Made In New England Interview Series

Believe it or not, there’s a cowboy hat wearing CEO whose business publishes great board games right here in New Hampshire. Dan Yarrington of Tabletop Tycoon tells us about how our favorite board games make it to the market. In an age where so many things are going digital, Dan reminds us that board games are here to stay, and they can be part of an interesting and profitable business. Learn what excites this Tabletop Tycoon about the future of the board game business.

Daniel Theobald is a serial robotics entrepreneur. He’s started a major non-profit to advance the robotics industry. He’s started two robotics companies, and has a consulting firm that supports other robotics companies. Even if you have no interest in robotics at all, this interview is compelling. Daniel has an amazing perspective on things like how robotics can benefit humans, how to collaborate in order to move an industry forward, and how to face the fear of failure. You’ll also hear what this visionary is really excited about in robotics applications today, and here’s a hint: it’s NOT using robots to make sushi!

Nick Grewal is building value, in his company and in improving the planet. To Nick, CEO of ePropelled, the ultimate KPI of his business is having a clean planet. Listen to Nick’s unique perspective on what value is and how he aims to clean up the planet through electric propulsion.

Common Sense Machines has a new super power for 3D content creators. Whether you’re interested in creating digital content in 3D, or perhaps manufacturing parts with a 3D printer, Tejas Kilkarni explains how his company is making it easy for you to create and compete. Whether you’re familiar with 3D creation or it’s a new concept, this interview offers insight into what you can do with it. Check it out!

Laurent Canneva is not your typical entrepreneur. He had a long and successful career helping people to get and stay healthy. But there was something else in his future that was calling to him. Learn how and why Laurent shifted gears to focus on saving the planet, and how his company Spare-It is doing that.

When Phil Mastroianni made the decision to start his Limoncello company, he knew it would take a special ingredient beyond lemons, alcohol, sugar and water. That ingredient is determination. It’s the foundation of the success of Fabrizia Spirits today, and it’s served the Salem, NH based spirits company incredibly well over the past 15 years. Hear Phil’s story and how his “Crazy Uncle Joe” inspired him to get started.

Mark Schnepel saw an opportunity. His last company made the best heat exchangers in the industry (learn what those are in the video). But these heat exchangers were being used as a component, rather than a featured product. Now, Mark is celebrating the 1st anniversary of Heat Recovery Innovations and his company is helping the world to reduce its carbon footprint with custom heat exchanger solutions. Check out this fantastic business story that's benefitting the environment, all based right here in New England!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...and VTOL? If you don't know what that last one is, listen to this podcast. Peter Schmidt and Transcend Air are close to changing the way business commuters will move from one city to another in the same region. Imagine no more long rides to and from the airport; no more crowded airport terminals; no more uncomfortable coach seats. And this is all at about the same cost as the traditional model. You have to listen to believe it.

Ever watch a show on tv that features incredible homes with these fantastic spaces? Showroom doesn't begin to describe the spaces that Bill Pugh's company creates, from the closet of your dreams to wine cellars, his business The Closet Factory does it all. But how he got to this point makes a great story - check it out!

There are plenty of things we often take for granted in business. For example, if you work in a large business that has remote help desk support, ever wonder how you are able to connect with them? There's an entire business dedicated to connecting you with such services. Peyton McManus and the team at Instant Technologies provides cutting edge services to connect business users with support services around the globe. Have a listen!

Catherine Smart is a captivating entrepreneur. Listen to all of the different things Catherine has done in her career that lead up to and have prepared her for her current role as Co-Founder and CEO of Not Just Co. If you want a slice of your life back, listen to how her business is helping people do that - in a healthy way!

We hear about digital theft all the time. Whether it's a case of stealing your intellectual property, your identity, or any digital content, the question is how do we protect our most important secrets? Eugene Shablygin and his company WWPass have the answer. Listen to Eugene's story about how this self-proclaimed 'lazy physicist'-turned-computer pro made New England his home and built his business here.

Ever been in some kind of online chat room, forum, or open mic situation and been frustrated by offensive, abusive language? The Team at Modulate is helping change the game for online communities. Modulate's story is an interesting one, especially when you consider that its leader, Mike Pappas, didn't originally intend to build a business in this field. Check it out and hear it for yourself!

By the title of this podcast, it makes you wonder: how DO businesses conduct business with other businesses? The answer lies with Russ Edelman and his company, Contracts 365. But Contracts 365 is no ordinary software company, and Russ himself is no ordinary leader. He has 'author' in his resume and shares how he uses that experience and subject matter in creating a highly effective company.

In this interview I meet with Paul Sellew, Founder & CEO of Little Leaf Farms. You'll likely recognize his company's brand, and you will definitely appreciate what it takes to grow your fresh produce after listening to this. There's amazing science and technology that goes into providing the freshest produce in New England. And despite Paul being the Founder & CEO, you'll never guess who the REAL BOSS is in his business. Listen to find out!

Kristen Dettoni's business isn't just fabric patterns. Far from it. Kristen is trying to change a classic New England industry for the better. Imagine what happened years ago when all of the textile mills in New England were cranking out millions of pounds of fabric. What happens to the material that never gets used? You can probably imagine the mountains of unused, wasted fabrics piling up. Kristen has a solution, and she's aiming to change the textiles world forever. Check out my podcast with this engaging entrepreneur and learn all about it.

Osher Perry of ShipIn Systems has leveraged a lifetime of maritime experience and cutting edge artificial intelligence to change global trade. Listen to his story and learn how his vision translates into improved safety and profitability for his clients.

Doran Dal Pra didn't realize what this small side business would become. Hear the story of New England Holiday lights, and how he and his partner have managed to grow into a major New England business with some help from family and friends along the way. Interestingly, Doran and his team have figured out how to be 'friends and family' and have a successful business at the same time. This is a fun interview with some surprises along the way.

Matt Redmond of Redmond Fleet shares how he's built a successful business. Hear Matt tell his story about starting from scratch, his thoughts on entrepreneurship and servant leadership.

Cliff Byrd, Special Ops Veteran and Entrepreneur, shares his success story of parlaying his military career into building a successful company in the defense industry. You'll hear him talk about how he did it and what he would have done differently.

Are you into alternative, green modes of transportation? Do you enjoy hearing unique ideas and perspectives from entrepreneurs? If so, this episode is for you! Chas Sullivan of Radmoto USA brings his unique business and perspective in this interview.

When you believe in what you do, it makes all the difference between success and failure. It certainly has for Joshua Velasquez and his business. Hear Joshua's story and how his passion & persistence paid off by reeling in investors in his own back yard while developing an amazing product.

Sylvain Roy talks to us about entrepreneurship, family business, and building a business on tree stumps! This NH entrepreneur brings a strong perspective on life as a business owner that you won't want to miss.

Dennis Keane, the president of KOALD Design, shares his vision for how he can scale his custom automation business while keeping costs down for his customers.

This is the story of a NH business leader that got his start in the state university system and has worked his way to the top as President of Intec Automation. Corey Marcotte shares his story and his thoughts on what got him to this point, including befriending the grumpy guy in the corner!

Do you own a small manufacturing business? Have you had to face the challenge of seeing work go offshore, then re-shore, only to see it go offshore again? President/Owner of Howard Precision, Inc. Joseph Howard talks about his business and the impacts of scaling his business to meet this challenge.

Do you want to be known as an innovator? John Shaw, CEO of Itaconix plc in Stratham, NH shares his secret for becoming an innovator. Whether it's business, technology, or the arts, John tells us his story and lets us in on his formula for success. Here's a hint: don't fall in love with your idea!

Jon leads a multi-generational New England-based belt-manufacturing company. Hear about his successes, his advice, and who showed up at his latest ribbon-cutting ceremony!

Michele Pierog is a born-and-raised New Englander. Michele shared her unique career path with me on our first episode of Made In New England. Her story is inspiring!