The Manufacturing Employer

Nicole Riehl, President and CEO of Executive Partnerships to Invest in Children (EPIC), joins The Manufacturing Employer to reframe childcare as a critical workforce infrastructure issue, not just an employee perk. She discusses the hidden costs of childcare challenges, and how manufacturers can address absenteeism and turnover linked to them. She shares actionable strategies including flexible sc...

Paul Sippil, a forensic 401k consultant, joins The Manufacturing Employer to reveal the hidden costs and pitfalls lurking in many manufacturers’ retirement plans. Drawing on decades of auditing and advisory experience, Paul explains how excessive and undisclosed fees quietly erode employee savings and trust. He breaks down common misconceptions, the risks of undetected conflicts of interest, and w...

Shalin Jyotishi, founder of New America's Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss talent-pipeline challenges in manufacturing. He shares misconceptions about manufacturing careers, the urgent need to modernize work-based learning and the importance of employer investment in workforce development. The conversation explores practical steps for bu...

Susan Taah, occupational health consultant and founder of Work Factor, joins The Manufacturing Employer to examine how things like chronic illnesses, fatigue, mental health and heat stress are impacting today's industrial workforce. Susan shares why traditional wellness programs often fall short and highlights practical, data-driven strategies for embedding health initiatives within operations. Th...

Ray Reader, strategist at Gorilla 76, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss why marketing and HR must collaborate to attract and retain talent. Ray explains how authentic employer branding and employee stories help manufacturers stand out. The conversation offers actionable steps for building a strong employer brand and driving better hiring results.

Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, award-winning author and workplace fairness expert, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore what fairness really means in a modern manufacturing plant. Drawing on decades of business law and social psychology experience, Hanna reveals why fairness is so crucial for employee engagement and retention, and how unwritten workplace rules quietly undermine both. She explains the...

Larry Salazar, President and Co-Founder of NestSTEPS, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss what employees really want from their workplace. With more than 25 years at the intersection of technology, HR benefits and financial services, Larry shares why housing and homeownership have emerged as powerful tools for workforce stability and retention. The conversation explores evolving employee e...

Jason Woodard, COO at Geislinger Corporation, returns to The Manufacturing Employer to share insights from his new book, "Manufacturing Leadership That Works." Drawing on 35 years of experience, Jason discusses why traditional leadership models fall short, the importance of holistic people-first management and practical tools like one-on-one meetings. He explains how investing in frontline operato...

Andrea D. Carter, organizational scientist and founder of Andrea Carter Consulting, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how measurable belonging can transform manufacturing culture. Andrea discusses her Belonging First methodology and its five key indicators that drive trust, performance and retention. She explores the real costs of culture gaps, how leaders often miss hidden pockets of dise...

Chris Zdenek, founder of Soma Ergonomics, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how manufacturers can shift from reactive safety efforts to proactive workforce protection. With more than three decades of experience, Chris breaks down the hidden impact of chronic, repetitive stress injuries and introduces bionomics — a holistic approach to optimizing human performance, cognition and well-bein...

Laura Hanley, licensed therapist and workplace consultant at Big Picture Companies, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack generational diversity on the shop floor. Drawing from her clinical background at the Mayo Clinic and VA, Laura explains why communication and occupational empathy are key skills in today’s manufacturing environment. She breaks down why older and younger workers often talk...

Kevin Patrick, ERP leader and Certified Dream Manager, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share hard-won lessons from his career to date. Drawing on his journey from the shop floor to leading more than 120 ERP deployments, Kevin reveals why successful systems aren’t just about technology, but instead how they hinge on human engagement, trust and personal growth. He discusses the consequences of e...

Eric Gassaway, a globally recognized sustainability and ESG leader, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how sustainability drives workplace culture. With experience shaping strategies for Fortune 100 companies and building enterprise-level sustainability initiatives, Eric shares why sustainability is more than a box-checking exercise — it’s a culture engine that improves morale and aligns...

Steve Cadigan, renowned expert on the future of work and author of "Workquake," joins The Manufacturing Employer to tackle some of the biggest workforce challenges facing manufacturers. He shares insights from his experience at LinkedIn and across the industrial sector, covering strategies for retention, skills gaps, union dynamics and adapting to AI on the factory floor.

Host Jon Franko details six learnings and quotes from guests throughout 2026 that he's going to carry into the new year.

Diane Ferrera, Director of Human Resources at AccuRounds, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how a people-first culture and commitment to learning have shaped the company’s success. With nearly 30 years of HR experience, Diane discusses building AccuRounds’ HR function from the ground up, fostering a workplace centered on respect, transparency and continuous development. She explores how Ac...

Celeste Warren, renowned DEI expert and author of "The Truth About Equity," joins The Manufacturing Employer to demystify equity in the workplace and explain why it’s essential for manufacturing organizations today. Celeste shares actionable frameworks like the "rocks and fence" analogy, addresses misconceptions about meritocracy and discusses how equity improves team performance and business outc...

Dr. Gretchen Gagle, executive consultant and advocate for women in industry, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share lessons from her 40-year career in manufacturing, engineering, construction and energy. She explores the importance of inclusivity in driving growth and unpacks the “concrete ceiling” that women face in male-dominated fields. Gretchen highlights strategies for grounded self-leader...

Scott Gates, President of Awake Window & Door Co., joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his innovative hiring model that employs formerly incarcerated individuals. Scott shares how this approach has grown Awake into a $30 million business while providing second chances and rebuilding lives. The conversation also explores the competitive advantages of this hiring strategy, including access t...

Matt Granados, founder and CEO of LifePulse Inc., joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how organizations can fix people problems by addressing underlying system issues. Matt challenges conventional approaches to workplace culture, arguing that sustainable solutions come from equipping individuals to solve their own problems rather than implementing quick fixes. The conversation explores how...

Mark Reich, author of Managing on Purpose and senior lean coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how lean thinking can improve customer value, quality and employee development across various industries. Mark also talks about his new book, "Managing on Purpose," which offers practical guidance on implementing Hoshin Kanri for strategic alignment and exec...

Chris Luecke, host of Manufacturing Hour, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the evolving landscape of manufacturing. He shares how automation and AI are reshaping the industry, debunking fears of job loss and highlighting new opportunities. Chris emphasizes the importance of storytelling in manufacturing, both for external marketing and internal culture-building. He details the transform...

Myles Rickerd and Trevor O'Malley, founders of Hire MFG Leaders, join The Manufacturing Employer to share their targeted approach to recruiting in the manufacturing space. They discuss how deep industry focus helps them align talent with company culture, while also addressing compensation, work-life balance and the evolving benefits landscape. Trevor and Miles emphasize genuine care in the recruit...

Dave Garrison, co-founder of Garrison Growth, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack the “buy-in crisis” driving employee disengagement. He explores root causes like shifting post-pandemic priorities and generational changes, and he explains why perks and bonuses no longer cut it. Drawing from his book "The Buy-In Advantage," Dave shares practical strategies for building trust, fostering purpo...

Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of Better Culture, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how manufacturers can build stronger workplaces through employee-led culture. He introduces the 20 Tenets of Culture—simple, behavior-driven principles like being coachable and celebrating coworkers—that drive performance and retention. Brett explains how to spot toxic behaviors early, measure cultural progres...