Industry Iowa

In this episode of Industry Iowa, host Steve Wilson sits down with Melissa Burant — supply chain specialist and CMMC navigator at CIRAS, Iowa State University — to break down what the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification means for Iowa manufacturers. If your company touches defense contracts in any way — even as a subcontractor — CMMC is no longer something to watch from the sidelines. As of...

What do a documentary filmmaker, a surgeon, and a combine harvester have in common? They all show up in this week's episode of Industry Iowa. Host Steven Wilson sits down with Teeg Stouffer, founder and executive producer of Fascination Film Studio in Marion, Iowa — a heritage and legacy documentary production studio serving companies, communities, and families across the United States. Teeg share...

Artificial intelligence is moving fast, but many organizations are discovering that technology alone does not create transformation. In a recent conversation with Susan Frew on the Industry Iowa Podcast, we explored how leaders can apply AI in practical ways that actually improve workflows, decision-making, and business results. Learn more about the Ivy Sales Innovation Summit .

In this episode of Industry Iowa, host Steven C. Wilson (CIRAS/Iowa State University) sits down with Bill Schmarzo for a candid pre-event conversation tied to the 5th Annual Ivy Sales Innovation Summit (Bill’s closing keynote on April 7). Together, they explore why the real power of AI isn’t replacement—it’s amplifying human domain expertise and accelerating professional growth. Schmarzo breaks do...

In this episode of Industry Iowa, Steven C. Wilson sits down with Ann Buck, Continuous Improvement Manager at Helena Industries in Des Moines, to explore their evolving TWI journey and how they are intentionally blending Job Instruction, Job Relations, and robust work standards with Kata-based scientific thinking. Rather than treating improvement as a “flavor of the month,” Helena is building capa...

In this episode of Industry Iowa, Steven Wilson talks with Mike Wagner of the White Rabbit Group about how leadership must evolve as workloads grow and teams shrink. Drawing from real-world experience, Mike explains why leadership today is less about pushing harder and more about building capacity, clarity, and trust — and why organizations that lead people well will be the ones that sustain perfo...

Paul Gormley from CIRAS discusses the strategic implementation of artificial intelligence in Iowa manufacturing organizations. With nearly 27 years at CIRAS, Paul explains that AI has been around for decades but became more accessible with tools like ChatGPT in late 2022. He emphasizes that AI should be treated as a strategic business decision rather than just a technology implementation, comparin...

In this insightful episode of Industry Iowa, Steven Wilson sits down with Andrew Pfeiffer, founder of the Process Innovation Lab, to explore the evolving world of intelligent automation—and why it’s about far more than just bots and workflows. Andrew unpacks the integrated capabilities behind intelligent automation—from process analysis and user-centric design to AI, case management, and chatbots....

In this episode of Industry Iowa, Steven Wilson sits down with Chad Cooper, copywriter at de Novo Marketing, broadcaster, and storyteller, to explore the power of brand storytelling in what he calls the “Age of Average.” Together they unpack why so much of branding has become bland, safe, and forgettable—and what it takes for businesses to stand out. Chad shares memorable examples of creative stor...

In this powerful conversation, host Steve Wilson sits down with Billy Ray Taylor, CEO of LinkedXL and author of The Winning Link, to unpack what it really takes to align people, purpose, and performance—and why most leaders miss the mark. Billy shares leadership gold from decades of experience leading operational excellence at Fortune 500 companies. We dig into: - The real drivers of ownership and...

In this episode of the Industry Iowa Podcast, I sit down with keynote speaker and communication coach Erik Dominguez, who will be speaking at this year’s Iowa Lean Consortium Conference. We explore how real leadership confidence is formed—not by eliminating fear, but by learning to navigate it. Topics include: • Why Imposter Syndrome is more common than you think • How discomfort signals growth, n...

In this episode of Industry Iowa, I sit down with Mayor Nick AbouAssaly of Marion, Iowa, to talk about what it really takes to create communities where people and businesses want to be. From reinventing Marion’s City Square into a year-round destination to launching bold new projects like the upcoming Aquatic Center, Nick shares how collaboration between business and civic leaders is key to shapin...

In this episode of the Industry Iowa Podcast, Steven Wilson sits down with Andrew Pfeiffer, founder of the Process Innovation Lab, to explore the real meaning of process innovation. Andrew shares how this approach goes beyond traditional continuous improvement by emphasizing empathy, experimentation, and human-centered design. Through real-world examples—from transforming customer experiences at a...

Part 2 is here! Is your data helping you lead—or just making noise? In this follow-up episode of the Industry Iowa Podcast, I continue the conversation with Mark Stanley and Angela Kalemis , co-authors of Data: Harness Your Numbers to Go from Uncertain to Unstoppable. We dig deeper into how to build a data-informed culture that fuels real results—not just reports. Key takeaways: ✅ The five-number...

What if the right data could take your business from uncertain to unstoppable? On the latest episode of the Industry Iowa Podcast, I sit down with Mark Stanley and Angela Kalemis, co-authors of the powerful new book Data: Harness Your Numbers to Go from Uncertain to Unstoppable. Making data practical—not just pretty Building scorecards that actually drive behavior Understanding your cash flow driv...

Join host Steve Wilson and sit down with Kyle Uebelhor, partner at the Alexander Group’s Chicago office, to explore how sales compensation can be a powerful lever for growth. Kyle shares insights on: ✅ Aligning sales compensation with business goals ✅ Avoiding common mistakes in sales plans ✅ Navigating the rise of AI in sales ✅ Creating purpose-driven compensation strategies Whether you're a...

In this episode of Industry Iowa, host Steve Wilson welcomes sales expert Liz Heiman to discuss strategies for building high-performing sales teams. As a featured speaker at the upcoming Ivy College of Business Innovation Sales Summit, Liz shares insights on sales compensation, effective team management, and the importance of aligning sales strategies with company values. Key topics include: ✅ Ho...

Are young workers prepared for the toll of physically demanding careers? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Olivia Johnson, an Air Force veteran, former police officer, and founder of the Blue Wall Institute, to discuss the hidden health risks in physically demanding jobs like construction and law enforcement. Dr. Johnson shares critical insights on: The long-term impact of lifestyle c...