Springs Are Everywhere

North American manufacturing is shifting fast — and thesignals aren’t always easy to read. In this episode of Springs Are Everywhere, host Gary McCoy sits down with Cara Walton, Director at Wipfli and one of the leading voices in manufacturing intelligence, economic trends, and tariffdynamics. Cara and her team analyze millions of data points from thousands of manufacturers, giving them a uniquely...

Manufacturers are navigating a perfect storm — tight margins, expensive capital, workforce shortages, policy uncertainty, and rapid technological disruption. In this episode, host Gary McCoy , Executive Director of SMI, sits down with author and industry strategist Dan Varroney to unpack the forces reshaping the industrial economy and what small and mid‑size manufacturers can do to stay competitiv...

In the first episode of Season 3 of the Springs Are Everywhere podcast, host Gary McCoy welcomes Susan Frew—international business leader, TEDx speaker, and author ofCompete on Awesome with AI. Her book equips entrepreneurs to stop competing on average and start winning with bold, practical AI strategies.   This episode delivers a clear, actionable conversation for anyone looking to bring AI into...

In this episode of the Springs Everywhere podcast, host Gary McCoy sits down with Dr. Laura Helmrich-Rhodes — board‑certified safety professional, associate professor, and SMI’s longtime regulatory and compliance consultant — for a deep, practical conversation about the state of safety inmodern manufacturing.   Rhodes talks about the biggest safety risks in manufacturing, the daily habits that act...

This edition includes Desmond Clark, a former NFL tight end with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. He’s now an entrepreneur serving as the owner, president and CEO of Bear Down Logistics. Desmond is a motivational speaker and the author of “Principles of Winning: 5 Keys to Create a Standard of Excellence.” He’ll be one of the featured speakers for SMI’s 2026 Annual Meeting in P...

This edition includes Clay Martin, the founder of Isla Talent. Clay’s company is a staffing agency that specializes in recruiting skilled blue-collar workers from Puerto Rico in an effort to connect U.S. employers with top-tier talent across various industries. With attracting qualified workers being among the most challenging aspects of being a manufacturer, you will learn about the advantages of...

This episode of the podcast features Susan Quinn, an accomplished author, keynote speaker, leadership expert and executive coach. As CEO of circle S studio and the author of “Does Your Business Show Up or Stand Out?,” Susan provides insights into nine key traits she has identified in high-performing companies. The episode also includes an interview with Don Jacobson III of Newcomb Spring, who curr...

This edition features a special conversation with Dan Sebastian, better known as the “Dean of Springs.” Dan takes us on a journey through his long career in the spring industry and provides commentary on the many changes he has seen over the years. Dan was president of the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) from 2005-2008. He later wrote a column in Springs magazine from 2015 to 2025 where he sh...

This edition looks at how to achieve success working with a multigeneration workforce and how to create an awesome company culture. The multigenerational workforce topic is explored in-depth with Jeff Butler, an author and workplace strategist, on how different cultures and employees can successfully interact with each other. Chris Dyer, a trailblazer in leadership, company culture, and business g...

Training is vitally important to the future success of any business, and especially for those in manufacturing. The topic is explored in-depth with Rodney Poore, a seasoned professional in CNC spring machine manufacturing and technical training, with more than 45 years of hands-on experience in the field. He’s an adjunct instructor at McHenry County College in the Chicago area, where he teaches co...

Women are an important and vibrant part of the manufacturing industry, especially in the spring industry. The topic is explored in-depth with Allison Grealis, founder and president of the Women in Manufacturing® Association (WiM), a national trade association focused on supporting, promoting and inspiring women in the manufacturing sector.  The second segment of the podcast features Micki Vandeloo...

Helping manufacturers understand the automotive market is important, especially in light of the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs). While EVs are important to the future of the automotive marketplace, hybrids and alternative fuels will also play a significant role, explains Derek Kaufman, a transportation industry expert and managing partner at Schwartz Advisors, in the first segment of this epi...

You will exit your business at some point. It can be forced upon you by circumstances such as death, disability, disagreement, divorce, disaster, debt, or dissolution. But, it’s much better to exit on your own terms. Paul Menig, CEO of Business Accelerants discusses ways to grow your business to make it more attractive to buyers. The second segment of the podcast features Bill Coughlin of Lippert...

Helping manufacturers recruit, develop and retain staff is absolutely critical to success, especially in the spring industry. This topic is discussed in detail with Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial and Lisa Ryan, chief strategy officer for Grategy. Springs Are Everywhere is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com) and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industri...