Talking Textiles

In part one of the Talking Textiles workforce special series, this episode focuses on best practices for recruitment, retaining, and retention of employees. Robert Finnegan, is joined by Bill Ackerley, Nicole Holroyd, Michael Woody, and Rachal McCarthy to discuss workforce strategies like work-life balance, maintaining a company culture, engaging younger staff through training, and effective on-boarding practices. The conversation moves to automation and technology, and the need for ongoing training and adaption to be effective. The podcast closes out with a discussion on government involvement and engaging local academia to appeal to the next generation textile manufactures.

Listen in as Jasmine Cox interviews Eleanor Enochs, Kathryn Kittrell, Max Ring, and Preston Bullock have a discussion on how they transitioned from college life to professional careers, highlighting the challenges, growth, and experiences they encountered as they adapted to the workforce.

Listen in as Joey Smith, Chad Twombly, Mark Harries, Sydney Price, and Matt Clark give a recap of USINFI Advocacy Days held on March 4-5 in Washington D.C. Day one included introductory meetings, while day two focused on meetings with elected representatives and legislative staff. New attendees Sydney Price and Matt Clark shared their experiences. They also mentioned that many of the representatives wanted to hear what they had to say, making the event a success. Another part of this discussion included the upcoming Outlook Leadership Conference, scheduled for June 2-4 in Green Bay, WI, at Lambeau Field.  

Listen in as Charlene Clark interviews Chris Ritsema, Travis Jenkins, and Scott Neville as they provide valuable insight into succession planning and the long-term success of a business. They discuss how they got their start – whether through acquisition, external purchase, or as long-term employees. They also talk about the must haves when it comes to acquiring and keeping businesses going, and emphasize the importance of retention strategies that keep employees happy and contribute to profitability. They further highlight the need for staying informed and prepared, whether it's through having solid standard operating procedures (SOPs), effective training materials, or clear exit and transition plans. All these elements are key to ensuring your business remains adaptable and profitable for years to come.

During the Marine Fabricators Conference in Corpus Christi, Kyle Van Damme sat down with David and Barbara Huntington to talk about doing canvas work for boaters vacationing in the 1000 island region. Barbara shares about her start in the quilting industry, and how the love of boating led the Huntingtons to the marine canvas trade. They touch on their business plan, how they fabricate and making the business work as a husband-and-wife team through homing in on their fabrication skills and separating out their marine canvas work. They also share about encouraging the next generation to enter the trade and their future exit strategy.

Listen in as Mark Harries, Joey Smith, and Chad Twombly discuss the 2025 Advocacy Days held on March 4-5 in Washington, DC. They will discuss their own experiences participating and how being involved has helped them within their companies. In addition, they will discuss why it is important for members to be part of advocacy efforts, who should participate, and highlight the work that our USINFI consultants do on our behalf.

Listen in as Michael Woody, Rachal McCarthy and Bill Ackerley share about the challenges of training and recruitment in the textile product industry. They discuss attracting people to the industry while facing competition with the Instagram-worthy phenomenon and offer solutions to overcome it through explaining the why and what of their products. They also touch on the attraction to CAD and automation, along with tiered training and other strategies they are implementing to help retain the workforce. 

Listen in as Erin Parker Tillery, Ph.D. Student and Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at North Carolina State University's Wilson College of Textiles, interviews Prateeti Ugale, Ph.D. Student in Fiber and Polymer Science at North Carolina State University. Prateeti discusses her current research of working on integrating technology into textile structures with a particular emphasis on wearable applications. She also discusses why she chose electronic textiles (e-textiles) and how it is an interdisciplinary field that involves a research and intersection of textiles, electronics, material science, design, and product development.  

Listen in as Jonathan Palmer, CEO of Autometrix and member of the ATA Board of Directors, interviews Ethan Halpern, President of American Awning & Blind Co., Daniel Cuppels, Operations Manager at Blithe Defense Industrial Covers, and Alberto Ramirez, CEO of Just 4U Custom Canvas, Inc. They will discuss what makes their textile businesses unique and different on the West Coast. They will also discuss how ATA has helped them become more knowledgeable in the industry with online resources like the member directory and holding Expo each year so they can meet and network with individuals and companies.

Listen in to get a sneak preview of education sessions that will be happening at the Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim, CA, Sept. 23-26. Jeff Sponseller, Miller Weldmaster, enlightens us with a few fun facts about Expo and interviews presenters Erin Parker Tillery, North Carolina State University, Bruce Danziger, Danziger Engineering Collaborative, Inc. and Apurba Banerjee, Innovation at Standard Textile. Be sure to stop by each of our guests' educational sessions to gain more insight.

On this episode, we have an all-women's panel featuring Donielle Lorelli, Product Manager of Textiles at National Industries for the Blind, Kaylee Smith, Senior Sales Executive at MMI Textiles, and Lindsay Zientek, Channel Account Manager at Gold Eagle Company. They will discuss how they got their start in the textile industry, how they build and manage personal and professional relationships with colleagues, how they navigate a healthy work-life balance, the steps they take to manage burn-out, and what's next in their careers.

Listen in as our Artificial Intelligence Part 1 podcast guest, Adam Penner of AP Consulting and Technical Services, interviews Dan Hughes, co-founder of Claritee.AI, a seasoned expert in Generative AI, with over a 20-year career helping clients implement emerging technologies. Dan discusses how he got into AI, specifically Generative AI, and why he finds it so beneficial for companies to implement this technology.  

Adam Penner has a background in engineering, but after college he began his career as a CAD designer and developed a passion for automation. After transitioning to work for an automation company, he traveled nationally installing automation equipment and training others on how to use it. He discovered a love for teaching and ventured into consulting, founding AP Consulting and Technical Services. He was introduced to AI's Chat GPT through a friend and immediately loved it. He learned Chat GPT could help him write code, improve his writing, and generate content in areas outside of his expertise. Listen as Adam explains how he is a huge proponent for AI's role with his work by saving time and enhancing his work efficiency. 

Listen in as Justine Decaens, Director of Research and Development from CTT Group in Quebec, Canada, discusses how her company supports industrial development. CTT Group's research and development teams help take innovations from development all the way to the testing phase to ensure products meet certain criteria and specifications. Tune in as Justine discusses the products and materials her company is working on and any challenges they may face.

Listen in as Natalie Cormier, Owner of Able Canvas in New Brunswick, Canada, discusses how she took on the challenge of becoming the owner in 2011. Cormier loves a challenge, so becoming an owner of a business in an industry she had no knowledge of was something she wanted to take on. She further discusses the challenges of hiring skilled workers in the New Brunswick area. She does her due diligence in teaching customers and clients that buying quality canvas from companies like hers will last longer than buying from large chain stores. Another challenge she faces is when she retires, who would she sell her company to or who would even want to buy the business. Tune in to hear her story!  

Kyle VanDamme sits down with Keith Purves, Jeff Newkirk, and Johannes Lombard at the Marine Fabricators Conference. The guests share from different backgrounds—from what it was like growing up in the family business to being recruited by a sail maker and coming into the business after a career in the yachting industry. They cover the trades and hiring for character and teaching the skills, to learning a craft, and managing a multi-generational staff. They also touch on building an environment of belonging and end with succession planning and how to prepare for selling your business.  

Listen to part two as we dive deeper into why NC State doctoral student Erin Parker chose to further her education in textiles and wanted to focus on wearable technology for her thesis research. Also, new attendee Todd Pusser discusses how he got into the textile industry and how being CAD certified not only helped him hone his skills on the job, but also how he found a passion for design outside of work. We close out with a discussion on the future of the textile industry, how the industry is attracting young people, and how the panelists think the younger generation will benefit and shape the future of the textile industry.

Listen in as Kyle VanDamme and Mark Tyrrell interview Jeff Sponseller, Michael Woody, Todd Pusser, and Erin Parker. You will hear the viewpoint of regular attendees Jeff Sponseller and Michael Woody on how Expo has evolved, the connections and friends they have made with other individuals in the industry, the business opportunities they have received, and advice for new attendees. Also, you will hear viewpoints from a first-time attendee, Todd Pusser, and current NC State doctoral candidate, Erin Parker, on what they expected from Expo and what they have seen and experienced so far.

On this episode, Michael Boatman discusses how his passion for boat covers grew by learning and working alongside his father in their family business. Ultimately, this passion led him to start his own boat cover business - Boatman Marine Canvas. He also recalls his first experience attending an MFA conference, how he “found his people” and loved everything about the conference. Since becoming an ATA and MFA member, he has made many lifelong connections and vows that he's not going anywhere. So listen in as Michael Boatman discusses his past and what his future looks like!

Listen as Kyle VanDamme interviews Justin Jones and Clint Halladay of SewLong to discuss how they both got into the wake boat cover business and the overall culture of the business. Also, they will discuss how their company survived COVID, how they compete with the bigger shops, and how the younger generation has changed the way they view work life balance.

On this episode Tom Auer interviews Mar Ricketts of GuildWorks, Karina Gentry of Boatswain Locker, and Robin DuBroy of Wholesale Shade to discuss how ATA is making the demo area better at the Advanced Textiles Expo with new contributors to help diversify the knowledge and incorporate hands-on education and training. Listen now to learn more of the experiences our guests have had in attending the show and the value they've gained from networking and walking the show floor, as well as what you'll see in the demo area!

Host Kyle Van Damme sits down with guest Mike Charlton to have a candid conversation about life choices and the marine canvas business. Mike shares memories of his parent's conversion van business, and how this impacted his creativity. He also touches on finding time for family and ways to work smarter through developing tools and implementing strategic scheduling.

On this episode, Jasmine Cox, Executive Director at Textile Technology Center at Gaston College and Dr. Apurba Banerjee, Senior Manager, Global Sourcing at Glowforge and Adjunct Professor at Mount Mary University take a new approach to Talking Textiles. Listen as Cox and Banerjee share a collaborative conversation on strategies for success for the next generation of textile professionals while sharing their own backgrounds in industry. The two are sure to inspire as they cover topics from setting career goals, negotiating, networking and more. Keep an open mind because the path ahead may surprise you!

She's got her Peloton; he's got his mountain bike and for the past 15 years they've been making a marine canvas business together. Hear how a husband-and-wife team embarked on the canvas business and makes a conscious effort at work-life balance.  The couple shares on learning from mistakes, incorporating flexibility, expanding to different markets, and networking with the Marine Fabricators Association. Enjoy this episode that offers both entrepreneurial and marital advice!

Today's Talking Textiles panel discussion brings together the great minds involved with the Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC), a center designed to support and sustain the textile industry.  MSC's Jeff Neuville, Tanya Wade and Frank Henderson of Henderson Sewing talk to us about the cooperation, collaboration and partnerships created in the new facility. Learn how MSC is helping manufacturers test the limitations of all different types of textiles along with meeting the standards necessary to bring products to market. Tour MSC while attending the Fabricators Conference April 24-25, 2023. To learn more visit https://www.textiles.org/fabricatorsconference/.

From fashion designer to trend forecaster to opportunity maker, Dr. Andre West does it all. Dr. West speaks to Talking Textiles about his latest venture, the Flex Factory, a rapid prototyping, flexible space for textile manufacturing, housed within the North Carolina State University. Learn how students and entrepreneurs alike are using the innovation and ideation hands-on space to experiment and advance the textile industry. All attendees to the Smart Fabric Summit can tour and experience the new Flex Factory. Join us April 11-12, 2023. Visit smartfabricsummit.com to learn more.

Our inaugural live episode of Talking Textiles is a panel discussion including an all-star cast of past Canadian guests talking about the fabric structures industry. Francophone and Anglophones alike will love the advice on how to get new projects and customers, as well as the quote process and how to respond to different markets.  Hear their thoughts on networking versus advertising and developing with the end in mind. Grab a Timbit and double double and settle in for an informative épisode de “Parlants Textiles.”

On today's Talking Textiles we get down to the business of ESOPs, the Employee Stock Ownership Program. Attorney Doug Neville sheds light and answers questions from the legal perspective while Dave Bess, who was strategically involved in an ESOP for his company, discusses the change in mind shift and culture that occurred as a result.

Supply chain delays and challenges are one of the top issues facing the textiles industry today. Listen in on this special panel discussion of Talking Textiles, where we'll talk to industry leaders about the causes of these problems, the outlook for the coming year and how companies can best prepare themselves to deal with shortages and longer production times.

It's time to nerd out on material sciences. This episode of Talking Textiles interviews George Sun, founder of Nextiles, a company merging electronics with textiles to measure range of motion, micromovements and more. We learn how George walked a path from creating shoes to conductive fabrics and hear his advice for job seekers to get involved, connect and just show up. 

Hear from two textile product business owners, their history, challenges, and involvement with the Advanced Textiles Association and the Demo Area at Expo. Jonathan Sweet interviews Tom Auer, Bearse USA, a third-generation business owner and Bob Rosania, CEO Ehmke Manufacturing, a company that was started by a baseball player. Discover what's happening in the ATA Expo Demo area, get their take on networking, opportunities to learn, and unique ways of attracting employees.

Jamie Gallagher has over 50 years of experience in the fabric engineering business and the relationships to prove it. Working along the way with his 4 brothers, Jamie explains why a bit of healthy family competition can fuel innovation.  Born into a family with an already successful textile-based business, the brothers were not content to simply work within that company and instead each struck off in their own directions within the industry, while maintaining cooperation among themselves.  Listen to our latest Talking Textiles podcast to learn how cooperation can lead to big wins in business. About ATA

Dan Walczyk and Glenn Saunders have always enjoyed tinkering and taking things apart. This passion eventually led them to work as engineers and professors in the study of industrial robots, textile automation, fusing and composites. Today, as professors at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, they strive to produce the best engineering students and thus restore the manufacturing businesses globally. Listen in and learn more on our latest episode of Talking Textiles.

From Fawcett to Fawcett to Fawcett! Lethbridge Canvas has been in business going on three generations. In our latest episode of Talking Textiles, Craig Fawcett and heir apparent, Jonathan Fawcett share the history of the family's shade and covers business, the handing down from one generation to the next, and the lessons learned bringing the business into the 21st century. Learn why Jonathan (out of all the siblings) decided to join the family business; following his father's footsteps to start at the bottom and now lead the company.

What do a Smithsonian exhibit tent, a synthetic leather clutch and renewable energy all have in common? On today's Talking Textiles, learn this and more from Colin Touhey, founder and CEO of Pvilion, a company whose mission is to integrate solar cells with fabrics and build fabric products that generate electricity. Interviewed by Haskell Beckham of the Colombia Sportswear Company, Colin gives advice for students and how they should push their way into a company they love. 

Thad Ribner loves problem solving. Now a research and development senior engineer, learn how a young adult adventure novel helped to shape his future career and peak his interest in the engineering and fabric fields. From early projects designing lift systems for helping patients with muscular dystrophy to working with unmanned underwater vehicles—Thad looks at each new assignment as a puzzle to solve. Interviewed by Mary Koutras, also a Research and Development engineer, Thad shares how his schooling, mentors and work experience have shaped his career. Tune in today to this edition of Talking Textiles brought to you by IFAI's Advanced Textiles Products Division.  

King Mukherjee knew he was destined to work in the textile industry. His interest piqued after grading a student's essay, Mukherjee began researching different types of mills and from there his fabric career was born. Today he is still a professor as well as founder and director of a custom fabric company. In this episode, The Golden Age of Textiles, get King's perspective on the textile world—why it has tremendous room for growth and why students to need to be flexible with what they study.  

Du Cirque à l'industrie du tissu, découvrez comment l'entreprise canadienne de textile architectural, Sollertia, s'est établi.  Sollertia a déjà pris en charge et réalisé certains des projets de structure textile les plus ambitieux au pays. Dans cet épisode, Claude Le Bel nous raconte en toute franchise comment entreprendre de nouveaux projets, ses débuts dans l'industrie, y compris son travail avec le Cirque du Soleil et comment sa carrière et son entreprise ont évolué jusqu'à ce qu'elles soient aujourd'hui.  Découvrez comment Claude contribue à façonner notre industrie et à repousser les limites de la façon dont les gens imaginent l'utilisation de l'architecture en tissu au Canada.

From the circus biz to the fabric biz, learn how Canadian architectural textile firm Sollertia built its business. Sollertia has taken on and completed some of the most ambitious fabric structure projects in the country.  In this episode, If You Build It, They Will Come, Claude Le Bel shares candidly about taking on new projects, his beginnings in the industry, including his work with the Cirque du Soleil and how his career and business have evolved to where it is today.  Get a glimpse on how Claude is helping shape our industry and expanding the limits of how people imagine the use of fabric architecture in Canada.

After dedicating his whole career to the textile shade industry, Canadian business-owner John Conroy, House of Canvas, now finds himself in the challenging position of transitioning his canvas business over to his three sons. In this episode of “Talking Textiles” we explore John's early experiences, his leadership, passion for the textile industry and capture nuggets of his wisdom. Conroy's sons share on growing up in the canvas business, their current roles, and future of the canvas business.  Hosted by Mark Tyrrell, LaSalle Canvas and Alex Petizian, Naizil Coated Fabrics.

Episode 1 of IFAI Talking Textiles launches into a conversation with Brydon Roe of Shade Sails Canada, hosted by Mark Tyrrell, LaSalle Canvas and Alex Petizian, Naizil Coated Fabrics. Brydon shares his evolution into the textile industry, introduction to the shade sail market—where his company is today—and the development of additional projects along the way. Brydon unpacks how he transferred knowledge of Australian shade sail technology to his business in Canada and speaks candidly about his time in Australia and his transition back to the northern hemisphere. Learn about the advantages and challenges Brydon undertook while operating his company with long-distance partners and vendors, across vastly different time zones.