The Think Factory Podcast

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Katie Jasmine, Vice President of National Sales at Source One Digital, shares her journey of building a successful sales and leadership career in the fast-paced world of large-format digital printing. Katie discusses how the industry has evolved from traditional signage to creating immersive branded environments, and how adapting to changing technology...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Ken Coe, Chief Financial Officer of Humboldt Park Health, shares how a community-focused healthcare organization is redefining what it means to deliver equitable care. From expanding wellness initiatives and affordable housing projects to leveraging AI-powered solutions that improve patient outcomes, Ken discusses how Humboldt Park Health continues to...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Will Jones, President and CEO of Thompson, shares how he transformed a 140-year-old organization into one of the leading human services providers in the Southeast. Will discusses the leadership principles that guided Thompson through financial challenges, organizational change, and rapid growth, including the mindset shifts that helped the organization...

In this episode of The Think Factory Podcast, Mark DeBoer, Senior Vice President of Sales at Darwill, shares the story of a company that has spent 75 years evolving alongside the changing world of marketing. From its roots as a traditional printing business to its transformation into a data-driven marketing solutions provider, Darwill has embraced innovation by combining direct mail, digital marke...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Kasey Cotulla, Owner and President of Delta Print Group, shares the lessons he's learned from completing more than a decade of mergers and acquisitions in the printing industry. Drawing from nearly 20 years of acquisition experience, Kasey discusses how strategic growth, relationship-building, and patience have helped Delta Print Group expand into one...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Jessica Cantin, CEO of Food for Free, discusses how her organization is transforming the fight against hunger through food rescue, sustainable distribution, and community-centered solutions. Jessica shares how Food for Free has evolved from a grassroots effort into one of the country's leading food recovery organizations, delivering millions of pounds...

In this episode of the ThinkFactory Podcast, Tara Good Young, CEO of PDI Surgery Center, shares the inspiring mission behind a nonprofit pediatric ambulatory surgery center dedicated to providing life-changing dental care for underserved children and patients with special health care needs. Drawing on more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience, Tara discusses how PDI delivers comp...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Dory Ellis Garfinkle, Chief Marketing Officer at Siegel+Gale, shares her unconventional journey from growing up in Detroit’s automotive culture to leading marketing and brand strategy for one of the world’s most respected brand consulting firms. Drawing on experiences across mobility, innovation, and design-focused organizations, Dory explores how mark...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Danny Sweem, CEO of M&R Printing Equipment, shares the remarkable story of a company that has spent more than four decades shaping the apparel decoration industry. From its beginnings as a screen-printing equipment manufacturer to its evolution into a global leader in digital printing technologies, Danny discusses how M&R has remained at the fo...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Holst of Aligned HR Consulting for a thoughtful conversation about crisis management, workplace culture, and the evolving role of HR leadership in growing organizations. Jessica shares how her firm specializes in stepping into companies during moments of operational or organizational crisis — from compliance failures and employ...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Bob Hess, founder and CEO of the Forum for Shared Governance, for an insightful discussion about the true meaning of shared governance in healthcare and why it has become one of the most important conversations in organizational leadership today. Dr. Hess explains how shared governance empowers bedside nurses and frontline professio...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Will Francis, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers across Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, shares insights from his journey across frontline social work, government relations, and executive leadership. He reflects on how firsthand exposure to client challenges led him toward advocacy and ultimately into guiding one of the reg...

This episode of the Think Factory Podcast features Marc Raad, President, and Stan Carmichael, Director of Special Projects, Significans Automation, as they discuss how the company is reshaping automation across the print, packaging, agency, and brand industries. The conversation focuses on how disconnected “islands of automation” can be unified through integration, enabling seamless data flow, red...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast features John Congdon, Global Channel Partner Manager at Skandacor, sharing insights on how print embellishment is transforming packaging, direct mail, and branded materials. With over 20 years in the industry and a global footprint, Skandacor is helping print producers move beyond standard CMYK output through technologies like digital foiling, laminati...

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast features Robert Parker, owner of Label King, a company that has achieved 24 consecutive years of steady growth in the label manufacturing industry. Robert shares the story behind Label King's humble beginnings—starting with a single machine and employee—and how identifying gaps in the packaging supply chain led to long-term success. The discussion also...

On this episode of the Think Factory Podcast , we sit down with John Helline, CEO of BindTech, to explore how a five-generation bookbinding legacy has evolved into a modern, multi-location platform focused on innovation and specialty manufacturing. What began as a single trade bindery acquisition has grown into a nationwide operation known for high-end book production, premium packaging, and advan...

In this episode of the Think Factory podcast, host Chris Santomasimo sits down with Al Kennickell, president of The Kennickell Group, to explore how a multi-generational family business has survived and thrived since its founding in 1892. Al shares how he transformed the company by taking calculated risks—most notably investing in new printing technology early in his career—and repeatedly reinvent...

This episode of the Think Factory Women’s Roundtable podcast features Val Gonzalez, who shares her journey from an unexpected start in accounting to becoming a global finance leader in the nonprofit space. As CFO of The Climate Reality Project, she discusses how her technical expertise, combined with curiosity and adaptability, shaped her career. Val reflects on key turning points—transitioning fr...

In this episode, Chuck Slingerland, Vice President of Sales and Service for Barberan Corrugated North America, shares his journey from packaging manufacturer to equipment supplier—and how that perspective helps him guide companies investing in digital print technology. He discusses the evolution of single-pass digital printing, Barberan’s engineering-driven approach, and how advancements in speed,...

On this episode of The Think Factory Podcast, Derek Volk, third-generation CEO of Volk Packaging in Maine, shares how a family-owned corrugated packaging company has thrived for nearly 60 years by focusing on relationships, small-batch complexity, and making customers’ lives easier. From embracing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to align his 100-person team, to writing Go for Third , a...

On this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Hawkins, founder of Law Firm GC, to explore the unique—and often overlooked—legal needs of law firms themselves. From handshake partnerships with no written agreements to messy breakups, succession planning, malpractice defense, and the rise of alternative business structures, Jonathan shares what really happens behind the sce...

On this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, we dive into the science—and strategy—behind what really makes things stick with Dennis LeBlanc of Drytac. From celebrating 50 years in business to supplying adhesive-coated solutions in over 80 countries, Drytac is far more than a materials manufacturer—it’s an innovation engine focused on solving real-world pain points across visual communications, a...

On this episode of the ThinkFactory Women’s Roundtable, Karen Norheim, CEO of American Crane & Equipment Company, shares her remarkable journey from reluctant recruit in her family’s manufacturing business to second-generation leader of a thriving, highly engineered crane company serving industries from nuclear energy to NASA’s Artemis program. Karen opens up about the immigrant grit that shap...

In this episode of the ThinkFactory Podcast, Timothy Peters and Louis Rouhaud of Polyart explore how synthetic paper is reshaping print, packaging, and labeling through durability, printability, and sustainability. The conversation dives into how Polyart eliminates lamination steps, reduces carbon footprint and waste, supports recyclability with post-consumer materials, and helps printers and bran...

Case Paper’s Blair Jason-Brown and Arika Stoecker share how an 80+ year–old company stays relevant by blending deep industry expertise with creativity, humor, and a people-first mindset. From custom-sized paper and packaging solutions that reduce waste and boost profitability to bold educational tools like “Case Paper TV,” they discuss what it truly means to be “On the Case”—building real partners...