WAM

Today's guest has worked in both the front end and the back end of the manufacturing business and has gained valuable insights from both. Tammy Casteel is a plant manager for Iconex, the world's leading provider of receipt and innovative label solutions. They create value for their customers by enhancing transaction recording, ensuring order accuracy, and improving operational efficiency. Tammy has been with the company for over 13 years, working in a variety of different roles, including sales support team leader, customer service manager, North American supply chain manager, and most recently, plant manager. Today, she joins us to share what she has learned through this diverse range of experiences. Tuning in, you'll hear about what Tammy has gained from some of her career mentors, how she manages to be an effective manager in a very male-dominated industry, and her advice to young women considering a career in manufacturing. To find out how to keep your customers happy in the face of supply chain issues, how to get the most out of your employees through gratitude, and to learn more from Tammy's wisdom and experience, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Too many women blame themselves for the scarcity of well-made, professional, plus size clothing, but today's guest is on a mission to help women feel better about themselves (and help them look fabulous in the process)! In today's episode, Rosemary Coates interviews Danielle Malconian, President and CEO of Plus by Design and the brand, Vikki Vi. When Danielle landed a job managing the plus size clothing department at Nordstrom, she had loads of compassion for her customers. With her size 12 feet, she knew what that frustration like, to not be able to buy something that both fits well and looks good. Vikki Vi has a rich history of providing women with great-looking, comfortable clothing, and, when the original company went out of business, it made sense to Danielle to buy the label and keep it going. Listen in to hear more about her journey, the quality and construction of Vikki Vi's “slinky” fabric, and their decision to manufacture in the US. Danielle also talks about the importance of consistency when it comes to size and how Vikki Vi hopes to combat waste in the fashion industry while creating investment pieces and options for plus-size women while still making profit. Tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a brand new episode of Women And Manufacturing. Joining us in conversation today is Jean Angus, President & CEO of Saint-Gobain Life Sciences, a global organization that designs, produces, and distributes fluid management components and systems to industries like biopharma, medical, food and bev, personal care, and chemical. Hear all about her journey working in innovation processes before her current leadership role. Hear what psychological safety means to Jean, and what she advises listeners who feel they cannot be themselves at work. She shares how she works to embrace understanding those around her in order to be more inclusive, and how she aims to engage the workforce to enable people to work best. We touch on vulnerability, staying present as a leader, and the one principle she applies to both her work and her life before Jean leaves us with a powerful piece of advice: just try! Thanks for tuning in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we gain insight into the topic of project, contract, and supplier management, and how they relate to small and medium-sized manufacturers. Joining us for this discussion is an expert in this field: Angela Thurman is the Principal Managing Director of Thurman Co, an organization that helps small to medium-sized companies with strategic technical project management to help them stay aligned with their goals. Angela is no stranger to contract management, having spent 10 years as a principal subcontracts program manager at Collins Aerospace and with experience negotiating $1 billion contracts. Tuning in you'll hear about Angela's impressive career in the aerospace industry and how she came to found her own consulting business. She touches on many different aspects of the manufacturing industry and covers helpful topics including how to overcome resistance to change through project management, how to negotiate a contract from the position of strength as a small- to medium-sized manufacturer, and how you can reap the benefits of a contract when it comes to your suppliers. For some fascinating insight from someone who is usually on the other side of the negotiating table, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People often believe that supporting US manufacturers is a lot harder to do than it really is. To explain how this is easier than you think, today we are joined by Dianna Huff. Dianna is the founder and president of Huff Industrial Marketing. In this episode, she describes her long career in manufacturing and how she came to found her company. In her efforts to stimulate job creation in the USA, Dianna made a commitment to support manufacturers by buying ‘Made in the USA' wherever possible. To encourage others to do the same she also started her blog Keep it Made in the USA. Tuning in you'll hear about some of the services provided by Huff Industrial Marketing and what mistakes many manufacturing businesses are making when it comes to their websites and trying to attract new employees. We also discuss how the nature of jobs in the manufacturing industry has changed over the past few decades, some of the recent trends Dianna has identified in American manufacturing, and how US manufacturers are benefiting from filling in the gaps created by the supply chain issues. To hear two incredible success stories of American manufacturers and to find out what steps you can take to support more US manufacturers, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Changing demographics are creating new roles and leadership opportunities for women in family businesses. However, there are numerous stereotypes, unconscious gender biases, and even family traditions that can present challenges for women stepping into these positions of leadership, particularly when taking the reins in a multicultural, multigenerational family business! This has been the experience for Filomena Malvone, the Owner and Manager of Jerry & Sal's Pizza Restaurant in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and the author of What Would You Do If…, a situational book to promote problem-solving skills among young children. Today, Lydia Di Liello sits down with Filomena to discuss some of these challenges and find out how she overcame them with determination, hard work, and finesse, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful relationships along the way. We also touch on the value of speaking multiple languages, fostering a company culture that feels like family, and surrounding yourself with encouraging supporters, plus so much more, so make sure not to miss today's show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are joined by Patricia Hume to discuss some innovative software that is helping to revolutionize 3D CAD models and their use across entire organizations. Pat is the CEO of Canvas GFX, the company responsible for the Canvas Envision. This is an interactive content and collaboration solution that empowers everyone to use 3D CAD models to share and understand essential product information with speed, ease, and precision. Today she joins us to explain what Canvas GFX does, what types of documentation can be created with it, what types of employees that can benefit from using it, and why collectively this is so revolutionary. Tuning in you'll hear about the survey that Canvas GFX conducted among manufacturers and what they learned about documentation and its effects on the bottom line. To find out how Canvas Envision enables innovation, how it can help with employee retention, and what segment of the manufacturing industry most benefits from this product, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While quality inspection, audits, and standards in manufacturing may not be the highest items on your list of priorities, they are the backbone of a good manufacturing environment. Joining us for an important conversation on this topic is Shirley Dewi, Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance and Client Services at IAPMO, a one-stop shop for conformity assessments. Tuning in, you'll hear about IAPMO, its history, and the services the company provides. You'll also gain an understanding of how, despite being considered a cost and a burden, conformity assessments can add a lot of value to your company. You'll discover more about IAPMO's global footprint, where Shirley is witnessing the development of manufacturing locations outside of China, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on manufacturers and supply chains internationally. To hear real-life examples of how the right conformity assessments can make or break your manufacturing business, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think of the purchasing power of women and compare this with the shocking statistics of how many women are in core C-level leadership positions, it is evident that something is very wrong in the business world. Joining us to discuss this and how we can all empower female entrepreneurs and business leaders is today's guest, Ginger Sloan. Ginger started her first business in her preteens and, while she's had her fair share of failures along the way, today, she is an inspiring example of what women entrepreneurs can achieve. Ginger is the CEO and Founder of Encore, a professional medical services company where she has 200 women contractors working for her, most of whom are widows or single moms. Tuning in, you'll hear about the vital role of failure in being a female entrepreneur, the importance of looking ahead not behind, and why everyone needs a mentor or a group of like-minded women to learn from. To discover some shocking statistics about women in leadership and find out how you can play your part in empowering other women entrepreneurs and equality in business leadership, make sure not to miss this inspirational and empowering conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest believes that manufacturing plays a vital role in creating new technologies to build a better world. Cathy Ma is the VP of Platform Growth and Engagement at ThomasNet, now owned by Xometry. She is passionate about using information, research, and knowledge to help all manufacturers, big or small, to thrive. Tuning in, you'll hear about how Thomas, as a leading source for industrial resourcing, is an asset to the manufacturing industry. Cathy explains that apart from helping manufacturers get suppliers in a fast and reliable way, Thomas also collects audience intelligence and disseminates helpful information, resources, and data to free members. You'll hear about the research that Thomas is currently conducting, and some of the trends that they have identified. You'll also learn how Thomas is supporting American manufacturers, how their technology can help you overcome labor shortages, and how it can help you find alternate suppliers in the face of supply chain challenges. To find out how Thomas is democratizing manufacturing capacity for all, what's next for the company, and how to become part of the Thomas community to benefit from its initiatives, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology touches nearly every part of the manufacturing process today and, with the right solutions, any manufacturer can significantly accelerate productivity, streamline production, and see the kinds of efficiencies your organization needs to take it to the next level! In this episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks to Vice President of Information Technology at Sandvik Coromant, Annika Hultqvist, about how they are using IT functions and systems to support their manufacturing processes. With a background in computer engineering and IT consultancy, Annika shares some insight into her role as VP of IT at Sandvik Coromant, a world-leading supplier of tools and tooling solutions to the metalworking industry. We discuss the globally integrated ERP system that Annika is putting in place, how Sandvik is using Agile processes and techniques to prioritize end-user value and the ways that digital tools can improve training and onboarding, as well as the power of AI and digital machining to support decision making, plus so much more! Make sure not to miss this informative episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Fran Brunelle is joined by brand storyteller and manufacturing marketer, Meaghan Ziemba, to celebrate women in manufacturing from the shop floor to the c-suite! Meaghan has been writing about manufacturing since 2008 and hosts a live broadcast video series called Mavens of Manufacturing, which focuses on women in the sector. Its mission is to attract younger generations to join manufacturing or engineering career paths and to help close the skills gap. In this episode, Meaghan shares what inspired her to start Mavens of Manufacturing, the importance of hearing the stories of women in manufacturing, and how she hopes to set new standards for American manufacturing and change the world, one video at a time! Tune in today to discover the value of actively promoting manufacturing to future generations of leaders and skilled talent, including girls and women in community outreach efforts, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Women and Manufacturing, Frances Brunelle speaks with Tracy Albert, Co-Owner and Accounting Manager of Gambit Machining in Alberta, Canada, which specializes in small, precision, tight tolerance parts for critical use in no-fail industries, including instrumentation, energy, defense, medical, transportation, and more. Tracy joined Gambit in 2002 in an entry-level accounting role. After earning her Bachelor's Degree in Applied Business Administration-Accounting from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), she took on more responsibility at the company and began to make valuable contributions to the process of continual improvement and, as a result, she became part of the ownership group in 2010. Tuning in, you'll find out how Tracy's portfolio has grown over the past 20 years to include payroll, HR, health and safety, marketing, and business development, and she shares what influenced her decision to lead with candor and integrity, despite some of the challenges that come with being the only woman in the boardroom. We also touch on the power of support, attracting and retaining talent, and much more, so make sure not to miss today's conversation with Tracy Albert! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Jennifer Clement, and she joins us to speak about sourcing and manufacturing in China. Jennifer is the President of Complete Holdings and the US Partner of Complete Manufacturing and Distribution, also known as CMD in China. CMD provides boots-on-the-ground support for clients who manufacture in China when it comes to working with a factory network, managing quality control and diversifying a supply base. Jennifer begins by laying out her experience in the manufacturing industry and describing her most recent role with CMD, for which she has been based in Shanghai since 2015. From there, we talk about how CMD works with clients to develop a business case for sourcing a manufacturing location, where they consider variables such as labor, availability of natural resources, and tariffs. In our conversation, we also speak about the different regions in China and the goods they specialize in manufacturing when it makes sense to manufacture in other parts of the globe. We also discuss how CMD is assisting clients in an environment defined by major challenges around material availability, quality control, and supply chain functioning. For all this and more, tune in today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our hyperconnected and ever-changing world, it's essential to keep learning and upskilling. In fact, today's guest believes that manufacturing leaders have a responsibility to actively promote continuous learning and expose younger generations to career opportunities in manufacturing by making education part of what we do on a daily basis. In today's episode of Women and Manufacturing, Lydia Di Liello speaks with Melody Miller, President of BeaconMedaes USA, about her passion for lifelong learning. BeaconMedaes, which is part of the Atlas Copco Group, is a leading specialist in the design, education, supply, and installation of piped medical gas distribution systems. Tuning in, you'll find out about BeaconMedaes' online learning platform and how they prioritize agility, digital transformation, and continuous feedback from customers in their daily operations, and Melody shares her perspective on making manufacturing ‘sexy' again, plus so much more! We hope you'll join us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With 100 billion items produced every year, it's no surprise that the fashion industry is known as the second most polluting industry on the planet. From the crops grown and processed to the dyeing and transportation involved, Samantha Tollworthy — founder of USA-made sock company Teddy Locks — is working to reduce that fashion footprint by building a fully sustainable, high-quality hosiery brand. Today, WAM host Frances Brunelle sits down with Samantha to learn why she left her dream job to chase her passion for sustainability and why she chooses to work directly with the supply chain, running her entire company from North Carolina. They also touch on the delicate balance between motherhood and brand ownership, especially when Samantha's daughter and sock brand were born around the same time and at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Before Teddy Locks, Samantha was a Marine Biologist and Wildlife TV Producer. Her motivation in founding the Green America certified sock brand was to help fight climate change and the war on waste. Building Teddy Locks from the fiber up, Samantha and the brand have now recycled more than 14,000 plastic bottles by turning them into luxuriously soft socks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the biggest challenges through the last two years have been closely connected to issues in the supply chain. The playing field has definitely changed and here to help us better understand this, and share some insight into how we can build better systems, more suited to the current landscape is Lora Cecere. Lora is the Founder of Supply Chain Insights, through which she helps leaders take their supply chain teams to the next level! She is also the brains behind the blog ‘Supply Chain Shaman', a thought-leader, strategist, and researcher. In our conversation with Lora today, we get some context and history from her, and how she worked her way up to founding her firm. She talks about her studies and the array of different companies she worked with before starting Supply Chain Insights. From there, Lora shares her thoughts on the important lessons we can learn from the recent instability and issues, and weighs in on how we can re-mold our new systems to better suit the needs of the industry. We discuss bringing AI and ML into the conversation around data, and why bidirectional orchestration can make such a big difference to how we interact with complex systems. To hear all this and more from a true expert in the field of supply chain, be sure to join us on Women and Manufacturing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite outdated beliefs that still persist about the role of the quality department in an organization, the entire manufacturing team, from operators to team leaders, is responsible for ensuring the quality of a product is upheld. After 38 years working in the food manufacturing industry, todays' guest, Lucia Falek, is an authority on this topic! Lucia's interest in manufacturing began at the age of six when she went on a tour at Ford Motor Company. Upon graduating with a food science degree, Lucia began a journey of flavor creation and building a quality mindset, which has culminated in her current role in the R&D department at Butterball Farms (which has nothing to do with Turkey and everything to do with butter!). We discuss the importance of designing for manufacturability from the get-go, and an example of what can go wrong if quality control is done too late in the process. Lucia also shares some of the exciting products that she is working on at the moment and the unique role that she believes women play in the manufacturing sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Frances Brunelle speaks with Nicole Wolter from HM Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of turnkey power transmission components for a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, marine, packaging, and more! Since starting at HM Manufacturing in 2009, when she left her successful finance career to join the family business, Nicole has overseen a complete renovation of the company's technology and manufacturing processes. In addition to the redesign of HM's manufacturing strategies, the company has added several new technologies, including a new ERP system. Nicole has also been instrumental in expanding HM's marketing and social media presence in an effort to broaden its reach, increase sales, and instill a team mentality amongst employees. Within six years, Nicole's efforts increased sales from $80,000 to more than $3 million and, today, she leads HM Manufacturing as President and CEO. Tuning in, you'll learn how Nicole started from the ground up, gaining extensive machining experience before stepping into a leadership position, and how she is nurturing young talent and closing the skills gap by developing manufacturing programs at the high school level. We also touch on using social media to attract new talent and how Nicole's dad went viral on TikTok, plus so much more, so make sure to tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks with Jill Cavano, the President and Owner of Scranton Associates. Founded in 1919, Scranton Associates is a family business that has been manufacturing private label water treatment chemicals in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, for over 100 years. In 2016, Jill bought all of the family members out, making her the sole owner and making Scranton Associates a 100 percent woman-owned manufacturing business. Jill has been a custom chemical blender, predominately for the water treatment industry, for the past 22 years. She is a long-time member and sponsor of The Association of Water Technologies (AWT), a member of the AWT Young Professionals Group and the AWT Business Resources Committee, and an active member of the Cleveland Chemical Association (CCA). She is also an active member of the Rising Tide Mastermind Group, which is a peer-to-peer mentoring group for executives in the water treatment industry. In this episode, she shares some practical tips for women in business, outlines some of the challenges she has encountered on her journey to becoming a business owner and explains how she overcame them. You'll also find out how Scranton Associates addressed supply chain issues as a result of COVID-19, why Jill believes in making her employees feel like they're all in it together, the value of having an exit strategy, as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with other business owners. For all this and so much more, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What started as a simple borrowing of steel toe boots years ago has turned into a lifelong friendship and a published book between Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels. With their extensive backgrounds in manufacturing, leadership, and operations, Kathy and Shannon wanted to share their experiences with other women looking to pursue similar careers. This is how Steel Toes and Stilettos: A True Story of Women Manufacturing Leaders and Lean Transformation Success was born. In today's WAM podcast, host Lydia DiLiello sits down with Kathy and Shannon to discuss the book and their individual trials and triumphs working on opposite ends of the manufacturing spectrum. They also share their unique experiences working alongside and gaining knowledge from men in the field, as well as their beliefs that lean methodology and inclusive workplace culture are what will help drive competitiveness against foreign suppliers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Increasing sales is a top priority in every business, right? Well, the manufacturing business is no different, but you'd be surprised how many businesses are making it far too complicated for themselves and aren't taking advantage of readily available data! In this episode, Lydia DiLiello speaks with Lindsay Duran, Chief Marketing Officer of Zilliant, about bringing sales back into our conversations within manufacturing. Lindsay is responsible for accelerating growth strategies, demand generation, product marketing, corporate communications, sales enablement, and market positioning, and she is also the co-host of the Zilliant podcast, B2B Reimagined. Today, you'll learn how you can use data to more effectively price and sell your products, as well as the benefits of digital transformation and implementing proper data hygiene practices. Her advice: don't just give your salespeople reports; give them specific insights backed by data! Tune in for more practical insights and words of wisdom from sales expert, Lindsay Duran! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to learn about Silicon Valley best practices for growing and scaling companies, the Valley's unique vantage point for evaluating startups, and what rules can and should be broken in the course of building a global business? Well, this is the episode for you! Today, Rosemary Coates speaks with Michelle Lane Messina, CEO of Explora International, about the best practices of Silicon Valley and how you can apply them to your business. Michelle is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and workshop leader, a member of the Startup Chile Board, and the co-author of the bestselling book, Decoding Silicon Valley: The Insider's Guide. Tuning in, you'll discover how to create a valuable feedback loop with your market, find ways to collaborate, and ask the right questions to filter through the ‘happy talk', plus so much more. Make sure not to miss this conversation for colorful stories, surprising anecdotes, and telling insights about what really happens in Silicon Valley! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Statistics show that 80 percent of the information we receive comes through our eyes. This fact is key to the most significant developments in intralogistics. Picavi is the perfect symbiosis of modern technology and natural movement, using smart glasses for visual guidance and creating useful intelligence to reduce worker fatigue and increase efficiencies. In today's episode, Lydia DiLiello speaks with Alison Walker, Head of Marketing for Picavi, about the smart technology products that Picavi provides and how their wearable solutions can assist you in navigating supply chain interruptions and improving warehouse workflow. We also touch on the opportunities available for women in supply chain and logistics and the importance of mentorship programs for women in STEM, plus so much more! To learn more about how Picavi is looking into the future, be sure not to miss this informative conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Women in Manufacturing, Frances Brunelle speaks with Belinda Donavant, Senior Director of Engineering for Canon Virginia, Inc. Since opening its doors in 1985, Canon has made substantial capital investments of over $700 million in five facilities, totaling two million square feet and employing over 2,000 people. Belinda has an electrical engineering background and has held a variety of different positions with Canon, including in the product engineering, business development, and industrial engineering and innovation departments, some of which we dive into in today's episode. We also touch on the criteria that Canon Virginia Inc. looks for in its suppliers, how those correlate with the qualities of a successful manufacturing business, and how the engineering and manufacturing fields can attract more women, and Belinda shares her advice for young women in the industry: play to your strengths! Tune in today to hear some valuable insights and so much more from an inspiring leader who is passionate about manufacturing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter how advanced technology becomes, people will always be at the heart of every business. Yet, soft skills, are commonly overlooked because hard skills and technical expertise are deemed to be more valuable. Through her work, Susan Schwartz, our guest today, looks to tackle this issue. She is the President of Birch River Group, a consultancy that transforms industry experts into emotionally intelligent leaders. As an experienced consultant, Susan has worked in highly technical sectors, where she saw the need for those who had graduated from experts to leaders to hone their leadership skills. Although many people are innate leaders, Susan believes that it is a competency the overwhelming majority can master. In this episode, we talk about what it means to be an emotionally intelligent leader, along with the value of being vulnerable when leading a team. You will never know all the answers, which is why it is vital to understand how to bring out the strengths of those around you. Our conversation also touches on the challenges of transitioning from an expert to a leader, some of the techniques and methods Susan uses with her clients, and the value of those who do not want to be leaders. Tune in to hear it all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Women and Manufacturing, Frances Brunelle speaks with Emily Feenstra, the Managing Director of Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Emily leads the division responsible for government affairs, media relations, and infrastructure policy for the society, including ASCE's Infrastructure Report Card, which we learn more about in today's episode. She also serves on the board of advisors for the Eno Center for Transportation and the Innovative Infrastructure Initiative. In today's episode, Emily elaborates on why we should be investing in infrastructure for the future and some of the negative implications for America's economic growth if we continue with the status quo as it is. We touch on Emily's role as a storyteller, the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and how manufacturers can benefit from it, plus so much more! Tune in today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Frances Brunelle speaks with US Army veteran and Co-Owner of Smith Metal and Sutton Machining, Chelsea Sutton, about how manufacturing businesses can use social media to attract new customers and promote their services or products. As with all small business owners, Chelsea wears multiple hats, acting as head of business development, marketing, and public relations at Smith Metal and Sutton Machining, which offer services in CNC milling, CNC turning, EDM, 3D printing, surface grinding, welding, and fabrication. Tuning in, you'll hear how Chelsea expanded through acquisition during COVID and lost nearly half of her customer base as a result of shutdowns due to the pandemic. She shares how she used social media to attract new customers and boost business, as well as her advice for manufacturers who hope to do the same, plus so much more! Make sure to tune in today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When working on mission-critical assets, quality and reliability are imperative, but how do you leverage a client's experience and respect the integrity of the system while also introducing valuable new technology and ideas? In today's episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks to Cheryl Texin, an award-winning Principle Systems R&D Engineer for the Aerospace, Defense, and Government Business Unit at National Instruments and the Principle of the Austin Section for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Cheryl shares her perspective on being a catalyst for change, not only creating value by implementing new technology within government systems but also by maintaining a strong voice as a woman in a male-populated industry like engineering, particularly in the military space. We touch on the benefit of building a network of support, how the SWE drives change in the engineering industry through awards and speaking opportunities, and how Cheryl is thinking about leadership and development in the future. Plus, she shares her advice for other women engineers: don't be afraid to communicate what you want! Tune in today to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you considered the role that social media has to play in manufacturing? Many experienced members of the manufacturing community maintain that social media is not necessary for their businesses. After all, manufacturers are B2B companies that sell to other manufacturers. This kind of thinking, however, ignores the much larger role that social media has to play in terms of branding and storytelling. Here to help us shed light on this topic today is the wonderful Charli K. Matthews, founder, and CEO of Empowering Brands, a digital media and marketing services company that manages the following brands: Empowering Pumps and Equipment, Empowering Women in Industry, and Empowering Industry Podcast. Charli has worked in the pump and equipment industry since 2005 and has established herself as a leader in brand building, growing online networks, and helping industrial companies embrace digital media. In our conversation with Charli, we discuss her passion for storytelling and enthusiasm for technology, and how this facilitated her deep understanding of how to leverage social media platforms. Tuning in you'll hear Charli share clear and insightful instructions on how to build a social media presence from the ground up. From sending the first post to making sure you have buy-in from your employees, to finding your authentic voice. She also addresses the value that women bring to the industry and how to overcome the obstacles that are keeping women from pursuing a career in manufacturing and manufacturing acquisition. To hear all of Charli's incredible insights and valuable tips, be sure to tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Rosemary Coates speaks with Cindy Oehmigen, the Director of Energy and Corporate Services at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, which is also known as MACNY. Cindy has worked with numerous manufacturing companies during her 30-year career, guiding them through change, creating team environments, reducing costs, and developing staff potential. In this episode, she emphasizes the importance of building a strong network and the benefits that the MACNY apprenticeship program offers aspiring manufacturers. We discuss how MACNY has assisted manufacturers through the unpredictability of COVID-19 and both disseminates and gathers important information about community health and vaccinations, and Cindy shares her perspective on the essential place that women occupy in manufacturing. She also leaves us with some pertinent advice for young women in the industry: don't be afraid to ask for what you want and think laterally to get ahead! For all this and so much more, make sure to tune in today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, host Lydia Di Liello speaks with the President of Harvest Specialty Foods, Nikki Lamb, about her journey into the food manufacturing industry and what she has learned along the way. Business development and relationship building are some of Nikki's greatest strengths, and she has a keen sense of tying together fruitful relationships that align to fulfill a clear vision. In this episode, Nikki elaborates on the trajectory of her career in manufacturing, starting with FormulaNow, an on-demand liquid concentrate dispensing system for baby formula that she founded and developed, and the power of failing forward. We also touch on the value of being the expert, owning your mistakes, and sharing the story of your products, as well as what Nikki means when she urges women in manufacturing to just “get in the room!” This conversation is filled with nuggets of information and inspiration, so make sure to tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Ryan is an award-winning speaker, podcast host, and the author of more than 10 books, including one that every manufacturer on the planet should read, Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Talent in Your Industry. As the Founder and Chief Appreciation Strategist of Grategy, Lisa's programs focus on positive workplace culture, intergenerational communication, employee acquisition, engagement, retention, and gratitude strategies (or ‘grategies') for personal and professional development. In today's episode, you'll learn more about Lisa's career path, her personal manufacturing experience, and her strategies for attracting and retaining talent using the acronym, THANKS. We also touch on the importance of building relationships between tenured workers and new recruits, using automation as a recruiting tool, and why prioritizing basic human connection is more important than throwing money at the problem. Tune in today to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since Eileen Small entered the textile and garment industries in the 1980's, a lot has changed. When she started out, close to 90% of garment manufacturing took place in the USA and today this number has dropped to less than 10%. Furthermore, technology has made the world a much smaller place, and a more entrepreneurial one, and sustainability and transparency have become vital to staying relevant. In today's episode, Eileen gives us an inside look at what it was like sourcing piece goods (commonly known as fabrics) from all over the world in her twenties, and the nuances that exist within the textile and garment industries. As a trade show veteran, Eileen also has valuable advice to share about how to get the most out of these events, and what you can expect from some of the upcoming ones that are going to be held in the near future. The textile and apparel industries have some of the most responsive and attentive supply chains of all manufacturing sectors, and you will have a greater appreciation for the apparel that clothes you after listening to this episode!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on WAM, host Lydia DiLiello is joined by the dynamic professional powerhouse and former Senior Director of Nike, Sarah Walton! During her 15-year career in Corporate America, Sarah worked in 10+ functions, proving herself to be an asset to any team, which successfully landed her roles at some of the largest global brands, including Target. In the episode, Lydia and Sarah discuss Sarah's decision to part ways with the corporate world in pursuit of a more flexible schedule and new passions, including Bettrmeant — her soon-to-be-launched professional consulting, advising, and coaching startup. As a part of today's “Great Resignation” period, Sarah delves into what repositioning her work-life balance as life-work balance looks like, and how to transform the trajectory of your career to build a happier life. Sarah Walton is also a Corporate Director on the Miller Paint Company board, a mother of two, and a graduate of Wellesley College where she played collegiate-level volleyball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In light of the current climate and the effects of the COVID pandemic, the entrepreneurs of today and going forward, are going to need to have a very different skill set to what was required even five years ago. Today we talk to Cara Macklin, a business coach and the founder and CEO of Caram, a success coaching firm. Cara is a serial entrepreneur and a leading businesswoman in Northern Ireland. She was the director for 15 years of a multi-million, and multi-award-winning hospitality and healthcare group, growing it from three businesses with only 200 employees to seven businesses with over 600 employees. She is renowned for helping entrepreneurs to achieve meaningful change and sustained growth. Cara believes that creating an innovative culture is key to the success of businesses in this current time. In this episode, she explains that people are no longer happy to sit on the sidelines and be told what to do, they want to be involved in the progress and success of a business and that the most important thing for the happiness of people is the leadership at every level. Listening in you'll hear what innovative culture is, as well as how to engage people properly and bring them along with you as a leader. Tune in today to find out what an entrepreneur should be doing to create a culture that makes people want to stay! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we get to have an amazing conversation with the Chief Operating Officer of CH Technologies, Bridget Jaeger! The company is dedicated to equipping its clients with a responsive source for cutting-edge inhalation and particle exposure systems, which can be custom-tailored to specific needs. In our chat today, we hear from Bridget about the work that the company has been occupied with since the advent of the pandemic, how COVID-19 has impacted their market, some thoughts on masks and air filtration, and a lot more about their specific products! Bridget also sheds some light on the ins and out of the company, touching on its foundation as a family-run business, and how she likes to keep this ethos alive as COO. She talks about the legacy of her father's leadership style and emphasis on giving and also shares her reflections on how her mother's attitude influenced her mentality as a woman in a male-dominated space. So for all this and more from a wonderful guest, listen in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is from a country that many people probably know little about. Uganda, situated on the African continent, was one of Africa's first countries to have a female vice president, is one of only a few countries in the world which has a ministry dedicated solely to women's issues, and as recently as 2006, found oil. Today's guest, Benita Bageire, has tapped into the huge potential of this discovery. Despite her lack of formal education in relation to the oil and gas industry, and old-fashioned practices which present a major challenge to women looking to acquire commercial funding, Benita founded Albertine Oil and Gas Services in 2016 and received the Upstream Oil and Gas Women of the Year Award in 2019. In this episode, you'll hear more about what makes Uganda such a wonderful place, what the country's oil and gas industry currently looks like, and its big plans for the future! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manufacturing garments for the likes of Ralph Lauren to the United States Coast Guard, our guest today is also the recipient of the Step Ahead Award from The Manufacturing Institute. Today we welcome to the show, Gabrielle Ferrara. Gabrielle is the Chief Operating Officer at Ferrara Manufacturing, a family-owned and operated, American garment manufacturer company founded in 1987. The company is located in Manhattan's Garment District and specializes in high-end, tailored, goods production. Gabrielle leads the company's strategic development, integration of new technologies, and day-to-day operations. Her work supports tailored goods production for prestigious organizations such as Ralph Lauren, The Purple Label, and many more. Join us as we dive into a great conversation with Gabrielle about her company, how she stepped into her role and pivoted the company into COVID-related PPE manufacturing. She also shares with us her passion for garment manufacturing in the United States, women in manufacturing and supply chain, and how they're impacting, engaging, and setting up exposure opportunities in their community. Stay tuned for all this, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, WAM host Rosemary Coates sits down with Eileen P. Guarino, the CEO of Greno Industries Inc. — a machine shop based in upstate New York that has evolved to become a trusted manufacturer of machine parts, which serve a wide range of industries, including several Fortune 500 companies. After taking over for her father, who founded the company in 1961, Eileen swiftly instilled her fresh yet informed perspective to Greno Industries, Inc. This allowed her to adapt Greno to an ever-changing industry, which included many workplace challenges of the global pandemic. In terms of women in the workplace, Eileen recently saw Greno receive a Certification from the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, a leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations and a valuable networking partner for Greno. Throughout the episode, Rosemary and Eileen touch on the skilled labor shortage in the United States, what it's like to be a small business competing with global outsourcing, and how Greno Industries Inc. adapted to the lack of face-to-face interactions with customers and the supply chain during the global pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, we speak with Rachel Snyder, an employee at TR Cutler Inc. who recently published an article in Manufacturing Outlook magazine on why it is so important to embrace Gen Z in the world. She brings us up to speed with the biggest platforms that Gen Zs use, and why, if companies want to recruit Gen Zs, they need to get on board. Rachel informs us that about 85 percent of Gen Zs learn about new products solely through social media, and gives us the temperature on how involved employers should get with Gen Z lingo. Next, we dive into the role of inclusivity as an important value for Gen Z, touch on cancel culture, and how Rachel's generation works smarter, not harder. You'll also hear some tips on how to make Z's feel valued, how to deliver criticism, the importance of maintaining values that will keep Z's from leaving the company, and how Rachel's boss, Tom, has taught her to have confidence and communicate her boundaries within the workplace at TR Cutler Inc. We hope you join us to hear more about how to maximize your Gen Z employees' output and workplace satisfaction today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, we talk about how the right software systems can greatly improve productivity. We are joined by Deb Geiger, the VP of global marketing at Aegis Software. Founded in 1997 by two manufacturing engineers, Aegis has over 20 years of experience providing world-class software to customers around the globe, spanning more than 2200 factories sites across the electronics, medical, automotive, military, and aerospace industries. Today Deb introduces us to the truly unique and highly adaptive manufacturing operations management platform that Aegis supplies. Through their FactoryLogix system, they provide industry 4.0 capabilities out of the box for manufacturers of all sizes, without requiring armies of engineers to customize that system for agility and adaptability. Listening in, you'll hear how this software differs from an ERP system, the types of data their ontological data system produces, and how it contextualizes data in a meaningful way. Find out how the right software can help your company with regulatory compliance, greatly minimize the impact of a recall, enable a high level of personalization for the demands of your customers, and greatly enhance workforce productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Linda Rigano speaks with a true frontierswoman and inspiring leader in world-class tech. You'll hear about her background, growing up in the Rocky Mountains, and the powerful role her strong single mother had as a role model in her life. We touch on the core values taught to her in childhood that have made her who she is today, and the logical framework of asking what can be done to change what doesn't feel right that forms the basis of her work today. She goes on to tell us how seeing first-hand the disconnect between policy and real-life inspired her to pursue an education in how things really worked. We delve into Aidan's studies and what sparked her interest in working at Apple before she tells us what she loved about her experience there. Next, she tells about her six-year journey with Samsara and the mix of real-world operating experience and manufacturing knowledge she has acquired. She also shares the best advice she's received, who she considers to be her biggest source of inspiration, and why she would choose flying if she could pick any superpower. We hope you join us for an action-filled episode today!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Project-based businesses have unique challenges that are very different from traditional service industries. While many project businesses use traditional ERP systems, they don't really work for them because they are not built with projects in mind. Today we chat with Shina Neo, editorial director and media relations specialist at Adeaca. She explains the relatively new term of ‘project business' and Adeaca's role as innovators in this field. The mission of Adeaca is to make enterprise software work for project-based businesses. They built the first project business automation system that unifies all project business functions into one system that works seamlessly in real-time. Shina explains how Adeaca's solution works alongside traditional ERP systems to tailor to the unique needs of project businesses in the manufacturing world to help govern cost, risk, and delivery. Shina also chats about her role as a ‘project business evangelist', the importance of identifying yourself as a project business, and why you should be seeking solutions tailored specifically towards project businesses. She also provides helpful advice for content creation and using it to establish yourself as a thought leader. Tune in today for all this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Seiler Tucker has personally sold over 500 companies, with the tally reaching over a thousand with her Mergers and Acquisitions Firm. She has spoken all over the United States and Canada, and written three books on the subject, and considers entrepreneurship to be her passion, and her mission in life. In today's episode, she tells us about her background as an entrepreneur, and how she responded to the low national success rate of business sales by building a firm that buys, sells, fixes, and grows companies. Michelle talks us through the Six P's: people, product, processes, proprietary, patrons, and profit, and introduces us to three transformational questions: what business are you in, what business do you think you're in, and what business should you be in? Next, Michelle warns us of the dangers of only having one profit center, and uses the McDonald's story as an example of the benefit of having multiple revenue streams, before urging business owners to move from a transactional to a transformational approach in order to grow. We talk about the value of creating a consistent customer experience, and Michelle tells us why manufacturing is one of the hottest industries to sell. Then, she launches into the six pillars of proprietary: branding, trademark, patents, contracts, databases, and IP real estate. Lacking in profits is always a symptom, and never the problem; Michelle tells us why, and runs us through the GPS exit model, which calls us to have a destination, start with the end in mind, and pick a number. In closing, Michelle tells us about the five different buyers we are likely to encounter in manufacturing. We hope you join us for an incredibly informative and practical episode today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, we delve into the subject of SBA lending. Fran Brunelle is joined by Michelle Orr of Live Oak Bank, the number one SBA lender in the nation for the past three years in a row and a great option for financing M&A deals. Michelle comes to Live Oak with 22 years of experience in SBA lending. In the last 11 years alone, she has closed over $185 million in SBA loans. She is one of the best in the industry and, today, she is going to tackle some of your many questions on the subject. Find out why Live Oak is different from other SBA lenders, what being a preferred lender nationwide means for your loan, and how Live Oak's limits on goodwill differ from other banks. Hear about what you can expect when applying for an SBA loan, what funds you should have beyond a down payment before applying, and how you can prepare for the due diligence process. Given that this is such a good time to acquire, make sure to tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The role of a project manager in any kind of business is absolutely essential. Today's guest, Daisie Hobson, is a structural and process engineering but, unlike most engineers, she is a huge people person. She has found a niche for herself working as an independent consultant in a customer support role with new products as a project manager. On today's episode, she tells us how she entered into the field of project management while working in the Peace Corps in Mexico. She explains how her unique skillset has served her in her role, and walks us through some of her favorite tools. Daisie goes on to demystify the Agile and Waterfall approaches and how they differ, tells us why customer support is so important, and what she considers to be the most important skills for a project manager to have. We close our episode with some thoughts on how to transition from your existing role into a project management role. We hope you join us for some practical insights and to soak up some of Daisie's contagious enthusiasm today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Nicole Glenn is no stranger to the engineering and manufacturing fields. She grew up in a home filled with inspiration from her engineer father and her hardworking mother who ran a Scholastic warehouse. Surrounded by such accomplished figures ultimately attributed to Nicole's personal love of learning and drive, which she has carried with her over the years. In addition to these passions, Nicole has always enjoyed helping other individuals and companies push forward, grow, and succeed. This has led her to help develop sales and operations teams for various freight shipping companies. Being such an incredibly bright, passionate woman, it's no surprise that Nicole is a master juggler — building a company, raising a family, and mentoring many women and men across the industry. Living and leading by Steve Jobs quote, “The only way to do good work is to love what you do,” Nicole has accomplished tremendous success. Today, she serves as the owner and CEO of Candor Expedite — a woman-owned and operated delivery service provider and white glove B2B company, the founder and panelist of LLC- Ladies Leadership Coalition podcast, and was a 2021 finalist for the Women in Trucking's Distinguished Women in Logistics Award. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The WAM Podcast, host Frances Brunelle of Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers interviews Maggie Oltarzewski, the Sales and Marketing Engineer for Balyo AGV Systems. Balyo is a company doing some truly incredible things in the tech industry, having a unique intelligence technology that turns standard electric trucks into standalone intelligent robots. Maggie talks about the partnerships that they've established for the manufacturing of their robots, as well as the autonomous transformation that's currently going on and how it's allowing companies to scale at a faster rate. Maggie also talks about when she developed an interest in robotics, and how that transformed into the current position she is. She has spent several years on the installation of things as a field engineer throughout the US, but is now working to develop new products on the pre-sales side of things in her current role of Sales and Marketing Engineer. She also talks about the synergy of the two roles and how they're working to provide powerful solutions in the robotics space. Tune in today to hear her incredible story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, host Rosemary Coates speaks with Cynthia Andela, an engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of two companies Andela Products and Ruby Lake Glass. In our conversation, we talk with Cynthia about striking out on her own to become an entrepreneur and leaving the comfort of her corporate career. We discuss Cynthia's companies and how she was able to find a specific niche in glass recycling and processing. Cynthia offers a detailed breakdown of the machinery her company designs and why they chose to keep their manufacturing entirely based in America. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on the many uses of glass and sand, as well as key insights into how the demand for environmentally friendly manufacturing is on the rise! For all this and much more, join us today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, host Linda Rigano sits down with Laura Putre, award-winning journalist and Senior Editor at IndustryWeek, to discuss the challenges women face in manufacturing and her first-hand experience of raising a family while also managing a very demanding career. Laura manages a network of 200 plus contributors and covers leadership in manufacturing and reporting on professionals who are changing the industry. Tuning in, you'll hear a bit more about Laura's personal journey, the advances and challenges she has witnessed in the manufacturing industry, and how employers can better appeal to women, as well as her advice for manufacturers wanting to promote diversity. Make sure not to miss this empowering and insightful conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices