Empowered Owners

In today's fast-paced world, those who can quickly adapt to new challenges and opportunities will thrive. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Tad Calahan , President at TVF , takes us on a journey filled with ups and downs, challenges, and, ultimately, incredible victories. We discuss his career trajectory and what he has learned as he worked towards his current leadership position. In this episo...

Season 1 is coming to a remarkable end! Throughout this season, we’ve aimed to shine a spotlight on each one of our guests, to honor their journey and reveal the true essence of what it means to be an Empowered Owner. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , discuss their learnings from an incredible...

Discovering what you are passionate about and making it a career is an incredible accomplishment.  Some people are lucky enough to experience that feeling a few times in their careers. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Curtis Elliott , President at Paramount Plastics , discusses his career path, from his initial goal of joining law enforcement to unexpected opportunities in manufacturing. Curti...

You may have heard the term “EVer” floating around, but there hasn’t been a true definition of the phrase…  Until now! In this episode of Empowered Owners, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , discuss what it means to not only be an employee owner, but also an EVer within the organization. They dive into what it means to be a part o...

Being present at an organization's formation is both an opportunity, and a huge responsibility. Those early moments aren't just a chance; they're a canvas to craft the very essence of an organization's culture. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Diane Bokar , Office Manager at Firstar Precision Corp. , discusses the start of the organization, as well as her history across diverse industries – fr...

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at Empowered Ventures? Yes? Good news. We’ve got all the answers. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , discuss the latest updates and news at EV. They dive into EV’s four-pronged strategy, Employee Ownership Month, and a new podcast format upd...

Communicating through storytelling has been a part of human culture for the entirety of our existence. New generations of thought have been influenced by the stories told from distant relatives. Even now, storytelling is critical when communicating an idea, and it is important to master. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Ken Siecinski , a Retired Product Manager at TVF (Top Value Fabrics) discu...

Change can be pretty daunting, but you know what's even scarier? Not making any changes at all. It might feel a bit uncomfortable going through the process, but when it's done right, it can make a world of difference. In this episode of Empowered Owners, we've got Amber Dillard, a CNC Operator at Paramount Plastics , sharing her unique journey. We'll dive into her experiences before employee owner...

Switching careers can be quite the adventure, no matter how many times you've done it before. And when it comes to taking on a new role, especially in management, the challenge doubles. Suddenly, you're not just responsible for your daily tasks, but also for building and nurturing relationships with your team. It's no easy feat, but it's a vital part of becoming a successful manager. Join us for a...

Embarking on a career path is a universal experience, where even the most seasoned professionals were once beginners. It's crucial to recognize that expertise is not acquired overnight. However, by implementing a few strategies, you can pave the way to success, while taking those lessons into the future to help you become your best self. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Jack West , Vice Presid...

Quality is critical in every aspect of a business. Not only do products need to meet certain expectations, but so do managers and team members. In this episode, Steve Flory, a veteran in the plastics industry, discusses his experience and approach to vacuum forming, a manufacturing process that creates plastic parts by heating and shaping plastic sheets.  Steve shares his journey at Paramount Plas...

“Being young and a female, I like to show that I know what I am doing. I have the confidence behind it.”  Many people strive for the confidence Makayla Simmers has. She’s a machinist at First Star Precision Corp , a precision machine shop near Cleveland, Ohio and has a constant curiosity to learn more. Her hard working nature and driven personality push her to the best she can be. In this episode,...

“If you want to be successful, you solve problems.”  For those entering employee-owned businesses or those who want to excel in their roles, understanding the responsibilities and mindset required is crucial. By focusing on problem-solving, building trust with customers, and gaining technical expertise, employees can contribute positively to the company's overall success and growth.  In this episo...

Meet Amanda Sanchez, the Fulfillment Director of TVF, which fulfills over 23,000 orders a year and ships around 20 million yards of fabric. Amanda is passionate about living with curiosity, she’s fascinated by what automation can do for warehouse environments, and she’s a fast-casual foodie at heart. In this episode, you’ll get to learn more about Amanda’s outlook on life and what pushes her to do...

We’ve started a podcast, this you know, but what’s the goal and what can we expect to hear on future episodes? We are so glad you asked, because EV’s own Chief of Staff Emily Bopp joins the show to talk through all these things and more. The purpose of the podcast in building community and camaraderie within Empowered Ventures. In this inaugural episode of Empowered Owners, Emily and Chris share w...

Creating connections is essential to building a community. It’s even more important when the people you’re trying to connect with aren’t in the same location. Businesses and companies have always found geographic distance to be a challenge to building a really great community-oriented culture. At Empowered Ventures, the same challenge holds true, which is why we decided to start Empowered Owners,...