Ep. 104: FIRST Robotics inspires creativity and Coopertition™

Melissa Samuels of ErgoFactor and Emily Tietjen of NEW Water are Kate's and Ann's last guests of 2025, joining the podcast this week to talk about their volunteer work with Brown County FIRST Robotics, which teaches K-12 students skills including...

Episode 104 of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast, hosted by Kate Bruns, titled "Ep. 104: FIRST Robotics inspires creativity and Coopertition™" was published on December 18, 2025 and runs 17 minutes.

December 18, 2025 ·17m · NEW Manufacturing Insights

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

Melissa Samuels of ErgoFactor and Emily Tietjen of NEW Water are Kate's and Ann's last guests of 2025, joining the podcast this week to talk about their volunteer work with Brown County FIRST Robotics, which teaches K-12 students skills including collaborative problem solving, Gracious Professionalism™ and Coopertition™, as well as technical fluency for future careers in fields like engineering and manufacturing. You can learn more about the program, which board members Samuels and Tietjen say is always in need of volunteer technical mentors and business support, at browncountyfirstrobotics.org. NEW Manufacturing Insights will return for season 4 on Thursday, Jan. 8. Happy Holidays!

Episode Description

Melissa Samuels of ErgoFactor and Emily Tietjen of NEW Water are Kate's and Ann's last guests of 2025, joining the podcast this week to talk about their volunteer work with Brown County FIRST Robotics, which teaches K-12 students skills including collaborative problem solving, Gracious Professionalism™ and Coopertition™, as well as technical fluency for future careers in fields like engineering and manufacturing.

You can learn more about the program, which board members Samuels and Tietjen say is always in need of volunteer technical mentors and business support, at browncountyfirstrobotics.org.

NEW Manufacturing Insights will return for season 4 on Thursday, Jan. 8. Happy Holidays!

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Dad Marketing: Why “2012 Facebook” Can Still Win in Family-Oriented Manufacturing

Apr 7, 2026 ·24m

The New Global Auto Race | Why Hybrids Won, China Rose and Europe Slipped Down The Ladder

Mar 31, 2026 ·48m

Building the Semiconductor Workforce of Tomorrow

Mar 31, 2026 ·23m

Guerrilla Marketing Lessons for Manufacturing Marketers

Mar 24, 2026 ·32m

How Caterpillar Builds Social Media That Actually Resonates

Mar 17, 2026 ·29m

Stop Competing, Start Creating: Why Category Creators Must Redefine the Problem (and Not Just the Solution)

Mar 10, 2026 ·31m

Similar Podcasts

Disrupted Factory A JENDAMARK PODCAST with Yanesh Naidoo Hosted by Jendamark’s innovations director, Yanesh Naidoo, this podcast is your gateway to the cutting edge of digital manufacturing technologies and Industry 4.0.Whether you’re an industry veteran or just getting started, we delve deep into the innovations that are transforming the way factories operate. From smart factories and IoT to AI-driven automation and beyond, Disrupted Factory brings you expert insights, in-depth interviews, and the latest trends shaping the future of manufacturing.This podcast leverages our three decades in global automation and now digital technologies to help viewers learn something new with every episode! Food Careers Podcast Jill Harvie Join Jill Harvie (@brightpasture) as I explore a broad range of fascinating careers from gate to plate with my guests. Food has a great way of bringing people together. Whether your interests lie in food production, manufacturing, retail and food service, cuisine or health and nutrition and more, this is the listening experience for you. We will dive into what makes these various career options fulfilling, all the while gaining an understanding of how to land and develop a dream job. If you are interested in a new career path or curious about standout vocations from around the globe, join us on this journey. Job seekers and employers alike can gain valuable insights from this podcast as we feature food career postings and talented available hires on future episodes. For more information and show notes please visit brightpasture.com. #foodcareers 3Degrees Discussions 3DegreesDiscussions Dr. Mike Vasquez is a 3D Printing expert specializing in pushing the boundaries of advanced 3D printing technology. He is the Founder and CEO of 3Degrees, a Chicago-based consulting company focused on helping organizations maximize their investment in the technology. Over the past decade he has worked side-by-side with some of the top machine manufacturers, material producers and end users in the industry, consulting with them to identify novel applications, test new materials and develop frameworks to maximize R&D efficiency and boost ROI.Based on insights gleaned from the consulting, Mike has spun out two additional organizations. First, a software company called TraceAM with the mission to help manufacturers organize and analyze their 3D Printing digital data. In the last year, they have worked with customers such as Air Force Research Lab, Renishaw, Ohio State University and Fabrisonic. The second organization, AMx or Advanced Manufacturing Experience, was created by Mike to offer Business Of Biotech Ben Comer The Business of Biotech is the pod dedicated to leaders of emerging biopharma firms. SUBSCRIBE to our new newsletter at www.bioprocessonline.com/bob. We bring you insight into organizational, finance and funding, HR, clinical, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercial challenges you’ll face as you navigate your company from an idea to success in the clinic and beyond. Each episode features guest commentary and best practices from accomplished founders and biopharma industry luminaries. The Business of Biotech is produced by Life Science Connect.

URL copied to clipboard!