Manufacturing Insiders

Manufacturers are facing a problem that can’t be solved with hiring alone. Decades of skilled trades knowledge are retiring out of the workforce, and many companies still rely on training systems that were built for a different generation. In this episode of Manufacturing Insiders, Nate sits down with Jen Rutz, President of DCM Tech, to discuss how manufacturers are rethinking skilled trades learn...

The history of technological development can be defined by decreasing the time it takes to do something. Amazon changed customer expectations forever by turning speed into part of the product itself. Two-day shipping became one-day shipping, and eventually same-day delivery. Customers weren’t just buying products anymore, they were buying time. In this episode, we sit down with William Gallacher,...

Most manufacturers think they’re selling a product. They’re not. They’re selling a result. In this episode of Manufacturing Insiders, Connor Ouwinga of Porous Pave breaks down what it really means to understand your value proposition—and why the companies that win are the ones who can clearly articulate and understand where their product fits into solving customer problems. Because in most cases…...

Josh Cardoz is the Chief Creative and Learning Officer of Sponge, A global enterprise learning company, focused on enabling the workforces of the world. They recently released a whitepaper entitled Mobilizing Generation Numb, which tackles global upheaval, economic instability, the insidious after-effects of the pandemic, and the digital saturation that is creating a workforce generation that is ‘...

Chris Basgall is the CEO of Catamount Machine Works, whose 10 year plan, covered in this video, has secured their AS9100 Certification, their ITAR Registration, their JCP Certification, and are CMMC 2.0 Compliant. This conversation covers this 10 year plan, incorporating automation, the value of certifications, the role of leadership in implementing the plan, and how they create the incentives nec...

Steve Alviti is the President of Bel Air Finishing Supply Corporation, where they engineer individualized mass finishing solutions for industries like jewelry, metal finishing, precious metal polishing, and recovery applications. This is a really insightful conversation into the process of Bel Air in creating these individualized automation solutions. We cover their value proposition, how automati...

Errol Rodericks is the Product & Solutions Marketing Director at DenodoTech, a Data Management Platform for Agentic AI. This is a very niche conversation covering AI impact in the manufacturing industry. We cover the gaps Errol finds in manufacturing operations, Denodo’s data driven solutions, global trends for manufacturing broken down by region, and the evolution of the agile workforce strat...

This is a very special episode with Nathan Yearsley, the President of Blue Chip Group LLC. It's particularly special because, as Nathan will reveal, his family was once the recipient of food assistance that came from the company that he is now representing. This episode covers his incredible story from poverty to president, and more significantly, it acts as a testament to how great America can be...

Timur Goreci is the chief revenue officer at Orderfox Schweiz AG where they are developing AI-based solutions to address the complex challenges of different industry sectors. This conversation revolves around their AI powered network of CNC businesses called Partfox. We cover the new age of digital marketing and procurement, using AI to navigate the fragmented manufacturing industry, a debate over...

Kyle Dell’Aquila is one of 4 co-founders of RISE Robotics. The inventors of a revolutionary new kind of hydraulic that does not use fluids. This is an incredible conversation about their revolutionary solution for logistic services, even showing it off for us! This conversation covers how they got started, a demonstration of their solution, a deep dive into technology and automation, how we as a s...

Jessica Hickman Fresch does marketing and sales at Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring, a part of the Hickman Woods Family of Businesses. They are a fourth generation manufacturing company that produces real hardwood floors. This conversation revolves around the company’s growth, the regulatory environment of forest management, and a discussion about employee retention. Visit their Website! https...

Preston Gardner is the Chief Operating Officer, Palmer Hamilton, LLC, where they manufacture a variety of furnishing solutions for a variety of applications. The key point of this conversation hinges on the effects of the Trump Tariffs on Manufacturing in the United States, and why businesses are struggling to cope with them. Additionally the conversation covers some of the vertical integration st...

Alex Houtchens is the Operations Manager at Pro Plastic Welding, which is a part of CNE Creative Enterprises. He specializes in Plastic Welding, Fabrication, and Machining. They utilize methods such as plastic welding, forming, cutting, and shaping, to create parts specific to the needs of many diverse industries. This conversation covers his start as a normal employee, how his experience with goo...

Jesika Young is a Team Member, and the President & CEO @officialcimtechinc.6756 She is not originally from a manufacturing background, but instead has a background in banking. This conversation covers that transition and the core values she has taken with her along with topics including company culture transitions, strategic acquisitions, and building and engaging the new generation with oppor...

Jason Riley is the General Manager of @Fabrisonic1 , a metal 3D printing additive manufacturing company, specializing in part production with a combination of additive and subtractive processes. This conversation goes through the life lessons Jason learned as a marine, delving into the complexities of decision making in business and managing the risk of those decisions. Gain valuable business stra...

Anna Dorcey is the founder and CEO of U4EA Farms, a marijuana company based in Massachusetts. They have a really interesting story handling the production, marketing, and most importantly the regulatory environment around their product. This conversation covers their decision to get into the marijuana business, the similarities in their process to any other manufacturing facility, their struggles...

Nick Kaiser is the operations manager at Kaiser Manufacturing, a business he started with his father. They produce a specialized foam insert, which they can customize into almost any shape, with their most common application being a customized organizational system, perfect for tool organization. This conversation covers the challenges of transitioning into manufacturing, the innovative applicatio...

Joey Koenig is the President of 7robotics, a company that designs and integrates custom robotic systems for the building products industry. Evie Hango is the marketing director for both 7robotics and Con-Vey, an 80-year-old company specializing in plant-scale automation for wood products. The discussion revolves around how small to mid-sized manufacturers can get started with automation, the ROI o...

Russ Bukowski is the President of Mastercam, one of the most widely used CAD/CAM software solutions in manufacturing. Mastercam bridges the manufacturing skills gap by providing intuitive, efficient, and accessible CNC programming solutions for shops of all sizes. Watch as Russ discusses how AI and Mastercam Copilot are transforming the user experience, strategies for bridging the manufacturing wo...

Sebastien Gouin-Davis is the CEO at Luum.io , formerly Amatis Controls. They are a lighting solution that is an IoT system, making use of a network of connected devices to collect, send, and analyze data. This conversation tackles the evolution of Luum.io in the ever changing world of data collection and modern factories. We cover topics including data collection, investing in data tracking soluti...

Cody Grandadam is the President of Promier Products, a one stop shop for different lighting flashlights, and batteries. But more than that, he is an incredibly talented marketer. In this conversation, we discuss the in-depth understanding and strategy that goes into marketing campaigns and how that affects the price consumers see. We discuss the differences in strategy and profit margins between c...

Ben Gaskill is the Co-Founder and CEO of Everest Ice and Water Systems, a company that sells ice and water vending machines across the country. They have been listed in the 2025 Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing businesses in the country. During this conversation they discuss this immense growth, and the market factors that have contributed to it. Visit their website! https://everesticeandwa...

Ethan Baehrend is the President, Founder & CEO of Creative 3D Technologies, a business that builds all-in-one production systems combining additive, subtractive, and automated assembly. His company creates value by enabling manufacturers to produce complex parts in a single machine without traditional tooling or multi-step workflows. This approach is vital for on demand manufacturing. Watch as...

Tim Falcone is the CEO of PraesiDM, a company that integrates manufacturing technology platforms and builds digital systems for machine shops. His firm enables manufacturers to standardize processes and capture critical data through seamless software integration. Watch as Tim discusses the biggest technology challenges facing manufacturers, how digital work instructions can eliminate hiring barrie...

Discover how this large language model can significantly improve communication and problem-solving within information technology. Michael Blickenstorfer is the Co-Founder / CSO of rimon, a company that captures workplace knowledge through AI-powered video documentation systems. The system uses natural language processing to find solutions to machine problems by analyzing past chats, videos, and do...