contestant, Bob Vavra's seen it all. But at the heart of everything he is – and always will be – a storyteller. These days, he is senior content director for Machine Design and Power & Motion where he uses his 18 years covering manufacturing to find smart people and give them a forum. Hear how he has ridden the wave of digital transformation in publishing and what trends he sees in his unique position as a conduit for the industry in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Kerry Grimes leads AVEVA's worldwide sales go-to-market strategy for all AVEVA partners, which consists of more than 5,000 distributors, solution providers, global and regional system integrators, and technology providers selling, servicing, and supporting AVEVA's entire product portfolio. Hear how he got there -- and where he's going -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

Leading a team of more than 500 people over two continents and four different brands, SAGE Group Managing Director and CEO Adrian Fahey  built a resilient company that offers a comprehensive suite of industrial digitalization solutions. In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, you'll hear how Adrian and the company founder, Andrew Dunst, built this Australian powerhouse and where he thinks the company is headed next.  

A passionate controls system integrator with more than 25 years of industrial automation experience, Sam Cafferata has specific experience in recycling, food processing, bulk material handling, wood products, aerospace and plastics. In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, you'll hear why Sam's  favorite part of his job is helping his team at Concept Systems and partnering with his customers to have fun and succeed. This episode is sponsored by Xometry.

Hear how Steve March leveraged his 15 years managing marketing, sales and business development efforts for engineering design and system integration firms, to manage Schneider Electrics program and strategy in the U.S. for partnering with companies like those he used to work for in this episode. Steve also dives into the trends and challenges facing the industry right now -- and what opportunities are cropping up in industrial automation.