NEW Manufacturing Insights

The episode features a discussion on cybersecurity threats in manufacturing with guest Brett Chittum of Sprinter Business Solutions. Brett shares with co-hosts Ann Franz and Kate Bruns some real-world examples of cyberattacks, such as a logistics company compromised through email and Stryker's infamous incident that wiped out 200,000 devices. He emphasizes the importance of identity as the new perimeter, network segmentation, email defense, patch management, backups, and incident response planning, as well as highlights the critical role of human error in cybersecurity breaches and the need for operational thinking in IT budgeting. Learn more about Sprinter Business at https://sprinterit.com/.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode! Learn more about how Stoke RGA is helping Midwest manufacturers drive measurable growth at stokerga.com. 

Registration opened this week for Insight's 16th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference, for which BridgeWorks CEO Phil Gwoke, a Wisconsin native, has been announced as keynote speaker. On this week's episode, Kate and Ann chat virtually with Phil about his planned visit to Green Bay Oct. 28 and about his extensive experience studying generational difference, which will be the topic of his keynote address at Resch Expo.Among the topics tackled on this week's episode and keynote preview are information about Phil's background with generational research, what has most surprised him about how generations view one another, how to bridge the knowledge gap, and what employers get wrong when trying to manage "across generations." Listen to the end to hear what Phil considers his best leadership insight.Register for Manufacturing First at the early-bird rate by going online to manufacturingfirst.com.Learn more about Phil Gwoke and his work with BridgeWorks at generations.com.Thank you to this week's podcast sponsor, Stoke RGA. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Following a year of federal funding uncertainty, the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) led by executive director and CEO Chris Baichoo is ready to move forward. On this week's episode, Chris joins Kate and Ann in the studio to talk more about the past, present and future of WMEP. He says the yearlong period of uncertainty was difficult, but also clarifying in that it helped WMEP right-size its programs, focus on its mission and appreciate its partnerships.One area where WMEP has identified a fairly obvious gap for Wisconsin's small and medium-sized manufacturers is artificial intelligence. Next week on May 13, WMEP will launch its new AI Navigator program, which is a partnership with MKE Tech Hub. (Learn more at wmep.org/ai-in-manufacturing/.)Chris also shares what he learned over the course of a challenging year, what changes have been implemented at WMEP -- including its new coordinating entity, UW-Stout, and of course his best leadership insight.Connect with WMEP online at wmep.org.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this and all 2026 episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights. Learn more at stokerga.com. 

Oliver Schmitz, associate dean for corporate engagement and entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joins Kate and Ann on this episode to preview a new event: the Wisconsin Drives Manufacturing Summit he's helping organize for June 1-2 at Lambeau Field.The first day of the event will feature an innovation showcase, and the second day will be filled with programming -- all of it, Schmitz says, is designed to help inspire collaboration within the state and help bridge the gap between industry and academia. Learn more about the summit online at widrivesmanufacturing.com. Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring the podcast throughout the year. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Keith Schlegel of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Manufacturing and Trade and Tammie Clendenning, a Wisconsin-based USSBA economic development specialist, join Kate and Ann on this week's episode to help small manufacturers understand the federal resources that may be available to them as they navigate lending, supply chain and exporting challenges. Listen as Keith and Tammie give a brief overview of programs like the Working Capital Pilot Program, the MARC (manufacturers access to revolving credit) Loan Program, the Express program and more. They also highlight special incentives for manufacturers and military-connected families and partnerships with programs like Exim Bank, SCORE mentoring, and Small Business Development Centers, which in Wisconsin are connected to the UW System."At the end of the day, there are a lot of free, available resources out there for small businesses," Keith tells the co-hosts. "Part of navigating those resources is just knowing who to reach out to."Learn more about the U.S. SBA at sba.gov/district/wisconsin and sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-manufacturing-trade.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring NEW Manufacturing Insights each week! Learn more at stokerga.com. 

Sam Thomas, president of De Pere-based Robinson, Inc., joins Insight's Kate Bruns and NEWMA's Ann Franz on this week's episode to talk more about his company's history and future, including its recent recognition as Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year in the "large" manufacturer category. Thomas, who is also featured in this month's issue of Insight on Business with fellow Northeast Wisconsin MOTY award recipient Spark Ops Metalworks, says 2026 is likely the last year Robinson will be in the "large" manufacturer category as it quickly approaches 1,000 employees and prepares to open its fifth manufacturing facility -- in Altoona, Iowa, marking Robinson's first presence outside the state of Wisconsin.Read the Insight story here: Two New North companies earn Manufacturer of the Year honors | Manufacturing | insightonbusiness.comHear more from Thomas, including what he believes has been key to his company's growth and what he considers his best leadership insight, by listening to this week's full episode. Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this and all 2026 episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights. Learn more about our sponsor at stokerga.com. 

Jackie Anderson, head of talent acquisition for Ornua USA in Hilbert, will be a panelist at next week's NEW Manufacturing Alliance "Future of Work" Summit focused on employee retention (April 16 at Fox Valley Technical College). This week she joins Ann and Kate on the podcast to give a preview of her insights on the critical topic, as well as share the history of her career journey, which has also included 11 years in child care and 5 1/2 years at Fincantieri Marine Group. While Jackie has a diverse background, she says talent acquisition is the field where she plans to spend the rest of her career. Her career path wasn't always well defined, though. Jackie is a contributing author to the best-selling anthology "Voices of the 21st Century: Unstoppable Women Standing Strong," in which she shares her personal story of growing up poor, dealing with bullying and mental health issues and eventually taking her own power and achieving resiliency in her personal life and career. She is proud to share more about her story and her personal rebrand on this week's episode.

In December Patti Habeck became the third-ever president and CEO of New North, Inc. -- the 18-county economic development organization serving Northeast Wisconsin -- after 14 years with the nonprofit Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. A few months into her new role, she sits down with Ann and Kate on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights to discuss the challenges ahead for New North, Inc., what it has been like taking over a "small but mighty" organization, and what it has felt like to shift gears. She tells the co-hosts that collaborations are key, including those New North has with NEWMA and Insight, going forward. She also describes her priorities leading New North, including as they relate to manufacturers and technology, and provides a preview of the upcoming New North Summit, which will be held June 9 at Lambeau Field.To learn more about New North, Inc., visit thenewnorth.com.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about how Stoke RGA is helping manufacturers, visit stokerga.com.  

Kristen Jonas, owner of Kinesiology HR, joins Ann and Kate on this week's episode to talk about her HR career and experience and the challenges and successes of owning her own business, as well as give a sneak preview of her presentation for the April 14 NEWMA "Future of Work" Summit on employee retention.A self-described "productivity addict," Kristen also works as a certified divorce coach and says she enjoys being a fractional HR practitioner because of the variety of industries she is able to serve, including manufacturing.Learn more about Jonas' work at kinesiologyhr.com.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more about how Stoke RGA supports manufacturers at stokerga.com.

For the last two years, Kathryn Clouse has served as director of co-innovation for the Green Bay-based venture capital firm TitletownTech, helping companies -- including manufacturers -- fast-start their innovations in the realm of artificial intelligence. On this week's episode, Kathryn attempts to put into context for Kate and Ann how fast AI is exploding; how much the space has changed just since 2024, when large language models were first gaining foothold; and what innovation looks like for companies today.Learn more about co-innovation at TitletownTech at www.titletowntech.com/co-innovation.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Ricky Nutt, chief of shipyard operations at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, and Amelia Compton Wolff, editor of Insight on Business magazine, join Ann and Kate on this week's episode to dive deeper into the March 2026 Insight on Manufacturing feature "Staying the course," written by Amelia about how the shipbuilder has modernized its operations and pivoted in the wake of U.S. Navy contract shifts and the Industry 4.0 revolution.Ricky, who has worked with the company since 2011, has had a front-row seat to the operations revolution and speaks on this episode about topics ranging from what he loves about his craft to whether or not he's been skeptical of new technologies as they have come along to what the future holds with regard to Fincantieri's partnership with the U.S. Navy.Read the feature online here: How Fincantieri Marinette Marine is modernizing shipbuilding in Wisconsin | Manufacturing | insightonbusiness.comThank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Dayne Rusch, CEO of Vyper Industrial -- one of the Midwest's fastest growing companies and the subject of Insight's March cover feature written by Kate -- joins Kate and Ann on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights to talk more about the short history of the company and how he, his brother Dylan, his father Chris, and director of brand partnerships Alex Ostrihonsky have worked together to build Vyper, which started out importing motors, into one of the coolest brands in the U.S. making, of all things, shop chairs.With a new building on I-41 in Wrightstown and the chairs now available at lowes.com as of this month, Vyper is making some big moves and continuing to grow in 2026, all while having fun and leaning into new ideas.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more at stokerga.com.Read this month's cover story on Vyper online here: Vyper Industrial builds a booming brand around shop chairs | Cover story | insightonbusiness.com

W.E. Hoban Company quality engineer Elizabeth Senn, the 2026 NEW Manufacturing Alliance All Stars honoree who graces the cover of this year's NEWMA All Stars magazine, joins Kate and Ann today on the podcast along with her All Stars nominator Shannon Young, the company's director of human resources.W.E. Hoban Company, formerly known as Green Bay Drop Forge, is a regular participant in the NEWMA All Stars program, which recognizes young manufacturing employees in our region who are setting an example for the next generation manufacturing workforce. Read more about Elizabeth and W.E. Hoban in All Stars magazine here: 2026 New Manufacturing Alliance - All StarsThank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast all year long! Learn more at stokerga.com. 

Leadership coach and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee Kathy Miller, author of the books "MORE is Better: Leading Operations with Meaning, Optimism and Relationships for Excellence" and "Steel Toes and Stilettos," joins Ann and Kate on this week's episode of the podcast, sponsored by Stoke RGA.Kathy will be the keynote speaker at the NEW Manufacturing Alliance's Future of Work Summit on April 14, which will focus on the topic of employee retention. Her "MORE" framework has proven to be a guide for exactly that: focusing on meaning, optimism and relationships for excellence. She also recently launched an AI companion to "MORE is Better."Learn more at more4leaders.com and contact NEWMA to register for this spring's Future of Work event.

Steve King, author of multiple leadership books including "The Manager's Dillemma" and "Brag Worry Wonder Bet," joins Ann and Kate on this week's episode of the podcast, sponsored as always by Stoke RGA.Steve, who is semi-retired after a celebrated HR career, leads the University of Wisconsin Center for Professional and Executive Development's management boot camp, which is coming to Northeast Wisconsin in April for the first time and will be hosted by Schreiber Foods in Green Bay.On this week's show, Steve joins the co-hosts virtually from Madison to share some of his best management wisdom from the books and boot camp. He says the ideal candidates for attending the boot camp are first-year managers. NEWMA members will receive a discount on April's boot camp registration, so watch your email for this opportunity or contact Ann at [email protected] if you want to join the alliance.Learn more about the Center for Professional and Executive Development (CPED) at uwcped.org.

Brandon Beard, president of DuxxBak Composite Decking in Green Bay, says he never planned on working in manufacturing. His first dream was to be like Robin Williams' character in "Good Morning, Vietnam" -- focused on military service and broadcasting. Brandon finally gets his turn behind the microphone today, but we promise he doesn't yell into the microphone on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights. He joins this week's show to talk about his career in manufacturing in Northeast Wisconsin, his long history with the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, and why he was honored to serve as this year's chair of the NEWMA board.NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of Insight and NEWMA, produced by Woodward Community Media.Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode! stokerga.com Learn more about DuxxBak Composite Decking here: duxxbakdecking.comLearn more about the NEW Manufacturing Alliance here: newmfgalliance.org

Ryan Rogers, director of operations for 1000 Island Airboats in Marion, Wisconsin, joins Kate and Ann on this week's show to talk about the 2025 "Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin," as determined by an online vote this past fall: the 1000 Island 24-Foot Search and Rescue Airboat.The lifesaving product is also the subject of this month's Insight on Business magazine "Home Made" feature, which you can read online here: www.insightonbusiness.com/features/homemade/cool-as-ice/article_e2f7ec0b-d6a1-48c1-a046-8106817d09c5.htmlRogers tells the co-hosts about the company's history, why his family was moved to purchase the business and bring it to Wisconsin in 2017, and what it was like winning WMC's "Coolest Thing" competition, all on this week's episode sponsored by Stoke RGA (stokerga.com). Learn more about 1000 Island Airboats online here: 1000islandairboats.com

The Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, led by podcast co-host Ann Franz, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and makes a big change by moving to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In that spirit, Dr. Michael Alexander, chancellor of UWGB since May 2020, joins Ann and special guest co-host Jen Fietz of Stoke RGA on this week's episode to talk about his five-plus years leading the institution, the challenges and revelations of COVID, how higher education is evolving, UWGB's exceptional enrolllment growth in the face of demographic challenges, and why UWGB is a good fit to the new host institution of NEWMA. Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode, and all of our 2026 episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights.

Kiley Eck Hayon is president of Eck Industries in Manitowoc, which was recently announced as a finalist for the 2026 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards, which will be presented Feb. 19. On this week's episode she joins Ann Franz and guest co-host Jen Fietz of Stoke RGA to talk about the rewards and challenges of working in a family business, why Eck Industries is committed to its capital investments in technology and more.Learn more about Eck Industries at eckindustries.com.This podcast episode, like all 2026 episodes, is sponsored by Stoke RGA. Learn more about stokerga.com. 

Jen Fietz, owner and CEO of the firm Stoke RGA, joins co-host Ann Franz of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance on this week's episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast to discuss studies and trends that paint a picture of the manufacturing industry heading into 2026. Regular co-host Kate Bruns, Insight's manufacturing editor, was under the weather for this week's recording but will return for future episodes.Ann opens the show by thanking Jen for committing to a new yearlong sponsorship of the podcast (thank you, Stoke RGA, for sponsoring NEW Manufacturing Insights throughout 2026!), and by reviewing some of the results of NEWMA's 2026 Manufacturing Vitality Index that was published last month. Jen goes on to ring in the new year by sharing some of Stoke RGA's 2026 manufacturing trends to watch, including technology helping run tighter operations, continued rising costs, and marketing (though Fietz shares she likes to avoid that term). Learn more at stokerga.com. 

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!

EDL Packaging, a Massman Company's Kathryn Rowen, vice president and general manager, and Lynn Caruso-Stueck, director of operations, join Ann and Kate on this week's episode to talk about the company's 60-year tradition of making equipment for shrink wrapping and shrink bundling in Greater Green Bay.EDL recently constructed and moved into a new facility in De Pere that expands the company's capabilities with enhanced efficiency and a total 25% space increase. On the episode, Rowen and Caruso-Stueck detail how the new facility is having a positive impact on their business and helping attract talent, as well as why it is important for them to be located in Northeast Wisconsin, what it's like being a successful woman in the manufacturing industry, and how technology will contribute to EDL's growth in the new year. 

Julia Herlache, sustainability manager for Masters Gallery Foods, joins Kate and Ann on this week's episode to talk about how the company has been intentionally and methodically building its sustainability efforts over the past dozen or so years since two employees first approached Masters Gallery's leadership about taking steps to reduce waste in the plant. Today, Masters Gallery is an example in the food manufacturing industry, and in Wisconsin's New North region, of integrating and promoting sustainable practices. Today the company diverts 86% of its waste, and its newest facility in Oostburg was constructed to maximize environmental friendliness. Herlache, who studied environmental science and has spent her entire career in the field, joined Masters Gallery in 2023, marking her first foray into manufacturing. Listen this week for her insights on making the transition from local government to private industry as well as how other companies can learn and take inspiration from Masters Gallery's many successes, which include being named a 2025 WMC 2025 Business Friend of the Environment Award recipient.

Annika Galloway, director of communications and public relations for Galloway Company, is Ann's and Kate's guest on this week's pre-Thanksgiving episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights. Listen as the co-hosts raise a glass with Annika, a fourth-generation family business leader, while the company prepares to sponsor A Very Neenah Christmas Market Dec. 5-7 and announces the development of its latest beverage innovation: an acidified crème liqueur base that allows acid, dairy and alcohol to swim together without separating.Galloway Company traces its roots back to the 1800s and its family dairy farm in Fond du Lac. It has been manufacturing dairy products in Neenah for more than six decades. Already the nation's leading producer of bulk sweetened condensed milk, Galloway Company recently doubled its capacity for its production and is growing in all facets -- its physical footprint, its employee base and its emerging beverage division.Learn more about the company's history and future on this week's episode. NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of Insight Publications and the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance.

Started in October 2023 as a joint project of Insight Publications and the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, NEW Manufacturing Insights celebrates 100 episodes this week with a look back at some of the most interesting guests, topics and insights shared on the podcast so far. Co-hosts Ann Franz of NEWMA and Kate Bruns of Insight talk about and play some of their favorite clips, including interviews with CEOs such as Dan Ariens, Adam Rupp, Tanya Nueske, Sachin Shivaram, as well as moments like the first-ever appearance of a NEWMA All-Star on the show.Thank you for supporting the show for two years and 100 episodes!

Ann and Kate take a look back at the 15th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference, which was held last Wednesday at Resch Expo in Green Bay, with more than 1,000 attendees and more than 200 exhibitors.Hear interviews from the expo floor with attendees representing companies including HUI Manufacturing, GPS Education Partners, Carron Net Company, Oshkosh Corporation, Appleton Airport and many more.

Ryan Downs, president of Oh Snap! Pickling Company and formerly of the sauerkraut mega-maker GLK Foods, joins co-hosts Ann Franz and Kate Bruns on this week's episode to share his and his family's history in food manufacturing in the New North region.Downs created Oh Snap! in 2015 following a robust product development process and now sells through most major retailers all over North America, promising "portable pickle perfection" -- healthy, mess-free snacks that can be taken anywhere, including pickled cucumbers, green beans, carrots and infused cranberries.   "There's kind of pickle madness in the country right now," he says, adding that Oh Snap! was built off nutrition trends around gut health and an exploration of packaging pickles' popularity in a new way. And he's proud to point out that Oh Snap! has actually lifted up the entire pickling industry as opposed to taking business away from other products in the sector. Learn more about Oh Snap! by listening to this week's episode, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service: www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/secure/ssl/savings/business/free-consultationOh Snap! is online at www.ohsnappickles.com. 

Dan Haak, president, and Cheryl Fritz, business development manager, for Appleton-based Apricity join Kate and Ann on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service.Apricity was created in 2017 when STEP Industries merged with Mooring Programs -- making the company a comprehensive source for providing treatment, employment and support services to individuals impacted by substance abuse disorder."It's a great combination of having a solid business with a great nonprofit mission," Fritz says. Learn more about Apricity, its mission and how it is working with our region's manufacturers by listening to this week's episode.

Chris Calawerts, Insight on Business' October 2025 cover subject, is the president and COO of Oshkosh Door, Edgewater Door in Neenah and Oregon Door in Winston, Oregon. On this week's episode he shares his passion for manufacturing, his admiration for Garth Brooks and his best leadership insights as co-hosts Ann Franz and Kate Bruns, the author of the October cover story, dive a little deeper into this month's Insight cover feature.Read the cover story, "Open Hearted," online at insightonbusiness.com. Thank you to Wisconsin Public Service for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about how they're helping manufacturers at wisconsinpublicservice.com. 

NEW Manufacturing Insights celebrated its anniversary and the start of Manufacturing Month with a special recording in front of a live audience Oct. 2 at Schreiber Foods in Green Bay. The exclusive event was open to pre-registrants of Manufacturing First taking place Oct. 29 at Green Bay’s Resch Expo. On this week's episode, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service, Pat Koleske, senior vice president at Schreiber Horizon, shares this insights and talks about how the Schreiber brand is expanding and rebranding.Over its 80 years in business, Schreiber has developed multiple solutions to scale its business, from supply chain management to innovation processes. Recently Schreiber decided to bring together these solutions marketed to outside customers under one umbrella. Learn more at schreiberhorizon.com. Visit our sponsor, Wisconsin Public Service, at wisconsinpublicservice.com. 

Aimee Herrick, director of events and emerging talent for the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce,brought her past experience working as a teacher to the table when she established the EmergingTalent Alliance. “When we started, we really wanted to focus on how we can bridge gaps betweenschools and businesses,” Herrick says.In this week’s episode, Herrick talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about the importance of building those collaborations in educating the next generation of workers and how businesses can get involved in the alliance.Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights inSeptember. NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance andInsight Publications.

Betsy Allen-Manning, company culture expert and this year’s Manufacturing First keynote speaker, says transforming your company into a ‘destination workplace’ — one with a positive brand reputatio — gives you an advantage when there is high competition for talent. In this week’s episode, Allen-Manning talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz of NEW Manufacturing Insights about her journey to becoming an internationally recognized speaker, what she’ll be sharing at this year’s Manufacturing First Expo & Conference, and the five things companies need to do to become destination workplaces.Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in September. NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and Insight Publications, available everywhere you listen to podcasts. Learn more about our sponsor at www.ricecompanies.com.

Josh Delforge, vice president of engineering and operations at Cruisers Yachts in Oconto and a member of the leadership team for North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance (NCMMA), originally intended to be a part of the space program. “Unfortunately, my senior year was the Columbia shuttle disaster,” Delforge says. “So that really changed the plan.”In this week’s episode, Delforge talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz of NEW Manufacturing Insights about his journey to the marine industry, why the NCMMA is valuable to the next generation of STEM enthusiasts, and some of his favorite projects with Cruisers.Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in September. Learn more at www.ricecompanies.com. 

Tim Riebau, president and CEO of VPI (formerly known as Valley Packaging Industries), says one of the best parts about his organization is the impact it can have on people with disabilities — while at the same time filling a vital co-packing niche for large companies in the community.In this week’s episode, Riebau talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about VPI’s mission, the changes the organization has been through in recent years, and why large companies love working with the nonprofit.Learn more at https://vpiwi.org/Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in September. Learn more about our sponsor at www.ricecompanies.com/

Amanda and Adam Kroener couldn’t find a low-carb ready-to-drink cocktail that they could enjoy ontheir keto diet—so they created their own. On this week’s episode, Amanda and Adam talk with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about how they founded the fast-growing and popular drink brandCarbliss and where they’re taking the company next.“The biggest thing is knowing the right timing for scale … we want to continue to roll out methodicallybecause it seems to be working,” Adam Kroener says.To learn more about Plymouth-based Carbliss,visit https://drinkcarbliss.com/.

Dr. Patricia Terry, Chair of the Richard J. Resch School of Engineering at UW-Green Bay, and Dr. Vallari Chandna, Associate Dean of the Cofrin School of Business at UWGB, are both leading the launch of new degree programs at the university.On this week’s episode, Chandna and Terry talk with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about why the programs are important to helping meet future workforce needs in the region.“Software engineering until now has been an emphasis within computer science,” Dr. Terry says. “But there’s a big regional industry push toward Industry 4.0,” Terry says.Learn more about UWGB at https://www.uwgb.edu/.

Connor O’Brien, vice president and trust investment officer at Legacy Private Trust Co., has spent his career helping clients accomplish their financial goals. On this week’s episode, O’Brien talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about how Legacy prepares its clients to manage market instability and why today’s volatility isn’t unusual from other times.“We have tried to instill in our clients…this will happen, we need to plan for it, we need to expect it, so when it does come, we have prepared for it,” O’Brien says. “And you have a portfolio that’s built to weather this or any other storm that might come about.” Learn more about Legacy Private Trust at https:// https://www.lptrust.com/

Jeff Engelbrecht, training and development manager at Robinson, Inc., came to the company after along career as a police officer who led training and development programs for the Green Bay PoliceDepartment. On this week’s episode, Engelbrecht talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz aboutdeveloping the Robinson Training Academy and how manufacturers can create a similar trainingprogram at their organizations.“Some supervisors and managers were a little ahead of the curve,” Engelbrecht says. “They’d beenlooking at this for a long time. They just needed someone to champion the cause.”Learn more about Robinson at https://www.robinsoninc.com/Read Kate Bruns' interview with Engelbrecht from the July 2025 issue of IOM at Anatomy of an academy | Plant News | insightonbusiness.com

Jake Schulz, vice president of production for TTX (Therma-Tron-X), is committed to helping youth find their future pathways, including through developing the Youth Apprenticeship program at the Sturgeon Bay company. On this week’s episode, Schulz talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about the company’s commitment to its YA program and how leaders build connections with local students.“Since 2021 we’ve had 26 Youth Apprentices that have successfully come through our program, and we have been privileged to see a few of those come on board as full-time employees,” Schulz says. “But each year we’ve seen that program grow.” Learn more about TTX at https://www.ttxinc.com/Thank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring this episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, and all July episodes of the podcast. Learn more at wernerelectric.com. 

Lori Sealock, recently named president of Eagle Performance Plastics, has been with the custom jobshop for going on 24 years. On this week’s episode, Sealock talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and AnnFranz about the company’s succession planning, her role and making the company’s vision come tolife.“We’re focused on setting the next generation up for success, which means making sure they have theright people, the right tools, the right environment to do that,” Sealock says. “They need a strongfoundation to keep building on Eagle’s values and the growth strategy that we have.”Learn more about Eagle Performance Plastics at https://eagle-plastics.com/.Thank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring this episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, andall July episodes of the podcast. Learn more at wernerelectric.com.

Jennifer Clement is one of six Wisconsin experts sharing their perspectives on the shifting global trade climate in the July issue of IOM. This week Clement, client relationship leader at CLA, talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about her essay “Ten Steps to Reduce Tariff Exposure for Mid-Market Manufacturers,” and about how she and the team at CLA are helping companies to navigate the volatility in the global trade market.Learn more about Clement and her work: https://www.claconnect.com/en/directory/c/clement-jenniferThank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring this episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, andall July episodes of the podcast. Learn more at wernerelectric.com.

Howard Hauser and Mike Berns wrote the new book Value Creation is Everything -- the first book for each of the co-authors, who have been consulting and coaching together for the last 23 years in Northeast Wisconsin. Howard tells co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz on this week's episode that the pair felt the time was right to distill 40 years of industry experience into "something that was simple and easy for people to understand." He and Mike use the book, as well as this week's podcast, to share their wisdom about how to become a value creation company -- and why that's important to businesses everywhere.Learn more about the book and order online at https://valuecreationiseverything.com/Thank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring this episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, and all July episodes of the podcast. Learn more at wernerelectric.com. 

Lindsay Blumer is the president and CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP, a Milwaukee-based organization that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is currently working under its sectoral partnership model to expand its mission into Northeast Wisconsin. BIG STEP, which was created in the 1970s, merged with the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP) after it was created in the 1990s. Today it works on the ground to help create and sustain pathways to family-supporting careers like manufacturing. Lindsay joins Kate and Ann on today's show to dive deeper into WRTP | BIG STEP's mission and vision, as well as share her best leadership insight.

Steve Trautman of The Steve Trautman Co. has decades of experience in the fields of talent risk and knowledge transfer, which he shares with listeners on this week's episode. And the timing for this advice is right for Northeast Wisconsin manufacturers, according to podcast co-host Ann Franz: At the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance's May 2 "Future of Work" Summit, it was revealed that a full three-quarters of companies in our region are concerned about succession planning but only 37% say they have a plan in place to address it.On this episode, Steve dives deeper into the knowledge transfer process he created through his consulting business and explains some of the roadblocks that exist in executing successful knowledge transfer.You can learn more about his work at stevetrautman.com. 

Terry Brei, president and owner of Sure Controls in Greenville, joins Kate and Ann on this week's podcast to talk about digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing technology.Automation and artificial intelligence are hot topics in the manufacturing world, and Sure Controls' work is at the forefront of these technologies. Terry says the mission at Sure Controls is to "keep manufacturers running, growing and smiling in the Midwest." This includes helping to understand the impact, necessity and residual effects of the technologies -- not just the seemingly limitless possibilities, but the solutions that match your business and the time and effort it takes to implement them."You have to understand that you're improving operations -- it doesn't always mean that you're simplifying," Terry tells the co-hosts on episode 80. "You can fully automate something, but there's a lot of work involved when you make changes to a fully automated process or if you're automating something that's not fully understood how the process is done."Listen to all of Terry Brei's insights, including what's next for Industry 4.0 and what he considers his best leadership insight, by listening to the full episode. 

Get a preview of Thursday's NEW Manufacturing Alliance quarterly meeting keynote when you listen to this week's conversation with Mike Lee of Mindshift Labs, who shares his insights about living in the present moment and how it connects to leadership in today's distracted world.A Wisconsin native, Mike spent a significant portion of his career playing and coaching basketball, even working one-on-one with NBA legends like Steph Curry and Joel Embiid, but he shares that in the last 10 years his life transformation has taken him somewhat away from basketball as he has developed his business as a motivational speaker, mindfulness coach and author of the book "New Rules for the Future of Leadership."Learn more about Mike's work online at mindshiftlabs.com.

Jennifer Rome, who graces the cover of the 2025 NEW Manufacturing Alliance All Stars magazine, is Kate's and Ann's guest this week on NEW Manufacturing Insights. Find out more about Jennifer's career journey and why learning a trade and working in the manufacturing sector has been the right career move for her. Jennifer took the wood manufacturing course at Fox Valley Technical College and worked for a historical floor manufacturer before coming to Burger Boat four years ago. As an "art kid" growing up, Jennifer says wood manufacturing was a natural fit. She hasn't regretted the decision a bit, and she tells us why on this week's episode.Read this year's All Stars magazine featuring Jennifer Rome online: 2025 NEW Manufacturing Alliance – All Stars

David Gordon, director of career and technical education with Wisconsin's Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 7, joins Kate and Ann on this week's episode to talk about youth apprenticeship and connecting the Northeast Wisconsin business community with young talent and our region's school districts.David was honored as NEWMA's Career Pathmaker Award recipient at last year's Excellence in Manufacturing K-12 Partnership Awards. He says he sees his role as helping students have a-ha moments around the relevance of their education in the real world, as well as helping companies connect to the talent pipeline in meaningful ways.

Stoke RGA (Revenue Growth Accelerator), formerly known as Imaginasium, has officially launched its new brand with a sharp focus on helping manufacturers drive double-digit, scalable revenue growth. Built on years of hands-on experience with Midwest manufacturing companies, Stoke RGA partners with $75M+ manufacturers to align strategy, sales, marketing and operations and execute with precision.Jen Fietz, a Wisconsin-born manufacturing leader, leads Stoke RGA, and she joins co-hosts Kate Bruns of Insight on Manufacturing and Ann Franz of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance on today's new episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast to share more about Imaginasium's evolution to Stoke RGA, as well as her latest insights on the industry.Learn more at www.stokerga.com. 

Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing Productivity, joins Kate and Ann on this week's episode to help unpack the 2024-2025 Wisconsin Manufacturing Report, which WCMP has produced for the past four years in order to take the pulse of manufacturers across the state. He also notes how some of the results (including supply chain falling off respondents' list of top worries) may already need updating since the Trump administration has announced tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada and other key trade partners.Buckley also gives his perspective on the federal government's recent defunding of 10 MEP programs in the U.S., and then reversal of the action -- what it means, what comes next, how worried we should be and how manufacturers from across the state have mobilized to help advocate for the preservation of WMEP, which WCMP oversees.Learn more about the latest WCMP Wisconsin Manufacturing Report online at https://www.wicmp.org/wisconsin-manufacturing-report/.