a BROADcast for Manufacturers

American manufacturing is facing a major workforce crisis—with an estimated 2.1 million jobs potentially unfilled by 2030. But what if the solution is already trained and ready? This week, Lori and Erin talk with Ben Kohler , leader of the Next Frontier Advanced Manufacturing Institute (NFAMI) , about how his organization is solving two problems at once: helping veterans transition into civilian c...

Get ready for a powerhouse episode of A BROADcast For Manufacturers as the ladies go live with three inspiring leaders from the heavy equipment world. We’re spotlighting the upcoming Women in Equipment Conference , hosted by the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), and hearing firsthand from the women shaping the future of this traditionally male-dominated industry. Guests: Kirsten Erickson –...

Is your team constantly firefighting instead of executing strategy? Tyler Nielsen, founder of Vast Insight Partners, joins the BROADcast to reveal how mid-market manufacturers can close the costly gap between strategic intent and operational chaos. With deep experience in FP&A, forecasting, and operations, Tyler shares smart, actionable insights to get cross-functional teams aligned—without a...

When GE Healthcare told Sarah Tilkens she was “too good where she was,” she turned rejection into redirection—and launched The KPI Lab. In this episode, she shares how her journey from corporate ops leader to executive coach is reshaping how businesses approach problem solving, people leadership, and continuous improvement. Sarah brings sharp strategy and a heart-first mindset to every challenge—f...

The world is noisy. Economic uncertainty, workforce turnover, AI disruption, and generational divides have leaders second-guessing their every move. In this crossover episode of Broadcast for Manufacturers and Blue Collar BS , the gloves come off as Lori Highby, Erin Courtenay, Brad Herda, and Steve Doyle unpack how fear-based leadership is silently sabotaging teams—and what it really looks like t...

In this episode of ABFM , we sit down with Tyler Marcus , a dynamic force in manufacturing and mentorship. Tyler shares the pivotal lessons that shaped his path, including his non-traditional journey into business, the power of soft skills, and the true value of making time for mentorship. We explore: The shift from traditional career paths to purpose-driven leadership Why humility and listening a...

Lisa Kenning, CEO of Matrix Automation, alongside her powerhouse team: Don Rentz, Greg Millinger, and special guest Scott Walberg. Lisa shares her journey from helping her dad at age 10 to leading a company at the forefront of digital transformation in manufacturing. Together, the group dives into the importance of mentorship, the legacy of family-run businesses, and how lean principles and tracea...

Sponsored By AdCirrus ERP, your trusted partner for cloud ERP solutions. Learn more at adcirruserp.com . Meet Melanie Varin Melanie is an author, business owner, and process consultant with 25+ years in executive leadership, strategic planning, global marketing, national sales management, and quality. She led three business turnarounds in Europe and the USA in Fortune 500 companies. Now she suppor...

Sponsored By AdCirrus ERP, your trusted partner for cloud ERP solutions. Learn more at adcirruserp.com . Meet Jim Mayer With over two decades of experience in the manufacturing industry, Jim Mayer is a recognized leader, storyteller, and advocate for the transformative power of connection. As the founder of The Manufacturing Connector, Jim has built a platform that strengthens the industry through...

Sponsored By AdCirrus ERP, your trusted partner for cloud ERP solutions. Learn more at adcirruserp.com . Meet Jason Greenwood Jason is the founder of Greenwood Consulting - a specialist B2B e-commerce consultancy. For 25+ years Jason has been helping brands and suppliers expertly architect compelling digital buying and brand engagement experiences. Along with hosting The E-Commerce Edge Podcast, h...

Sponsored By AdCirrus ERP, your trusted partner for cloud ERP solutions. Learn more at adcirruserp.com . Meet Curt Anderson  Curt Anderson is the founder of B2B Tail dedicated to helping manufacturers stop being the best kept secret in their industry through profitable digital sales growth strategies. With over nine years at B2Btail, Curt provides valuable e-commerce strategies that help manufactu...

Sponsored By AdCirrus ERP, your trusted partner for cloud ERP solutions. Learn more at adcirruserp.com . Meet Vivek Joshi Vivek is the founder and CEO of Entytle, a provider of Installed Base Intelligence solutions to Original Equipment Manufacturers. He has extensive leadership experience in various industries, spanning diversified industrial manufacturing, healthcare, high technology and private...

Sponsored By AdCirrus ERP, your trusted partner for cloud ERP solutions. Learn more at adcirruserp.com .  Meet Hani Malek With over 35 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, I am a passionate and results-oriented leader with a proven track record of revenue, profit, and cash flow growth. As a Professional EOS Implementer, I help entrepreneurs and business leaders get better at three t...

Meet Liz Heiman Liz has been conquering the sales environment since she was 15, hawking lingerie at local flea markets. A self-proclaimed introvert, she recognized that sales success comes not from owning the room but from owning the relationship. Her transformative training programs have powered the success of HP and Coca-Cola. Liz earned her stripes as head of Miller Heiman's struggling Asian-Pa...

Meet Ron Hockersmith Ron grew up in Arizona and studied Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University and The California Institute of Technology. After stints in gas turbine engine design and research on the mechanics of viruses he ended up in Milwaukee at GE Healthcare. Ron became a Lean Master Blackbelt and led teams in new product introductions at GE for 14 years before transitioning to a...

Meet Damon Pistulka Damon Pistulka is the co-founder of Exit Your Way, a company dedicated to helping business owners maximize their business value, prepare for successful exits, and sell their businesses. Damon’s journey started on a 3,000-acre farm in South Dakota, where he learned the true meaning of hard work and resilience. His career began in engineering but quickly expanded into leading and...

Meet Eric Decker Eric Decker is WMEP’s Business Development Manager for southeastern Wisconsin. He works with small and mid-sized manufacturers to help them understand opportunities to improve operations, grow profitability and develop their employees.  During his career, Eric has spent considerable time serving small and mid-sized manufacturers in southeastern Wisconsin. Before working at WM...

Meet Susan & Scot Westwater Meet Susan and Scot Westwater, the dynamic duo behind Pragmatic Digital. They're on a mission to help manufacturers strategically implement AI to accelerate sales cycles and drive revenue growth. With two books and over 40 years of combined experience, they bring a refreshingly practical approach to digital transformation. By combining Susan's customer experience ex...

Meet Angela Thurman Angela Thurman holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and is a certified Project Management Professional™. She served for more than ten years as a Subcontracts Program Manager at Collins Aerospace, managing complex third-party products for their large customers such as Boeing and Airbus. While at Collins she was recognized as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Lean Manufacturing, C...

Meet Emily Honor Hubbard Emily Honor Hubbard is the owner of Empathic Engineering, where she coaches people in manufacturing to reduce stressful misunderstandings with improved communication. She is a Spanish-bilingual mechanical engineer, has published research on the development of empathy in engineers, and served in several international manufacturing roles, including Ford Motor Company in Mexi...

Meet Erica Case Erica Case is currently the Head of Human Resources at LiveWire Group, LLC. Ms. Case joined LiveWire from Harley-Davidson where she was most recently Director Human Resources, Global Manufacturing and Product Development. Prior to that Ms. Case held multiple Human Resources roles in her 16 years at Harley-Davidson. Prior to joining Harley-Davidson, Ms. Case held various positions a...

Meet Pam Buckley Pam Buckley is a CPA and senior manager of the Outsourced Accounting & Advisory practice at Chortek. She started her career at Chortek 26 years ago as an auditor and business process consultant. She left public accounting for 17 years and worked as a controller and CFO at various manufacturing firms. This experience gave her valuable first-hand knowledge of the day-to-day chal...

Meet Nirav Shah and Peter Nicholson Nirav Shah has been working in the ERP space for the past 20 years. During those years, he has worked primarily to help customers of all various sizes and industries implement advanced warehousing and manufacturing processes. He also has an MBA in Accounting which helps him work closely with finance teams to melt proper finance rules and guidelines to manufactur...

Meet Ken Fanger Ken has 30 years' experience, he's an MBA, a CMMC-RP and is part of the Cyber Reserve and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs' 10KSB Program. He is working on an Interational project to help AI increase voter engagement. He has started the movement towards Humanizing Security - to make allies of all of us. Resources See Something, Say Something CyberAB.org   Connect with Ken! On T...

Meet Chantel Soumis Chantel Soumis is an accomplished international speaker and LinkedIn influencer in digital marketing, Chantel shares cutting-edge news, articles, and insights aimed at propelling companies to new heights of success through innovative marketing practices. With a global reach, she has graced stages from London to LA, captivating audiences with her expertise and passion for revolu...