WiLLcast

Laconia High School students Evyn, Oliver, and Wyatt joined WiLLcast host Adam Rupp to talk about their 2024 Project G.R.I.L.L. solution, a custom "drum set" featuring three grills with rock 'n roll flair. The students also share their perspectives on how schools can better prepare them for the trades and how manufacturers can help attract the next generation. 

Join Adam Rupp as he sits down with local manufacturers Jason Strange of Wells Vehicle Electronics and Paul Reetz of Integrity Saw & Tool. The crew talks manufacturing automation, implementing automation technology, and more! Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!

Marian University President Michelle Majewski joined Adam and Becca at the WiLLcast table to give an update on all things higher education during this episode. President Majewski shares her experience leading the small private university, the process for determining new programs to develop, and the benefits and challenges of working within the Fond du Lac community.  Stay up-to-date on the latest...

Newly elected Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman joined Adam and Becca for this WiLLcast episode! Kaufman shared what his role entails, an update on the county, and his views on manufacturing in the Fond du Lac community.  Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!

Senior Vice President of Development for The Commonwealth Companies, Dan Kroetz, stopped by the WiLLcast studio to share his experience in the construction field. He'll discuss working in development as well as the need for affordable housing.  Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.c...

Tune in as Bernadette Ericksen, Director of Business Client Services for Envision Greater Fond du Lac, joins Adam and Becca to talk about her work in the Fond du Lac community and manufacturing industry. Bernadette also shares her career path, including her return to the FDL area community. Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite...

Sisters Whitney and Kelsey Birschbach stopped by the WiLLcast Studio to discuss their own local manufacturing operations – Agromatic, Inc. and Davis Plastic. Adam and Becca talk with Kelsey and Whitney about their operations, working in agriculture, and, of course, the dynamics of a family business.   Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on yo...

Host Adam Rupp sat down with Thomas Schaefer, Vice President of Engineering, Procurement & Category Management for Wells Vehicle Electronics, to talk about his more than 40 years of manufacturing industry experience. Tom shares his professional evolution and the changes he's seen throughout the industry over the past 4 decades.  Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights...

Dust off your flannels and start stretching because The Ledge Games (TLG) are back for the seventh consecutive year! Host Adam Rupp + Producer Becca Schumacher are joined by TLG Co-Founders Tyler Oestreich and Josh Michels for this WiLLcast as they discuss the upcoming event. Hosted on the last Saturday of September (9/24 in 2022), TLG is an amateur timber competition for charity with all proceeds...

Envision Greater Fond du Lac President + CEO, Sadie Vander Velde, joined Host Adam Rupp and Producer Becca Schumacher to record Episode #42 of WiLLcast. Sadie shared her thoughts on all things Fond du Lac county - from the economy to the importance of manufacturing to the community's future, and more. Adam and Sadie also share their concepts of leadership and the importance of recognizing the...

After nearly a decade with Excel Engineering, HR Manager Lauren Schellpfeffer joined host Adam Rupp to discuss the role of HR and recruiting in engineering. Lauren shares her professional evolution, breaks down a few HR "myths," and kicks off the episode discussing her family's tradition of attending the Kentucky Derby each year. Plus, Adam will tell a great story about a job interv...

C.J. Smith, legal counsel for Fond du Lac-based contractor C.D. Smith, took a seat at the WiLLcast table with Adam and Becca to share his unique perspective on the construction industry and the FDL community. C.J. shares his experience with, and respect for, those working in the trades, as well as all that goes into creating a contract for a major construction project. He also explains why he beli...

Chad Collett, President of Fond du Lac Soccer Association, joined Adam & Becca to talk about his role as he leads the charge at the FDL Soccer Association and manages the Fond du Lac Soccer Complex. A premier facility within the state of Wisconsin, the soccer complex feature two fully lit fields, including Field 12 which currently sports a complete WiLLsport lighting package including our GFX...

WiLL's favorite NASCAR driver and long-time WiLLcast guest, Josh Bilicki was back in the studio to talk more about the 2022 NASCAR Race season thus far. Get his take on pulling "double duty" at his home track - Road America - as he raced in both the Xfinity and Cup Series Races. Josh gives Adam his thoughts on the new Next Gen car and shares more on how iRacing helps him train. As a...

Director of Application Engineering Jake Ortner joined host Adam Rupp to talk about the benefits of both remote and onboard power supply options for retrofit sports lighting projects. They take a look at key considerations including pole design as well as power quality when determining which WiLL solution works best. To learn more about WiLL's sports lighting solutions, visit WiLLBrands.com. ...

Paul Reetz, President & Owner of Integrity Saw & Tool, Inc., joined Adam at the WiLL Lighting Campus to share his perspective as a fellow small-sized manufacturer in the Fond du Lac community. Covering lots of ground, Adam and Paul discuss everything from recruitment to supply chain challenges while sharing leadership wisdom throughout. Tune in to get the full story now!

Former NASCAR Car Chief Ron Malec joined Adam at the WiLLcast Studio to take a closer look at his long-standing career – from NASCAR Car Chief for Jimmie Johnson to Senior Manager of Accessories Engineering at Milwaukee Tool. Learn more about life on, and off, the track, as well as the similar skill sets required in both racing and manufacturing. 

Listen in as Nick Recht, Sales Manager Americas for TEKLYNX, joins Host Adam Rupp to not only discuss labeling technology and enterprise software but also how these solutions can help solve problems for customers. Additionally, Nick will give his take on the relationship between product managers and engineers, and share why and how a tight feedback loop enhances product development.  To learn more...

Kurt Wismer, the business teacher at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac, joined Adam at our WiLLcast studio to discuss INCubatoredu@nfdl, an entrepreneurship experience for high school students that helps them through the process of developing their own real-world services and products. In this episode, Kurt and Adam discuss breaking the "traditional" classroom mold, developing...

Meg Hutter, a local author and the creator of Henry the Brave & The Cancerasaurus, joined Adam to talk about her moving inspiration for "Henry the Brave," the process of writing the story, working with an illustrator, and continuing to promote the book and Henry's story.  To learn more about Meg, Henry the Brave, or to purchase the book, visit LittleHeadProductions.com.  Keep up...

Tyler Oestreich, WiLL Co-Founder + Director of Technology, sat down with Adam to talk about WiLL's 3D printing farm and the value it brings to our manufacturing process. Adam and Tyler also discuss the best use cases for the 3D printers and integrating technology into small to mid-sized operations.