Talking Textiles

In this episode of Talking Textiles , host Michael Woody speaks with Dr. Karl Aspelund of the University of Rhode Island about the growing future of the textile industry and the importance of collaboration between academia, manufacturers, and community organizations. Together, they explore the origins and impact of the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network, efforts to close the textile skills ga...

Listen in as Dan Litster [Keyston Bros] sits down with featured guests Michael Yungman, [Yungman Engineering], Ethan Halpern [American Awning and Blind Co.], and Scott Neville, [Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning and Kansas City Tent and Awning Co.]. Yungman shares on how he became interested in engineering and his experiences with his clients. The conversation covers communication with your engineer and...

Listen in as Jasmine Cox , Executive Director at Gaston College's Textile Technology Center and ETC Chair, interviews,  Lynn Wagner , Senior Research Textile Manager,  FASTR  Lab at the University of Maine and ETC Board Member. The discussion focuses on the Fiber & Specialty Textiles Research ( FASTR ) Lab at the University of Maine. The lab is a is a state-of-the-art research and development faci...

Kyle Van Damme, MFC [Marine Tops Unlimited], got together with Mike Boatman [Boatman Marine Canvas], and Justin Jones [SewLong Custom Covers] to talk about branding and rebranding your marine canvas business. The importance of being consistent across your digital and social media platforms to build customer trust and company perception was discussed. Using brand as a tool to take your company to t...

Julie Tinsman [Strataglass LLC] sat down with featured guests: Charlene Clark, IFM [Signature CanvasMakers LLC], Jeff Newkirk, MFC [Precision Custom Canvas], and Andrew Oatley [Oatley's Top Shop] at the Advanced Textiles Expo to talk about seasonal business. They covered the year-round business and strategies for slow times, from products to training to business improvements, to setting expectatio...

Liz Johnson [Brookwood Companies] sits down with featured guests Tanya Wade [Manufacturing Solutions Center at CVCC]; Jennifer Fennell [Polo Custom Products]; and Robert Finnegan [AFFOA] to record a live podcast from Advanced Textiles Expo 2025, focusing on how to assess and hire talent. They open by exploring key qualities to define strong candidates—such as drive, curiosity, adaptability, and a...

In part two of the podcast on tariffs, the conversations centers around the current landscape and how companies are navigating through uncertainty. Host Tony Ehrbar [Renegade Plastics/American Tent] sits down with Brian Coughlin [Sioen]; Victor Jensch [Ennis Fabrics]; and Jonathan Palmer [Autometrix] at the Advanced Textiles Expo 2025. The group talks about being flexible, keeping calm, and stayin...

Listen in as host Dan Litster chats with featured guests Nick Deninno (Block & Roll Innovations), and Paul Armstrong (PACCS) about the codes and standards in the tent and shade industry. They share practical advice on building relationships and best practices for working with code officials. The conversation also covers the upcoming ICC Code Action Hearing, including proposals related to loads and...

Tune in for a sneak peek of featured education sessions at the upcoming Advanced Textiles Expo, taking place November 4–7 in Indianapolis. Expo presenters Elizabeth Denly (Technical Strategy and Innovation) and Terry Kelm (Sunbelt Franchise Re-sales) join with Jonathan Sweet (ATA) to preview their sessions.   Denly offers insights into her session on PFAS, where she'll discuss how to stay ahead of...

The episode looks at the uncertainties of tariffs and how companies are making things work amongst the policy changes. They touch on onshoring and nearshoring, being transparent with customers, evaluating new sources, and what can be gained through customer loyalty. Our host is Tony Ehrbar (Renegade Plastics and American Tent) who is joined by Brent Nussbaum (Miller Weldmaster), Kristi Reiherzer (...

In part three of the Workforce Special Series, host Robert Finnegan, Director of Education and Workforce Development at AFFOA, focuses on how companies can leverage traditional Career and Technical Education (CTE) to develop a talent pipeline for next-generation employees. The discussion covers the historic textiles city of Fall River MA, and how community, school, and industry come together to st...

In this episode,  Jonathan Sweet , ATA, sits down with podcasters  Kyle Richardson  (L&A Tent Rentals) host of Under the Vinyl, along with  Lori Antone  and  Dan McGowan (TVF) hosts of The Textile Nerd Podcast. Our featured guests talk about how they got into the industry and why they do a podcast on the side. They share on the importance of storytelling and offer tips on how to engage listeners,...

In the second installment of our Workforce Special Series with AFFOA, host Robert Finnegan , Director of Education and Workforce Development at AFFOA, leads a compelling discussion with industry leaders and technologists about how digital engineering and automation are transforming the textiles manufacturing industry. Join us as we delve into the workforce implications of these cutting-edge advanc...

Next generation leader Donato Fraioli is joined by Kyle Van Damme, James Dillport and Jason Storozum to discuss running a textile product company. Listen in as they share previous experiences and how they entered the industry, from joining the family business to running a company for silent partners. They discuss finding new talent through word of mouth, challenges with HR and discovering success...

In this episode, Robert Finnegan, [Director of Education and Workforce Development, AFFOA], hosts a discussion on best practices for recruitment, retention, and workforce development, including work-life balance, company culture, training younger staff, onboarding, automation, government involvement, and engaging local academia to attract the next generation of textile manufacturers. Guests includ...

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

Listen in as Joey Smith, Chad Twombly, Mark Harries, Sydney Price, and Matt Clark give a recap of USINFI Advocacy Days held on March 4-5 in Washington D.C. Day one included introductory meetings, while day two focused on meetings with elected representatives and legislative staff. New attendees Sydney Price and Matt Clark shared their experiences. They also mentioned that many of the representativ...

Listen in as Charlene Clark interviews Chris Ritsema, Travis Jenkins, and Scott Neville as they provide valuable insight into succession planning and the long-term success of a business. They discuss how they got their start – whether through acquisition, external purchase, or as long-term employees. They also talk about the must haves when it comes to acquiring and keeping businesses going, and e...

During the Marine Fabricators Conference in Corpus Christi, Kyle Van Damme sat down with David and Barbara Huntington to talk about doing canvas work for boaters vacationing in the 1000 island region. Barbara shares about her start in the quilting industry, and how the love of boating led the Huntingtons to the marine canvas trade. They touch on their business plan, how they fabricate and making t...

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

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

Listen in as Erin Parker Tillery,  Ph. D. Student and Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at North Carolina State University's Wilson College of Textiles,  interviews Prateeti Ugale, Ph. D. Student in Fiber and Polymer Science at North Carolina State University. Prateeti discusses her current research of working on integrating technology into textile structures with a particular emphasis on w...

Listen in as  Jonathan Palmer , CEO of Autometrix and member of the ATA Board of Directors, interviews  Ethan Halpern , President of American Awning & Blind Co.,  Daniel Cuppels , Operations Manager at Blithe Defense Industrial Covers, and  Alberto Ramirez , CEO of Just 4U Custom Canvas, Inc. They will discuss what makes their textile businesses unique and different on the West Coast. They will al...

Listen in to get a sneak preview of education sessions that will be happening at the Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim, CA, Sept. 23-26. Jeff Sponseller, Miller Weldmaster, enlightens us with a few fun facts about Expo and interviews presenters  Erin Parker Tillery , North Carolina State University,  Bruce Danziger , Danziger Engineering Collaborative, Inc. and  Apurba Banerjee , Innovation at Sta...

On this episode, we have an all-women's panel featuring Donielle Lorelli, Product Manager of Textiles at National Industries for the Blind, Kaylee Smith, Senior Sales Executive at MMI Textiles, and Lindsay Zientek, Channel Account Manager at Gold Eagle Company. They will discuss how they got their start in the textile industry, how they build and manage personal and professional relationships with...