Made in America with Ari Santiago
246 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 50 ratingsEach week Ari interviews a thriving manufacturing leader and discovers the secrets to their success. He uncovers each guests' 'manufacturing story' - their path into and through the industry,
Ari digs into successes and best practices of each company and leader, as well as challenges and discoveries, to help listeners and guests learn from each other. Discover the strategies these great leaders have used to start, develop, and grow their business - workforce development, leadership, sales/marketing, investments, technology, mergers, workplace culture and so much more!
Ari Santiago is the CEO of CompassMSP a Technology Managed Service Provider with offices up and down the eastern seaboard and into the Midwest. He has a passion for the manufacturing industry and the incredible impact it makes on our economy.
Do you know someone who would be a great guest or have a topic you'd really like to learn about? Let us know! Reach out to our podcast producer at [email protected]
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Episodes
Putting the puzzle pieces together with Chris deGruchy, Cast Rite Metal
July 01, 2024 08:00 - 38 minutes - 89.7 MBIn sectors of manufacturing that remain "dirty jobs", like foundries and casting, it's even more important to have a fantastic company culture, where word of mouth brings in new employees and liking what you do is paramount. On this episode, Ari talks to Chris deGruchy, Principal and General Manager of Cast Rite Metal, about his company culture that keeps people engaged with transparency and care. Chris tells Ari about his business journey and they talk about the puzzle pieces that make ...
Improving Indoor Air Quality with Steve Levine, AtmosAir
June 17, 2024 08:00 - 43 minutes - 99.1 MBDiscover how AtmosAir's groundbreaking bipolar ionization technology has been a game-changer for indoor environments. President and CEO, Steve Levine, delves into the challenges of proving the technology's efficacy and its eventual adoption by professional sports teams. Steve discusses the technology's significant impact on energy costs, absenteeism in schools, and improvements to work environments. With 300% growth in three years and successful tests against viruses, AtmosAir is making...
Overcoming challenges with strategic thinking - Laura Grondin, Virginia Industries
June 03, 2024 13:27 - 39 minutes - 91.4 MBIn this week's episode, discover how the multifaceted company, Virginia Industries - consisting of Hartford Technologies' (balls and bearings) and Bingham and Taylor (access solutions for water and gas) - has navigated nearly 100 years of twists and turns to stay relevant. Laura and Ari discuss many tough decisions the company had to make along the way. They talk about a strategic shift to overseas production and shutting down segments of the business to stay competitive. On the fli...
The Chemistry of Success with Kate Hampford Donahue, Hampford Research
May 20, 2024 08:00 - 42 minutes - 98 MBOn this episode, Kate Hampford Donahue, CEO of Hampford Research, discusses the transformative journey of taking over her father's specialty chemical company. Without a background in the chemical industry, Kate embraced a new kind of leadership, using skills gained throughout her early career. She recounts the pivotal support of Vistage, a CEO peer-to-peer group, that provided her with invaluable insights and support. Kate shares her initial challenges from discovering the co...
Adapting and Thriving Alongside Great People with Jack Birtwell, Porter Preston
May 06, 2024 08:00 - 44 minutes - 101 MBAdapting and thriving through uncertainty and change is one thing that Jack Birtwell, President and Owner of Porter Preston, knows well! On this episode, Jack shares his journey and how he turned a career setback into a successful enterprise. He and Ari delve into the importance of supportive partnerships - both his business partner and his wife have been instrumental to the company's start and success. They talk about what makes a successful partnership. Jack also talks abou...
Lower Energy Costs and Increase Reliability with Christina Lampe-Onnerud, Cadenza Innovation
April 22, 2024 08:00 - 49 minutes - 115 MBLearn how you can save money on your electricity or even make money from it, while also making your power infrastructure more reliable and sustainable! In this episode of Made in America, Ari talks to Christina Lampe-Onnerud, CEO of Cadenza Innovation, about the transformative potential of battery storage technology. Christina discusses how Cadenza Innovation's approach to battery storage can significantly increase safety, reduce electricity costs, enhance grid resilience, an...
Inspiring the Next Generation of Manufacturers with Rani Viroja, Accuturn Manufacturing/AMEP
April 08, 2024 08:00 - 37 minutes - 87.2 MBWanna be inspired by the next generation of manufacturers? Watch this episode! This week's guest discovered a passion for manufacturing that led not only to her current role at Accuturn Manufacturing, but also to designing programs that teach the next generation about manufacturing. Rani Viroja, Quality Engineer and a 2nd generation leader at Accuturn talks about her company, her story, and the Advanced Manufacturing Employee Partnership (AMEP). Rani tells Ari about...
How to Drive Company Culture with Core Values and Active Listening with Shelley Fasano, Dymotek
March 25, 2024 08:00 - 42 minutes - 98.4 MBA company that values good culture values its employees. In this episode we learn all about Dymotek, specialists in plastic molding, from their CEO, Shelley Fasano. Shelley talks to Ari about the history of the company - how their entrepreneurial founders believed in finding the right people for the right job and continue that tradition today. We learn about Shelley's manufacturing journey - a great women in manufacturing story. And we discover how she aligns the company's Cor...
Sustainability with a Customer Focus with Jaclyn Epstein, Mica Corporation
March 11, 2024 09:00 - 34 minutes - 78.9 MBSustainability, customer focus, core values, and relationships are what this episode is all about. This is a compelling conversation with Jaclyn Epstein, COO of MICA Corporation, a pioneer in water-based primers for sustainable flexible packaging solutions. Discover how Mica Corporation is revolutionizing the industry with a customer-focused approach and a commitment to environmental stewardship ingrained in the company's DNA. Jaclyn also shares insights into documen...
Using Extended Reality and AI in Manufacturing with Ted Dinsmore, SphereGen Technologies
January 15, 2024 09:00 - 47 minutes - 109 MBAs technology like Augmented (AR), Virtual (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) as well as AI become better and better, the use cases for business continue to grow. In this week's fascinating episode, Ted Dinsmore from SphereGen Technologies explains what these technologies are and how they can be used to solve complex business challenges. After initially serving the medical industry, Ted realized that AR/VR/MR and AI could make a big impact on manufacturing as well. In this episode, Ted walk...
175 years of manufacturing with Paul Lloyd, Farrel Pomini
January 08, 2024 09:00 - 47 minutes - 108 MBFarrel Pomini is a 175 year old company that has been through multiple iterations of their manufacturing journey - and still survives! In their latest iteration, they are a leader in research, design and manufacture of compounding systems for the polymer processing industry. In this episode, Ari talks to Paul Lloyd, President of Farrel Pomini, about the history of the company and Paul's role for the past 30+ years. They dive into the sustainability of the plastics industry and the in...
Serving the Industrial Base with Ron Angelo, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
January 02, 2024 09:00 - 43 minutes - 99 MBCCATs technology adoption programs and funding opportunities for small and medium sized manufacturers keep growing and developing, so we are always happy to hear from Ron Angelo, President & CEO about their latest and greatest programs. Ron tells Ari about continuous improvement over the years at CCAT and how they are focusing in on areas like training and technology adoption. They discuss programs like the Digital Thread Lab, Additive Adoption Program, and Digital Transformation P...
Recruitment and Retention - The Best of Made in America
December 26, 2023 09:00 - 27 minutes - 63.8 MBThe manufacturing industry is constantly talking about workforce recruitment and retention. It's been a big topic on the podcast for several years, as well, and approaches are changing. This week, we're sharing some of the recruitment and retention secrets that you may have missed during this year's episodes. We've pulled together some of the best tactics from great leaders across the state to help you make some additions or changes to your recruitment and retention strategy. ...
Persistence Beats Resistance with Craig Allmendinger, Northeast Scientific
December 18, 2023 09:00 - 43 minutes - 100 MBMedical device reprocessing is a fascinating niche of medical manufacturing that we haven't yet discussed on the podcast! In this episode, Craig Allmendinger, CEO of Northeast Scientific (NES), shares the remarkable journey of NES. This a story of some serious perseverance! Discover how NES navigated substantial early challenges, overcame massive regulatory hurdles, and established credibility in a tough market. Ari and Craig talk about the innovation needed to continue and t...
A Passion for Time and Space with Love Hunter, Love Hunter Watches
December 11, 2023 09:00 - 27 minutes - 65.9 MBWhat does it mean to make mechanical watches the traditional way? Think made-by-hand, incredibly tight tolerances, and exceptional attention to detail! That's what you get with Love Hunter Watches, an exclusive luxury watch manufacturer bringing back American watch manufacturing. On this episode, we welcome Love Hunter owner of Love Hunter Watches and learn about his fascinating journey and his obsession with watchmaking. Love talks about his unique road to entrepreneurship, the ins...
Persistence and Inspiration with Alison Carey-Lynch, Carey Manufacturing
December 04, 2023 09:00 - 46 minutes - 109 MBCarey Manufacturing is a 2nd generation manufacturing company specializing in latches, catches, and handles. With 10-15000 unique parts, their catalog is massive! On this episode, Ari and talks to Alison Carey-Lynch about coming into manufacturing and learning her way through the company. Alison talks about her time working with Paul Lavoie, CT's Chief Manufacturing Officer, and how his leadership helped move Carey forward and inspired her. Ari and Alison talk about ...
Customer collaboration and IOT with Sam Simons, OEM Controls
November 27, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 83.7 MBWhen you combine entrepreneurial spirit, customer collaboration, and technology, you get a well-run company that leans into technological advancements. That's what we're learning about in this episode with Sam Simons, President of OEM Controls On this episode, Ari and Sam talk about OEM Controls, which specializes in industrial joystick controllers as well as Internet of Things (IOT) hardware that allows data from the customers' machines to be collected and analyzed. Ari and...
Live from 2023 ACM Aerospace Alley, Part 2
November 20, 2023 09:00 - 29 minutes - 68.5 MBThis week, join us for two more excellent interviews recorded live at the Aerospace Components Manufacturers Aerospace Alley tradeshow on November 1. Dorothy Carlone, General Machine and John Bau, Quinnipiac University steal the show with their great positive energy! Dorothy Carlone, VP of General Machine, talks to Ari about coming into her families company after her father's sudden passing 13 years ago and falling in love with manufacturing. She discusses her involvement with ACM a...
Live from 2023 ACM Aerospace Alley, Part 1
November 13, 2023 09:00 - 40 minutes - 94.5 MBThis week, join us for 3 fantastic interviews recorded live at the Aerospace Components Manufacturers Aerospace Alley tradeshow on November 1. Chris Kielb from Advance Welding, Amy Thompson from CCAT and Jim Reeser from Production Metals share their views on the value of the event, as well as what their organizations are involved in. Chris Kielb, President of Advance Welding, talks about the value of getting involved in the ACM, his background, and Advance Welding. He shares some se...
Basic Science Makes Smart Business with Tom Kelly, Kelly Green Products
November 06, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 98.1 MBDesigning a flat roof that can stay on during high winds is no small feat, but Tom Kelly has done it using basic science principles and a new kind of sustainable construction board called Kelly Green Board. On this episode, Ari talks to Tom Kelly, Owner of 2001 Company and Kelly Green Products about his roof design that vacuum seals onto a building. Then they discuss the new board (like plywood) that Kelly Green Board is manufacturing out of recycled and unused plastics that is chang...
Change and Reinvention with Ryan Bower, Verico Technology
October 30, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 100 MBThe only constant in life is change! What would you do if your product or service was made obsolete by new technology? Throw in the towel or take a deep look at the business to pull together an entirely new business idea? In this week's episode, Ari speaks with Ryan Bower of Verico Technology about the history and future of this company that took an innovative look at their capabilities to discover they have untapped and unique expertise to bring to the market. This is a stor...
Lighting Up the Architectural World with Allie Schieffelin, The Lighting Quotient
October 24, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 96.8 MBArchitectural lighting may not be something you think about often- but most people notice when it's really great or really bad! In this episode, Allie Schieffelin, Owner and CEO of The Lighting Quotient, talks about lighting design and engineering and how this 100+ year old company has shifted with the times and trends. Did you know that LEDs made a HUGE shift in the world of lighting? Neither did we…but the pendulum swings both ways and the direct lighting sources which domi...
Solving Tough Engineering Challenges with Mark Mangiafico, Peter Paul
October 17, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutes - 86.7 MBWhen your business becomes known for handling tough engineering challenges, you might find that growth follows! Peter Paul makes solenoid valves for some of the most challenging flow solution applications. In this episode, Ari talks to Mark Mangiafico, President of Peter Paul about growing up in and around his family business. They talk about the benefits of spending time outside of the business to learn valuable skills and processes you can bring back to the team. Mark and A...
Entrepreneurship, Acquisitions, and EOS with Rich Milici, Blackstone Industries
October 10, 2023 08:00 - 47 minutes - 108 MBRich Milici, President &CEO of Blackstone Industries wanted to control his own fate after his job was moved to another state - so he started his entrepreneurial journey. In 2013, Rich purchased Blackstone Industries, a group of brands that manufacturers tools for artisan markets. With 3 brands that are over 100 years old, he knew this would be a strong building block for growth. Ari and Rich talk about the initial purchase process and Blackstone's M&A aspirations. Then they g...
Taking Apparel from Commodity to Craft with Jacob Long, American Woolen Company
October 03, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutes - 94.1 MBThis is an incredible Made in America story of bringing woolen textile manufacturing back to the US - specifically back to New England. In this episode, Ari talks to Jacob Long, President of American Woolen Company, about his passion for creating a story and a community around the American wool industry. They discuss the idea of 'craft' manufacturing - similar to the craft beer movement, Jacob believes there is a sizeable market for craft textiles. Not only can it be a source of pri...
Industrializing Construction with Modular Manufacturing, Roger Krulak, FullStack Modular
September 26, 2023 08:00 - 48 minutes - 112 MBThis episode takes you through the history of the construction industry and its resistance to industrialization, and brings you to modern-day manufacturing of modular construction. While everything else in our modern world is manufactured…construction has had a tough time making the transition. Roger Krulak, President and Founder of FullStack Modular, talks with Ari about the incredible need for more development and how it will take every kind of construction technique to keep up…in...
Beating the Odds with Jonathan Marcus, Rose Sisters Brands
September 19, 2023 08:00 - 43 minutes - 98.6 MBRose Sisters Chips is an up-and-coming snack that has been beating the odds and growing at a quick pace. This week Ari talks to Jonathan Marcus, President of Rose Sisters Brands and discovers the origin of their family's chip recipe, the story of getting started, and how they moved from co-packing to self-manufacturing. Starting at zero, Rose Sisters Brands began with no knowledge of food manufacturing, but took a crash course, first at Rutgers University and then through li...
Quality, Improvement, and Empowerment with Carleton Birk, Birk Manufacturing
September 12, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 98.3 MBThis episode is all about the journey… a personal journey, a company journey, and a Lean journey. This week Ari talks to Carleton Birk, President of Birk Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of innovative thermal heating elements. After Carleton took over as President, just 2 years ago, the company went through massive growth that challenged their systems and processes. Luckily they were prepared! Not only had they recently acquired a new building, but they were well on the...
A Successful Rise to CEO with Marietta Lee, The Lee Company
September 05, 2023 08:00 - 58 minutes - 134 MBBack on the podcast after 4 years, Marietta Lee, the newly-named CEO of The Lee Company, has a lot to talk about! The Lee Company is now a 3rd generation family- business that is a leading innovator in miniature precision fluid controls. Simultaneous with transitioning to a new CEO, The Lee Company also reached their 75th anniversary. On this episode, Ari and Marietta talk about her preparation for taking on the role and what she expects for the future. But they also cover mu...
Resilience Through Tough Times with Lorella Struzzi, ProMold Plastics
August 29, 2023 08:00 - 40 minutes - 95.2 MBComing back after losing 80-90% of your business sounds impossible, but ProMold Plastics proved it can be done! ProMold Plastics is a 55+ year old company specializing in custom injection molding and mold making. Lorella Struzzi, co-owner, tells Ari about the origins of ProMold Plastics, but they really dive in to learn from the hard years after 2010, when ProMold's largest customer suddenly and unexpectedly decided to end their long-term, healthy business relationship despi...
Reinventing a 170 year-old business with Jeff Davis, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals
August 22, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 121 MBHow does a 170 year old pharmaceutical company reinvent itself over and over again to remain relevant in our ever-changing world? Find out today with Jeff Davis, president and CEO of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer and supplier of store brand over-the-counter (OTC) creams, ointments, toothpastes, nasal products and first aid products that have been made in the USA since 1850. Jeff talks to Ari about making the right investments and taking the risks. But, even more ...
Finding the right path with Meghan West, Mastercam
August 15, 2023 08:00 - 52 minutes - 121 MBMeghan West knew at a young age she wanted to join her Dad and the team at Mastercam. Now she's the president and CEO, bringing solutions and services to the manufacturing world with advanced software. This episode is a wide-spanning journey that starts with the company's origins and Meghan's early days. We learn about Meghan's entrance into the company after her degree and how she had to find a role where she could be of most value to the organization. Meghan discovere...
You Can't Do it Alone with Pete Hoffman, Orange Research
August 08, 2023 08:00 - 46 minutes - 106 MBPete Hoffman is a third generation leader and president at Orange Research, a leader in filtration, level and flow monitoring. He is following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, but bringing his own digital twist. It's not a surprise that Pete went to school originally for Information Technology, as he aims to digitally transform Orange Research, starting with a new ERP system and then leveraging it to achieve to much more. Pete is also starting his company's journey in...
Get the Best Sleep Ever with Bob Zukowski, Custom Sleep Technology
August 01, 2023 08:00 - 40 minutes - 92.3 MBBob Zukowski joins Ari for this episode to discuss his manufacturing journey and how he founded Custom Sleep Technology. As the name would indicate, they make custom made sleep products designed specifically for the body of their customer, so they get restful, healthful sleep. Bob has a real passion for the materials, design, technology and even marketing of his product, and he talks to Ari about how they all come together. Bob talks through the patent process he took on at ...
Economic Development at the Speed of Business with John Bourdeaux, AdvanceCT
July 25, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MBIn this 4th anniversary episode of the Made in America podcast, we are joined by John Bourdeaux, CEO of AdvanceCT. AdvanceCT is a private organization that partners with Connecticut state economic development to expand current CT businesses, attract new businesses, market the state, and provide the research needed to successfully accomplish those goals. John's enthusiasm for the state and the work of his organization is palpable. He talks about the importance of CT manufacturing compani...
Solving Problems using Collaborative Robotics with Rishabh Agarwal, Peer Robotics
July 18, 2023 08:00 - 46 minutes - 106 MBGrowing up in a big manufacturing family, Rishabh Agarwal, CEO of Peer Robotics, got an early look at the challenges manufacturers are facing. Now he's working to solve them - one robotic solution at a time. Peer Robotics builds robots that solve some of the most simple, yet time and labor consuming tasks - moving materials around your shop floor. Rishabh's solutions aim to free up employees to do their most valuable work. Best yet, the solutions are simple enough for any em...
The Entrepreneurial Spirit with Tushar Shah, Airex Rubber
July 11, 2023 08:00 - 40 minutes - 92.9 MBTushar Shah is the new President of Airex Rubber, having purchased the rubber parts business just a little over a year ago in 2022. He owns and operates the 80 year old business with his wife, Hetal, who handles everything outside of operations, while Tushar runs the operations side of the business. Ari talks to Tushar about the process of purchasing the formerly multi-generational, family-owned manufacturing business. It all started with a simple google search and then moved on, ...
Sustainable Manufacturing for the Future - Best of Made in America
July 04, 2023 08:00 - 26 minutes - 62 MBSummer is upon us! As we all spend more time outdoors, we often think about how our actions affect the environment now and into the future. But it may surprise you how many of our manufacturing guests CONSTANTLY have sustainability and environmental impact on their minds. This "Best of" episode highlights just some of the manufacturers we have spoken to about their initiatives that make an impact on the world around us. We chose companies that talk about their sustainable pro...
Saving Lives with Joe Mullally, Defibtech
June 27, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 82.5 MBJoe Mullally is the Senior Vice President of Defibtech, a medical device manufacturer of life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). In this episode, Joe and Ari discuss the mission of Defibtech and the importance of the AED. Joe tells Ari about the educational and legislative work the company does to promote the use of the device in public spaces. Joe also talks about what it means to be an FDA class 3 medical device manufacturer and their plans to promote their newest produ...
Creative Problem Solving with Ed Gilchrest, Gyre9
June 20, 2023 16:25 - 49 minutes - 114 MBEd Gilchrest is the President of Gyre9 a growing product design firm that also engineers and manufactures products for its customers. In this episode, Ed and Ari dive deep into the fascinating world of product design and development. Ed describes it as "Mythbusters" every day, which sounds like a pretty fun way to work! Ed describes why manufacturers might want to use an outside design firm and why it's helpful to use one that also manufacturers products. (Hint: not all design firms...
Reinvention and Resilience with Beverlee Dacey, Amodex Products
June 13, 2023 08:00 - 47 minutes - 110 MBBeverlee Dacey is the second generation leader of Amodex Products, manufacturers of an ink and stain remover that is soap based (the only one of its kind) and even recommended by the makers of Sharpie! Throughout this episode, Beverlee shares heart-felt stories from the business, her customers, and her family. Her positive approach to business and life permeates the episode. Beverlee discusses the major shift the company had to take in order to stay afloat. She discusses her...
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone with Kim Bowen, Specialty Cable Corporation
June 06, 2023 08:00 - 45 minutes - 104 MBThis week, we are joined by Kim Bowen, CEO of Specialty Cable Corporation, a cabling manufacturer specializing in wire that can withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures. Their wires are engineered and manufactured in all sizes from baby heart monitors to airplane power cables. Kim and Ari talk about Kim's interesting background starting at a technical high school for electrician training, moving on to accounting roles and then becoming a Director of Manufacturing before finally t...
Pivoting through Four Generations with Capri Brighenti, Miller Foods
May 30, 2023 08:00 - 47 minutes - 110 MBIn this episode, Ari swaps stories with Capri Brighenti, President & CEO of Miller Foods, a pet food manufacturer known for its Oma's Pride brand of raw pet food. Capri tells Ari the incredible story of the company's evolution from egg delivery to turkey farm to pet food manufacturer in the span of 3 generations. She talks about the challenges they faced after her grandparents passed and her mother and aunt immediately lost their biggest customer. They learned the importance of diver...
Using Industry 4.0 to Solve Big Problems with Brian Romano, Arthur G. Russell
May 23, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutes - 89 MBIf you're uncertain about what i4.0 is, what it means for manufacturers and how you can leverage i4.0 technology to improve your outcomes, you're going to want to listen to this episode. Brian Romano, Director of Technology Development at Arthur G. Russell (AGR) talks to Ari about i4.0 technology. Then they dive into how AGR is leveraging the i4.0 systems built into their machines (sensors, data collection and analytics) to provide a remote support program to their customers. ...
Becoming a Manufacturer Overnight with Shari Raymond, Milton & Goose
May 16, 2023 10:34 - 39 minutes - 89.9 MBWe love a good manufacturing start-up story and this one is filled with ups and downs! In this episode, Ari talks to Milton & Goose Founder & CEO, Shari Raymond. Milton & Goose is a high-end children's toy manufacturer that makes heirloom-quality wooden play kitchens. Shari and Ari talk about all the struggles that starting and growing a new business can bring - from the initial design to contract manufacturing to marketing to bringing manufacturing in-house and becoming a full-fled...
Building Superior Products and Relationships with Marc Navarre, Talalay Global
May 09, 2023 16:04 - 41 minutes - 94.4 MBIn this episode, Ari talks to Marc Navarre, CEO of Talalay Global, about Talalay’s unique manufacturing process and the relationships they’ve built with their OEM customers. Talalay Global is a 45-year-old company that produces high-quality latex foam for mattresses and pillows. Their unique process involves trapping air in the latex foam to produce a consistent, durable and top-quality product with good airflow. Marc discusses the benefits of having strong OEM relationships....
Solving the World's Food Waste Problem with Jonathan Fife, Bright Feeds
May 02, 2023 08:00 - 44 minutes - 105 MBIn this episode, Ari talks to Jonathan Fife, CEO of Bright Feeds about the company's mission to tackle the global food waste problem. This CT-based start-up is using creative engineering and technology to convert food waste to nutritious and consistent animal feed. It's not too often we get a manufacturing start-up on the podcast, so this is one episode to catch! As a start-up there are lots of challenges that are fresh on Jonathan's mind, like finding their first customers without bu...
Finding Your Niche in Manufacturing with Dave Marcil, Reno Machine
April 25, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 82 MBThis episode is all about finding your niche! Ari speaks with Dave Marcil from Reno Machine about both finding his own personal niche in the manufacturing industry and how Reno Machine found their valuable machining niche as well. Dave shares his background in tinkering, trade school, and his career path through multiple manufacturing roles. He shows how careers can twist and turn before landing on something you truly love. Dave then talks about Reno Machine, which provides ...
From Handcrafted to High-Tech with Stephen Mazzarelli, Commercial Sewing
April 18, 2023 08:00 - 43 minutes - 99.3 MBIn this episode we welcome Stephen Mazzarelli, Partner at Commercial Sewing, the manufacturer of the Outer Armor brand of covers for recreational vehicles in the power sport and marine industries. Stephen talks to Ari about their family-owned business and how they have successfully transitioned from traditional hand-craftsmanship to modern technology so they can remain competitive (and thrive!) in today's international manufacturing ecosystem. The transition required their cr...
Compassion Makes A Better Workplace with Jack Lukasik, Satellite Tool
April 11, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutes - 88.1 MBJack Lukasik, President of Satellite Tool, has workforce issues like most other manufacturers, but he's combatting them with conscious efforts in leadership and processes. In this episode, Ari and Jack talk about how Satellite Tool has fostered transparency, open communication, accountability and compassion and how this has led to better retention outcomes - as well as more productivity. Jack gives tips for getting good feedback at all ranks, what a family atmosphere actually...