One Pour Problems

What does it really take for a small defense contractor to achieve CMMC Level 2 compliance? For Jim Devita, co-owner of Advanced Design Fabrication Corp ., the answer includes years of preparation, significant financial investment, and a willingness to learn the process firsthand. In this episode of One Pour Problems, Charles IT Chief Revenue Officer Jessica “Jess” Golle joins Jim over a glass of...

How do you grow from a technical expert into the leader of an engineering firm?  Trevor Davis sits down with Tad Sellers , P.E., President and Chief Electrical Engineer at Vansant & Gusler, Inc., for a candid conversation about engineering leadership, professional responsibility, business development, workforce challenges, remote work, and CMMC.  Tad shares how childhood electronics kits led h...

How do you grow a law firm without scaling chaos? Tejal Desai, CEO of Hook Law, joins Trevor Davis for a candid conversation about law firm growth, leadership, succession planning, AI adoption, and acquisitions. Drawing on lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, COVID, private equity, and his transition from COO to CEO, Tejal explains why sustainable growth starts with structure, the right people,...

How can Connecticut defense manufacturers prepare for CMMC, and what assistance is available to help manage the cost? Jessica Golle of Charles IT talks with Michelle Hall , Director of Connecticut’s Office of Manufacturing , about cybersecurity and CMMC readiness across Connecticut's defense manufacturing supply chain. They explore Connecticut's efforts to support manufacturers with cybers...

How do you grow a company in one of America's toughest industries while keeping 60-70% of your workforce for more than seven years? In this episode of One Pour Problems , Jessica Golle of Charles IT sits down with Cheryl Spraberry , Owner of AIT Marine , to discuss her journey from joining the company on day one to leading one of Virginia's respected Navy ship repair contractors. They disc...

Sal is joined by Ellen Feldman Ornato and Jenny Drescher, founders of The Bolder Company and co-hosts of The Manufacturing Shake-Up, for an insightful conversation on leadership, emotional intelligence, and driving meaningful change in manufacturing. Filmed on location at Torrison Stone & Garden in Durham, CT, Ellen and Jenny share how their unlikely start in improv comedy helped shape their a...

Sal is joined by Marietta Lee, President and CEO of The Lee Company, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, workforce strategy, and why putting people first is essential to the future of manufacturing. Marietta shares her unconventional path from investigative journalism into her family’s business and how starting at the ground level shaped her approach to earning trust and building credibil...

Sal is joined by Bill Hazard, President of Novo Partners, for a conversation about the power of steady, disciplined improvement and how it can transform a manufacturer into a true growth engine. Bill shares his path from engineer to business builder, and why operations—and the challenge of making things better week after week—became the through‑line of his career. He reflects on buying Novo in 201...

Sal is joined by Michael Auletta , SVP of Sales, Marketing & Services at Bauer Inc. , for a conversation about building relationships that go beyond borders. Michael shares his unconventional path from broadcast journalism at ESPN to joining his family’s exporting business, reflecting on the early challenges that tested his resolve and how his communication background became a powerful asset i...

Sal sits down with Ron Angelo, President & CEO of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), for a thoughtful conversation about agility, relevance, and what it takes to thrive in an era of nonstop technological change. Ron shares what’s fueling CCAT’s rapid growth and why adaptability now matters more than rigid long-term planning as the U.S. industrial base evolves. Drawing on hi...

In this episode, Sal sits down with Ed Gilchrest, President and Owner of Gyre9 & President of G9EV, and Frank von Holzhausen, Chief Research and Design Officer of Gyre9 & Chairman of G9EV, for a deep dive into the delicate balance between courage and caution in business. From their distinct yet complementary paths, they explore the challenges of being “guns for hire” versus creating and se...

Sal is joined by Mario D’Aquila , Chief Operating Officer of Assisted Living Home Care Services , for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, communication, and the evolution of a family business built on compassion and purpose. Mario shares his journey helping grow a small Meriden-based operation into one of Connecticut’s leading home care providers, now serving thousands across three major l...

Sal is joined by Drew DiSilvestro, President of AmeriTech Contracting, for a high-impact conversation on persistence, leadership, and scaling with intention. Drawing from his military background, Drew unpacks how trust, accountability, and a strong team dynamic are essential to execution. Sal and Drew explore the shift from being mentored to mentoring others, navigating the complexities of governm...

Sal is joined by Cathy Awwad, President & CEO of the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB), to explore what it takes to build a future-ready workforce across 41 diverse communities. From addressing critical skills gaps in sectors like IT, manufacturing, and healthcare to partnering with local businesses to align training with real-world demands, Cathy shares how NRWIB goes beyo...

Sal is joined by Brent Robertson, Founder of Be Generative, for a powerful conversation on reimagining leadership in today’s rapidly evolving workplace. They explore the hidden costs of traditional leadership narratives, the trap of indispensability, and how these mindsets can limit team potential. Brent introduces the concept of Generative Listening—an approach that moves beyond active listening...

In this episode, Foster is joined by Ramsey Goodrich, Managing Partner at Carter Morse & Goodrich, to explore a people-first approach to mergers and acquisitions. Ramsey shares his journey from Pace Bank’s management training program to leading a boutique investment bank focused on family and founder-led businesses. Drawing on three decades of experience—from navigating the tech bubble to advi...

Sal is joined by Douglas Johnson, President at Marion Manufacturing Company, Inc., to unpack what it really takes to transition a company to a younger, energized workforce. From overcoming technology gaps and generational communication challenges to rethinking hiring around attitude and curiosity instead of just skills, our guest shares lessons learned through COVID and beyond. We dive into how co...

Sal sits down with Michael Kopsick, ManagingPartner at Kahan Kerensky & Capossela LLP, for a candid conversation about what it takes to create a law firm where people not only want to work but choose to stay for the long haul. Drawing from his early experience at a high-pressure NYC firm, Mike shares how that chapter shaped his perspective on the importance of work-life balance, strong leaders...

Sal is joined by Chris DiPentima, President and CEO of CBIA, for a candid conversation about leadership, legacy, and the future of Connecticut business. Chris shares his winding journey from Boston College to manufacturing to heading one of the oldest business organizations in the country—older than even the U.S. Chamber. He opens up about his family’s roots in both manufacturing and law, and why...

Sal is joined by Chris Ulbrich, Chairman of Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals Inc., for an eye-opening conversation on why employee wellness matters and how caring for your team beyond the workplace isn’t just good business, it’s the right thing to do. Chris shares stories from his own journey and how he's building a legacy through wellness initiatives and preventative healthcare. Fr...

Sal sits down with the founder of Alderman & Company, Bill Alderman, to cybersecurity compliance and business sales in the aerospace sector. Bill shares stories from his career, from jet-setting across the globe on his own plane he pilots, to working at GE, and why he ultimately chose to focus on family-run businesses. He explains the kinds of companies that come to him for help selling, the i...

Sal sits down with John Uliano, Chief Operating Officer of ACMT, Inc., to explore the concept of extreme ownership in leadership and what it means to take full responsibility for success. John shares how great leaders prioritize removing barriers for their teams to ensure that success is a shared achievement rather than an individual one. He also emphasizes that leadership isn’t about assigning bl...

Sal catches up with Ben Zachs, Founder of Fine Fettle, on how he built a high-achieving, mission-focused culture in the ever-changing cannabis industry. From navigating the complexities of a seed-to-sale business across different state regulations to breaking the stigma around cannabis use, Ben discusses the importance of hiring the right people, empowering his team, and encouraging a goal-oriente...

Sal chats with the President (aka Head Coach) of Willington Nameplate, Brett Greene, to discuss his journey from finance to operations, learning the ropes of machining, and the lessons from mentors along the way. He shares his experience navigating career transitions, the importance of staying busy after setbacks, and how everything happens for a reason. They also dive into leadership, putting the...

Sal sits down with Jill Mayer, CEO of Bead Industries, to discuss her journey in leading her family’s manufacturing business. She shares how her transition with her father was smoother than his own, the role of long-term employees in succession planning, and the tight-knit nature of the industry. Jill additionally highlights the importance of setting work-family boundaries, preserving tribal knowl...