WAM

Ellen Pietrowitz-Phillips is the President LEM Plastics and Supply, A woman-owned fabricator and distributor of raw material plastics, sheet, rod, tubing, and film. Their build-to-print fabrication services the aeronautical division, space division, medical products, radio engineering, and more, providing components for everything from the International Space Station to the production line at Budweiser. On today's episode, Ellen shares with us her experiences, good and bad, as a woman in manufacturing and the wisdom she's gained along the way including the importance of all women sharing what they've learned, collaborating and cooperating with other women in the interest of overcoming any barrier to success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Women And Manufacturing podcast, host Lydia Di Liello welcomes Helen Mitchell, Senior Director of Conferences and Events with The Professional Pricing Society in Atlanta, Georgia. Hellen and Lydia discuss how The Professional Pricing Society's conferences and online courses offer tremendous value through actionable insights, new skillsets, and networking opportunities for new and seasoned business professionals from all industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest on the Women And Manufacturing podcast is Ashleigh Walters, President of Onex Inc. and author of Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey of Organizational Culture Change. Ashleigh and WAM host Fran Brunelle discuss her experiences in managing a manufacturing company and shares some extremely valuable insight on lean principles, her culture of continuous improvement, and “The Wildly Important Goal.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Women And Manufacturing host Lydia Di Liello welcomes Ivana Bertuzzelli, Vice President of Portfolio Analytics at Intech Investment Management. Ivana invites us all to “sit back and enjoy the show” as she explains the complex world of investment management. As Ivana explains, we invest with the hope that we are going to make money by buying low and selling high, and too often that is our only definition of performance. Ivana helps us understand that the true meaning of performance is outperforming expectations. All this and much more on this episode of Women And Manufacturing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the WAM Podcast, we welcome Whitney Koch, Marketing Communications Specialist with Welker inc., in Sugarland, Texas. Whitney shares with us how she transitioned from a high school teacher to writing technical copy and finally managing the digital marketing efforts for a 3rd generation manufacturing company. Whitney explains how small to medium-sized companies can handle their digital marketing in-house, including the various platforms she uses to get the job done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our first episode of the year, Women And Manufacturing is proud to welcome Wendy Feldstein to the podcast. Wendy works for Crestron Electronics, a global leader in audio-visual automation and integration. In this episode, Wendy takes us through the incredible parallel origin stories of Crestron, her father's company, and her journey to her current role as Vice President of Design. From the company's humble beginnings in her family's basement, with Wendy bending resistors and capacitors after school to help get the fledgling company off the ground, Wendy shares her story of navigating her way through the heavily male-dominated electronics industry and the positive changes she's seen along the way. Don't miss this inspiring episode of the Women And Manufacturing podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elysabeth Alfano is CEO of VegTech Invest, a fund that invests in alternative proteins and the food revolution. VegTech is the creator and advisor to the world's only plant-based innovation ETF.  Elysabeth is a plant-based expert who speaks worldwide about the need for change in the global food supply system including speaking recently at the UN Global Leaders Compact Summit. On today's episode, Fran and Elysabeth discuss the need for change in the global food supply system to address global population growth. Elysabeth explains in detail how the way we use our resources to create food is inefficient. 77% of our agricultural land is used for animals to graze and to grow crops to feed those animals. This 77% returns only 18% of our calories. On top of that 42% of our clean water supply is used to grow crops for and as drinking water for those same animals. As we move forward with a rapidly growing population, these inefficiencies are not sustainable. Elysabeth discusses alternatives for food production and how relying less on animals and more on cleaner, greener more efficient methods of producing the foods we need to meet population growth in the very near future. Elysabeth walks us through the process and benefits of cultivated or lab-grown meat and precision fermentation to grow cheese without involving animals. Elysabeth goes into detail on how these technologies produce food products that not only meet our nutritional and taste requirements but also offer the opportunity to make sure enough food can be produced to meet current and future requirements. Bringing in these new choices to augment, not replace completely our reliance on animal products is the key to a much brighter future for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the WAM podcast, our host Lydia Di Liello is joined by Pamela Tropiano, RN, BSN, MPA, CCM who is the Vice President of Healthcare Services at Molina Healthcare of Ohio. Pamela brings with her a deep understanding of the challenges facing complex and underserved populations including Medicaid and Medicar,e both from the direct clinical practice and payer side. During their interview, Pamela and Lydia discuss a variety of healthcare topics including how health plans work with Care Providers, social determinants of health and health equity, accessing appropriate health and wellness programs, and the use of available incentives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you bridge the disconnect between manufacturing companies and their potential marketing success? Emily Wilkins, Founder and CEO of Marketing Metal, explains why her company is successful, while other marketing agencies struggle to meet manufacturing companies in the middle. From hesitancy when handing over marketing to inexperience in laying out goals and misunderstanding why marketing is needed at all, the reasons for disconnect are seemingly endless. Emily explains the importance of attracting (and retaining) talent and vendors, how marketing can be a fun and exciting team-building tool, why you need a good website, and why Marketing Metal prioritizes pulling manufacturing companies into the marketing process.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bed and Breakfasts offer an attractive alternative to bland hotels when traveling for business. Host Lydia Di Liello welcomes sister-in-law Laura Di Liello to the show today to discuss the ins and outs of running an inn and how staying at an inn can help you return home less stressed. Laura started her career as an electrical engineer in the automotive industry. Her experience traveling around the world and staying in countless hotels led her and her husband (also an electrical engineer) to leave corporate culture behind to run an 18-room inn in Pennsylvania. Laura details how to choose the right location, how to tell the good from the not-so-good, and how to get the most out of your stay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guidewheel is a global software company on a mission to empower all the world's factories to reach sustainable peak performance and their CEO Lauren Dunford is on a mission to show everyone how Guidewheel is making this a reality. Lauren sits down with WAM Host Frances Brunelle to share how even the oldest manufacturing equipment can take advantage of Guidewheel's technology to achieve peak performance. Their simple, non-invasive sensors clip over the power supply of any machine or auxiliary equipment. Data is sent securely to the cloud in real-time, analyzed, and translated into key metrics and visuals accessible on any device, anywhere. Lauren covers not only the many benefits of Guidewheel's services but also her personal journey from Stanford University to CEO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isn't pricing just setting and defining the value of a product? Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Antonella Sinito, the pricing operations manager at 3M, is here to explain why this approach is incorrect, and why pricing is actually all about improving customer experiences and simplifying processes. Tasked with creating data processes for 18 Latin American countries, each with different languages and unique currencies, Antonella is an inspiring guest who shares her journey of reshaping the male-dominated industry and coming out on top. To her, it is all about customer experience, and Antonella speaks to the changes in customers' expectations and needs post-pandemic, the factual common language in data management, and what it takes to create effective change (and make it stick!) From constant transparency to maintaining communication and adapting to changes in the environment, it all comes down to one thing: getting customers what they want. Tune in today to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kara Branch is an engineer who has always been the only Black woman on all the teams she's ever worked on and has experienced many challenges as a result. When one of her daughters decided she also wanted to pursue a career in engineering, Kara decided she wanted better for the next generation and so she founded the Black Girls Do Engineer Corporation. Today she joins us to tell us more about the fantastic work she is doing. Kara only founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2019 and has she already helped a young Black woman establish a career for herself in STEM. The organization's goals are to provide access, awareness, and advocate for two million Black American girls to pursue STEM careers by the year 2050 and it is well on its way to achieving this goal. In addition to the first chapter in Houston, Texas, more chapters are now opening up in Los Angeles and New Orleans. Tuning in you'll discover how the Black Girls Do Engineer Corporation is developing young women in all areas of STEM. To hear all about Kara Branch, the fantastic organization she started, how it is transforming lives, and how you can help, tune in today! 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

Culture eats strategy for breakfast. This is a quote from legendary management consultant, Peter Drucker, that implies that it's the culture of your company that determines your success, regardless of how effective your strategy is. Today, Lydia Di Liello speaks with Jessica Navascues, a purpose-driven C-suite executive and a devout servant leader who uses this quote as the basis for her philosophy that making company culture part of your DNA is critical for every organization. Jessica has held senior roles at several manufacturing companies, including President of Building Systems at Cornerstone BuildingBrands, CEO at Allura Fiber Cement Products, and Managing Director of Sales and Operations for theUS & Canada at Plycem, one of the largest manufacturers of fiber cement and construction solutions inCentral America. In this episode, Jessica emphasizes the importance of building a well-defined, inclusive, and positive corporate culture and highlights the positive impact it can have, from facilitating better communication to driving innovation. We also touch on the significance of employee engagement, using metrics to drive decision making, and encouraging diversity of thought. Make sure to tune in today to hear all this and more from a leader who is passionate about building inclusive teams and creating strong cultures to deliver exceptional results Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manufacturing can be so many different things. Everything you use in your day-to-day life is essentially manufactured. Are you wondering daily how your favorite things are being made? Or wondering where they come from? Why are we not talking more, especially to young women, about the possibility of careers in manufacturing? Our guest on the show today is passionate about manufacturing, and her name is Devon Winter. Devon is the Vice President and COO at F. W. Winter Inc. & Co, the industry-leading supplier of metals and alloys in powder form for automotive, welding, and aerospace industries. She started as a sales and marketing associate with the company and in 2016 she became the director of operations, successfully implementing LEAN, and became the COO in 2020; overseeing the management of the company globally. Don't miss out on today's conversation as we hear all about Devon's journey through the manufacturing industry, her thoughts on LEAN and ISO certifications, and why she is so deeply passionate about careers in manufacturing! Tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As companies grow from national to international, private to public, so does their tendency to apply increased layers of bureaucracy and rigid hierarchical structures, often accompanied by a death knell for innovation. In this episode Frances Brunelle, The President of Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers inc. speaks with Sheryl Corrigan, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Koch Industries, about what sets their company apart from other companies of its size. Sheryl explains how Koch's founding principles of experimentation and entrepreneurship continue to guide the company in pursuing disruptive technologies as well as the competitive advantage that comes with manufacturing. Listeners can expect to hear Sheryl break down exactly how Koch empowers its employees and provide them with opportunities to share their insights and rise through the ranks. We also discuss how disruption can be a disaster, additive manufacturing, and why Sheryl prefers to do business with private companies. For all this and more, join us today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years into the pandemic, the way that nearly all workers think about the social contract they have with their employers has changed in profound ways. For the hourly wage earners who power the economy, the desire for a flexible schedule, preferred shifts, and competitive pay rates is now more important than ever. In today's episode of the WAM Podcast, Lydia Di Liello sits down with Cathi Canfield to discuss her role as Vice President of Brand Solutions and Marketing at EmployBridge, a leading provider of technology-enabled, light industrial workforce solutions in the United States. Tuning in, you'll gain some insight into what it's like finding jobs for people on a short-term basis, and Cathi shares some of the results from the 2022 Voice of the Blue-Collar Worker Survey and what they mean for the future of attracting, recruiting, and retaining the workforce you want. Tune in today to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest believes that if you love the workers and workplace before the work, everything else falls into place. Robin Ritz is the creative visionary and the owner of InCord, North America's largest custom netting fabricator, providing the best in custom netting products to customers worldwide since 1995. From the start, Robin has had a passion to make her company an exemplary workplace and as a result of her efforts, InCord has been voted one of Connecticut's top places to work for over 10 years running. Robin is also a renowned speaker on subjects like the ABCs of workplace success, work-life balance, and Kaizen strategies. Tuning in you'll hear about her focus on company culture, how they implement Kaizen principles at InCord, how they marry process and culture in the company, and how they honor every voice. Robin explains why she believes that the person closest to the problem is also closest to the solution and how she uses this to improve processes at InCord. To find out more about the values they support at InCord, how supporting these values has made the company an exemplary place to work, and how this has led to their success, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Lydia Di Liello 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 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. To watch the episode, CLICK HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is an IT project manager at Oro, a business that builds customer-driven, powerful, and connected open-source software for B2B digital transformation. She is also a woman and a Ukrainian refugee. In this episode, Kate Yanshyna joins us to discuss all that she's been through and how the company culture at Oro has supported her throughout. Tuning in, you'll hear how she came to work for Oro, how the company evacuated Ukrainian employees when the war broke out, and how much support Kate received from the management, her team, and her customers in the terrible situation she found herself in. She goes on to shed light on what it has been like for her to be a woman in IT, the growth in the number of female employees at Oro that she has witnessed over the years, and the continuing growth opportunities she sees for women in IT. You'll also hear about the importance of digitalization and automation for the future of business and how Oro can help you future-proof your company. For all this, and so much more, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While manufacturers are increasingly engaged in at least some level of social media participation, many are not optimizing it to reach their fullest potential! Today, Fran Brunelle sits down with Lauren LaDell, a.k.a. The Spindle Chick, to talk about why social media matters for manufacturing companies. Lauren is the National Sales Manager at Motor City Spindle Repair, a 25,000 square-foot spindle remanufacturing and ball screw manufacturing facility in Dearborn, Michigan, that specializes in motorized CNC spindle repair for HMC/VMCs, turning centers, grinding machines, and other precision spindle applications. With over 20,000 followers on Instagram and more than 14,000 on TikTok, Lauren sure knows how to leverage the power of social media! In this episode, she outlines some of the benefits manufacturers can get from social media, from LinkedIn to TikTok, and we touch on finding the right balance between relatable and professional content, how to boost your engagement, and more. Lauren also shares her top tips and ideas for the types of content that manufacturers can post, so make sure not to miss this thought-provoking discussion with The Spindle Chick, Lauren LaDell! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manufacturing is an amazing career choice and people seem not to understand that they can have a wonderful life taking up a career in this industry. Our guest today is passionate about informing kids and their parents that just because you go into a trade and start working right out of high school, does not mean that you lose the opportunity to go to college. More often than not, employers like herself want to invest in their employees and companies. Today, we welcome to the show, Kristin Carlson, who is President of Peerless Precision, Inc. in Westfield, Massachusetts. Peerless is a small, precision machine shop specializing in the manufacturing of complex mechanical components, mainly for the aerospace and defense industries. Kristin is the previous president of the Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association. She also currently serves as trustee, a member of the board, and sits on advisory/steering committees for Westfield Technical Academy's Manufacturing Program, West Springfield High School's Pathways to Prosperity Program, Agawam High School's Manufacturing Program, and Forge. Kristin has extensive experience in purchasing, sales, supply chain management, and operations management. She is extremely passionate when it comes to changing the outdated narrative that encompasses manufacturing, bringing more women into manufacturing, and educating students on the many career paths and opportunities that are available in advanced manufacturing. Stay tuned for this insightful conversation as we hear all about it from Kristin herself in today's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over 95% of what goes on in our brains is beneath our conscious level of awareness. Someone who understands this well is today's guest, Suzen Fiskin. Suzen is a professional speaker and a pioneer in the world of coaching. With an extensive education in neurolinguistic programming (the foundation of Tony Robbins' work) and hypnotherapy training, together with her marketing and people skills, Suzen began a new career in coaching in the early '90s. For 30 years, she has been working with clients to help them become happier, both personally and professionally, as well as more successful. She works with clients to rewire their thinking on both conscious and subconscious levels to break through old limitations and to create vastly superior results. As she is currently launching the new coaching division of TR Cutler Inc, today she joins us to talk about the incredible power of mindset coaching and how this can be harnessed for manufacturers. To discover more about the power of the unconscious mind, the vast potential of neurolinguistic programming, the secret weapon of humor, and how all this may hold the key to you becoming exponentially more successful professionally, tune in today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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