The Think Factory Podcast

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 comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia, helping children who would otherwise struggle to access the care they need. She also highlights the organization's commitment to preventive education, community outreach, and breaking the cycle of childhood dental disease through partnerships with schools, medical providers, and families.Tara explores the challenges of leading a mission-driven healthcare organization in an increasingly complex environment, including reimbursement cuts, access-to-care barriers, and the long-term public health consequences of untreated dental disease. She offers valuable insights on advocacy, nonprofit leadership, workforce development, and the importance of balancing operational sustainability with compassionate patient care. Throughout the conversation, Tara emphasizes the profound impact that oral health has on a child’s future and shares lessons from her own leadership journey about embracing challenges, trusting the long game, and using every experience as a foundation for future growth.Disclaimer

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 marketing goes far beyond selling products—it’s about understanding human behavior, challenging assumptions, and helping people see new possibilities for themselves.Dory dives into the psychology behind successful marketing campaigns, revealing how insights into identity and decision-making can drive meaningful behavior change and business results. She discusses balancing creativity with performance, the role of leadership in modern marketing, and why understanding emotional barriers is often the key to unlocking growth. Dory also offers valuable career advice for women aspiring to leadership roles, emphasizing the importance of embracing risk, learning from failure, and confidently creating opportunities rather than waiting for them.Disclaimer

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 forefront of innovation while staying committed to exceptional quality, service, and long-term customer relationships. He also reflects on his own career journey through retail, manufacturing, distribution, and international markets, and how those experiences prepared him to lead the company through a rapidly changing industry.Danny explores the future of apparel decoration, including the growing role of digital printing, automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence in meeting the demands of modern production. He explains how evolving consumer expectations, shorter production runs, and faster delivery timelines are reshaping the industry, while traditional screen printing continues to thrive for large-scale and specialty applications. Throughout the conversation, Danny highlights M&R’s dedication to innovation, craftsmanship, and helping businesses of every size succeed in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.Disclaimer

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 employee relations investigations to leadership breakdowns and sudden separation from professional employer organizations (PEOs). Drawing on more than 25 years of HR experience, she explains how strategic HR leadership goes far beyond policy management and becomes a critical driver of business resilience, employee trust, and long-term organizational success.Throughout the discussion, Jessica offers practical insights into the warning signs companies often ignore before a crisis escalates, the importance of psychological safety in leadership, and why culture is ultimately shaped by the behaviors organizations reward and tolerate. She also reflects on how her early experience in corporate immigration helped shape her people-first approach to HR, compliance, and workforce strategy. The episode explores the growing importance of fractional executives and consultants for startups and scaling businesses, emphasizing that founders do not need to navigate complex HR, finance, and compliance challenges alone. Packed with actionable advice for executives, founders, and business leaders, this conversation highlights how thoughtful HR infrastructure and strong leadership practices can help companies build healthier, more sustainable workplaces from the ground up.Disclaimer

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 professionals to have meaningful influence over clinical practice, operational decisions, and the resources that support patient care. Drawing from decades of research and experience, he shares the origins of his groundbreaking Index of Professional Nursing Governance, the first validated instrument designed to measure how authority, decision-making, and professional accountability actually function inside healthcare organizations.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Hess explores how authentic shared governance improves nurse retention, job satisfaction, collaboration, and patient outcomes, while also exposing the dangers of organizations treating governance as a marketing slogan rather than a lived operational reality. He discusses the growing global adoption of his accreditation model, the integration of AI-powered dashboards to analyze governance data in real time, and the future of collaborative leadership across healthcare systems worldwide. The episode also dives into the deeply human side of governance, highlighting the importance of trust, transparency, and leadership buy-in when creating organizational structures that truly empower people. Packed with practical insights for healthcare leaders, executives, and professionals across industries, this episode offers a compelling look at how shared decision-making can transform both workplace culture and organizational performance.Disclaimer

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 region’s key professional social work associations. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the importance of collaboration across disciplines, communities, and political perspectives, emphasizing that meaningful systems change in behavioral health and social policy only happens when diverse stakeholders come together.Will also explores some of the most pressing issues facing the social work profession today, including workforce reclassification efforts, access to education and professional funding, and the growing role—and limits—of AI in therapeutic spaces. He discusses the balance between innovation and ethical boundaries in mental health care, the ongoing fight for human rights and behavioral health equity, and the importance of self-care in emotionally demanding work. Closing the discussion, he underscores the need for steady, values-driven leadership in uncertain times and shares why staying grounded in community, purpose, and long-term thinking is essential for those working to strengthen both the profession and the systems it serves.Disclaimer

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, reducing manual touchpoints, and eliminating costly errors. Drawing on decades of combined experience in software and manufacturing, Mark and Stan explain how Significans helps organizations connect disparate systems into cohesive, high-performance workflows.The discussion also explores how companies move from fragmented processes to fully mapped, future-state automation strategies tailored to their operations. From identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies to building phased, ROI-driven transformation roadmaps, Significans takes a hands-on approach to improving productivity and scalability. The episode also touches on the evolving role of AI in automation—highlighting its current limitations, emerging capabilities, and its place as a powerful supporting tool within broader digital transformation efforts.Disclaimer

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, lamination, and 3D effects. John explains how these capabilities create more engaging, tactile, and visually impactful products that capture attention and elevate brand perception in competitive markets.The conversation also explores the strong business case behind embellishment, including rapid ROI, increased profitability, and the shift toward short-run, personalized print. As consumer expectations continue to evolve—driven in part by premium packaging and “unboxing” experiences—print providers have new opportunities to differentiate and add value. John highlights how Skandacor’s accessible, easy-to-use solutions are empowering both small and large producers to unlock new revenue streams and rethink what’s possible in modern print.Disclaimer

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 explores major industry shifts, from advances in digital printing to the upcoming transition from UPC codes to QR-based systems, and what these changes mean for brands and manufacturers alike.At the heart of the conversation is a deeper look at company culture as a driving force behind sustainable growth. Robert explains how employee retention, internal development, and a strong sense of pride in craftsmanship have helped Label King build lasting customer relationships and maintain consistent quality. From fostering team engagement to navigating expansion into new markets like Salt Lake City, this episode highlights why investing in people—not just technology—remains one of the most effective strategies for long-term business success.Disclaimer