Fabricators and Manufacturers Association

Ed Talks

Business EN ↓ 6 episodes

Ed Talks explores the strategies shaping workforce development in manufacturing. Hosted by Fabricators and Manufacturers Association President and CEO Ed Youdell, the podcast features candid conversations with industry leaders on attracting, developing, and retaining talent. Part of the FMA Podcast Network.

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Fabricators and Manufacturers Association

Episodes

Advancing manufacturing technology through STEM with Andrea Scarpari 16.03.2026 36:48

Andrea Scarpari, president and CEO of Salvagnini America , joins Ed Talks host Ed Youdell of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association to discuss why advancing manufacturing technology requires stronger connections to STEM education and engineering careers. As fabrication technology becomes more automated, Scarpari argues manufacturers must create more intellectually engaging roles that allow...

Winning by putting people first with Troy Berg of Dane Manufacturing 11.11.2025 49:43

In this episode of Ed Talks, host Ed Youdell talks with Troy F. Berg, president and CEO of Dane Manufacturing , about what it really means to put employees first. Troy shares how Dane’s “employees come first” philosophy drives retention, performance, and culture—through competitive wages, great benefits, and continuous opportunities for growth. He discusses the company’s on-site Dane Academy, wher...

The innovation of metal fabrication with Bystronic's John Paul Surdo 21.08.2025 31:43

John Paul Surdo, President of Americas for Bystronic , joins FMA President/CEO Ed Youdell on the Ed Talks podcast. They chat about the strides that the metal fabrication industry has made is recent years by implementing advanced technologies like automation, robotics, and AI, and how that raised the bar on the sector's skilled workforce. They also talk about what it means to be a leader in the met...

Built for success: Managing fab shop culture with Nora Harding of SPM 13.05.2025 32:25

Nora Harding, Executive VP at Special Products and Manufacturing (SPM), joins FMA President/CEO Ed Youdell on the Ed Talks podcast. SPM is a 62-year-old manufacturing company with three facilities in Texas. They were named The Fabricator's 2025 Industry Award winner and appear on the FAB 40 list. Harding talks about SPM's strong company culture centered around their "BUILT" principles (Best people...

Quarterbacking a family-owned manufacturing business with Sarah Richards 25.02.2025 48:24

Sarah Richards, the Visionary/CEO of Mankato, Minn.-based Jones Metal, joins FMA President/CEO Ed Youdell to discuss how her family-owned metal fabrication business in Mankato, Minnesota attracts, develops, and engages its workforce. She talks about how Jones Metal has developed a strong company culture focused on values like kindness, grit, positivity, ownership, and helpfulness. This helps attra...

Welcome to Ed Talks, a podcast about business leadership in manufacturing 05.02.2025 0:40

Leadership in manufacturing goes beyond the walls of the corner office. It’s seen throughout the shop floor and in the satisfaction of customers. I’m Ed Youdell, President and CEO of Fabricators and Manufacturers Association and host of Ed Talks, the newest addition to the FMA Podcast Network . Here at FMA, we believe the key to unlocking manufacturing’s full potential is through attracting, devel...