Belt Friends by Empire Rubber

In this special episode, Eric O’Connor, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Derco USA , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. Eric talks about his upbringing, family, and education, as well as the work he did before entering the belting industry. He shares the story of how his dad inspired him to join the business...

In this special episode, Jackie Robb Britt, Chief Executive Officer of Rubber & Accessories, Inc. and 2008 NIBA President , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. Jackie shares about her upbringing, family, and education, along with the work she did before entering the belting industry. She reflects on what ultimately...

In this special episode, John H. Green, Owner of Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. John shares where he grew up, his family background, and education, along with the work he did prior to entering the belting industry. He reflects on what led him into the business, the origins of Green Rubb...

In this special episode, Don Garner, Owner and CEO of Nashville Rubber & Gasket Co. and 2010 NIBA President , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. Don shares about his upbringing, family, and education, along with the work he did before stepping into the belting industry. He reflects on what first drew him to the in...

In this special episode, Mark Jadwin, Training & Business Development at MIR / Ammega and 2025 NIBA President, joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. Mark shares about his upbringing, family, and education, and reflects on the work he did before entering the belting industry. He walks us through what led him into the...

In this special episode, Mark Jadwin, Training & Business Development at MIR / Ammega and 2025 NIBA President , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. Mark shares about his upbringing, family, and education, and reflects on the work he did before entering the belting industry. He walks us through what led him into the...

In this special episode, Pedro Liriano, Outside Sales at INO USA , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. Pedro shares where he grew up, his family background, and education, and reflects on the work he did before stepping into the belting industry. We’ll hear about his early adventures in the industry, the path that even...

In this special episode, Drew Felix, VP of Sales and Unit Handling at Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI) , joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. We’ll explore where Drew grew up, his family background, and education, and hear about the work he did before stepping into the conveyor industry. He shares the story of how he...

In this special episode, Michael Wieland, VP of Sales at Mulhern Belting, Inc. and Chair of the NIBA Marketing Committee, joins Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, for a personal and professional deep dive. We'll learn about Michael’s roots where he grew up, his family life, and how his early career path eventually led him to the belting industry. He’ll share what in...

Welcome to the ninth episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Rodney Roalsen – Director of Heavy Duty Products & Business development – Beltservice Corp sits down with Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company In this episode the tables have turned! Rodney Roalsen a podca...

Welcome to the eighth episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Andrew Roloff – North American Dairy Specialist at Intralox In this episode Andrew gives a little history on how he became Andrew by letting "old Andy die...

Welcome to the seventh episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Stephenie Davis – President and Chief Executive Officer of Davis Industrial / NIBA 2nd Vice President & Program Committee Chair In this episode Stephe...

Welcome to the sixth episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Tom Wujek – President and Chief Executive Officer of Flexco / 2014 NIBA President Tom continues to be active with both NIBA and PTDA - Power Transmission Di...

Welcome to the fifth episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Paul Bosserman – Regional Manager – Viacore in Lewisville, TX (formerly All-State Belting) Casey and Paul met each other way back. Both equally have been in...

Welcome to the fourth episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Rodney Roalsen – Director of Heavy Duty Products & Business development – Beltservice Corp. Casey and Rodney are cousins and both work in the belt indu...

Welcome to the third episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Vernon Smith – President of Universal Belting Resource (UBR) / 2017 NIBA President to learn more about his journey in the industry. We get to see what got V...

Welcome to the second episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Paul Smith – National Distributor Sales Manager – RAM Enterprise, Inc. / Imtech Rubber to learn more about his journey in the industry and what changes has...

Welcome to the premiere episode of "Belt Friends," where industry leaders come together to share stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. In this episode, Casey Hutchinson, President of Empire Rubber & Supply Company, sits down with Kathryn Dunn, CFO of Souhegan Wood Products, Inc., to learn more about her journey in the industry and what makes her tick. Get ready to dive into the wo...