Chain Mountain

What does it take to evolve from an electrical engineer into a global operations executive leading teams across multiple countries? In this episode, Marcos Pustilnik shares lessons from a remarkable career spanning engineering, operations, supply chain management, operational excellence, and executive leadership. Growing up in Brazil and later studying engineering in the United States, Marcos deve...

What does it take to transition from military service to executive leadership? In this episode, Kent Mann shares powerful lessons from his journey through the U.S. Navy, leadership roles in the civilian world, and the evolving winemaking industry. Kent discusses how emotional intelligence, mentorship, adaptability, and continuous learning have shaped his leadership philosophy. He explains why trus...

In this episode, Sean Bolling joins Henry to explore the powerful connection between branding, operations, supply chain management, and business performance. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Sean shares practical insights on operational excellence, manufacturing efficiency, AI, automation, financial literacy, and the future of consumer-driven brand management. The conversation examines...

🎙️ Chain Mountain Podcast | Salil Godika on AI, Automation & the Manufacturing Maturity Gap In this episode of the Chain Mountain Podcast, Henry sits down with Salil Godika for an insightful conversation about the growing “manufacturing maturity gap”  the divide between modern, data-driven factories and businesses still relying on outdated systems and processes. Salil shares his perspective on...

Matt Kasten, VP of Operations at Diana's, pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a frozen food brand — from protecting the cold chain across thousands of miles to navigating distributor margins that can swallow 40% of your revenue before a product ever hits a shelf. With a background spanning Unilever, PepsiCo, Hain Celestial, and Icelandic Provisions, Matt brings rare perspective...

Leonid Naboyshchikov went from counterterrorism operations in Southeast Asia to leading teams in the US space program. In this conversation, he breaks down how high-stakes fieldwork shaped his approach to servant leadership, building trust in distributed teams, and keeping people connected to mission over decades-long timelines. We dig into why only one in five aerospace employees are under 35, th...

In this episode I speak with Heather Messer, The vice president of US operations at Wilbur-Ellis.  Wilbur-Elis is a leading agribusiness company that provides crop protection products, seeds, and nutritional solutions to growers around the world.  We discuss the critical role of agriculture in the U.S. economy and the specific supply chain and operational challenges faced by the agricultural secto...

In this week's episode, Justine Franchina shares her journey in the male-dominated chemical industry, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, diverse experiences, and customer engagement. She discusses the critical role of safety and continuous learning in her leadership philosophy, as well as the challenges of implementing effective processes and systems like SAP. Justine highlights the signifi...

In this week's show we have a conversation with Doug Hardesty, COO ofMycoWorks. In this conversation, Doug discusses the innovative production of their cutting edge material innovation, its sustainability benefits, and the challenges faced in biotech manufacturing. He emphasizes the importance of future-focused innovation, the role of venture capital, and the need for a shift in perceptions about...

In this week's episode we speak with SAP Implementation Guru, Nick Jackson, Global Director of SAP/ERP and HB Fuller.  HB Fuller is a 3.5Billion dollar adhesives manufacturer focusing on adhesives, sealants and other specialty chemical products.  Nick has spent the past 25 years implementing systems across large global manufacturing companies. In our discussion we cover his takes on why ERPs imple...

In this Episode, I sit down with Chris Jackson, Vice President of Global Supply Chain at Watlow.  Watlow is a global industrial technology company that designs and manufactures advanced thermal systems, including heaters, sensors, and temperature controllers, for mission-critical applications in industries like semiconductor, energy, and medical devices. In this episode, Chris discusses the growth...

In this engaging conversation, Tom Boney discusses the challenges and strategies in private equity, focusing on talent retention, improving EBITDA performance, and the importance of operational excellence. He shares insights from his experience in the automotive industry, the impact of NIL on college sports, and the significance of community engagement through nonprofits. The discussion also touch...

In this conversation, Jason Reid discusses the growth of the packaging industry, driven by e-commerce, sustainability, and material innovation. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to market changes and the impact of recent policy shifts on manufacturing. Jason provides an overview of Flint Group's operations and highlights the company's focus on customer service and innovation. He shares insi...

In today's episode, I spoke with Jason Lhota for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state and future of American manufacturing. We dive into how the industry is evolving, the role mentorship plays in shaping the next generation of talent, and how automation and AI are changing the shop floor. Jason and I also explore the challenges and opportunities around re-shoring jobs back to the U....

In this conversation, Lauren Calhoun Anderson discusses the challenges and opportunities in AI implementation within large organizations, particularly in the healthcare sector. She emphasizes the importance of understanding ROI, effective change management, and the need for better forecasting tools. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of healthcare, the significance of quality co...

In today's episode, I spoke with Mike Klimavicius, CPO of Scientific Games.  Scientific Games is a global leader in lottery and gaming technology.  So think instant games, sports betting platforms, and the digital solutions to execute a lottery securely.  They sell to governments and regulated operators worldwide.  In this episode, we had a terrific conversation that covered a very wide range of t...

In today's episode, I spoke with Mikey McCallion, COO of Emerald Textiles.  Emerald is the largest acute care linen service provider on the west coast.  he oversees a suprisingly complex supply chain and twelve state of the art linen processing facilities. In this episode we talked about the business and operations of industrial laundry, the technology that makes it work, Private equity and what i...