Women and Manufacturing
EPISODES
In today’s episode of Women and Manufacturing, Frances Brunelle speaks with Emily Feenstra, the Managing Director of Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Emily leads the division responsible for government affairs, media relations, and infrastructure policy for the society, including ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card, which we learn more …
In today’s episode, Frances Brunelle speaks with US Army veteran and Co-Owner of Smith Metal and Sutton Machining, Chelsea Sutton, about how manufacturing businesses can use social media to attract new customers and promote their services or products. As with all small business owners, Chelsea wears multiple hats, acting as head of business development, marketing, …
When working on mission-critical assets, quality and reliability are imperative, but how do you leverage a client’s experience and respect the integrity of the system while also introducing valuable new technology and ideas? In today’s episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks to Cheryl Texin, an award-winning Principal Systems R&D Engineer for the Aerospace, …
Have you considered the role that social media has to play in manufacturing? Many experienced members of the manufacturing community maintain that social media is not necessary for their businesses. After all, manufacturers are B2B companies that sell to other manufacturers. This kind of thinking, however, ignores the much larger role that social media has …
Today, Rosemary Coates speaks with Cindy Oehmigen, the Director of Energy and Corporate Services at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, which is also known as MACNY. Cindy has worked with numerous manufacturing companies during her 30-year career, guiding them through change, creating team environments, reducing costs, and developing staff potential. In this episode, she emphasizes …
Today, host Lydia Di Liello speaks with the President of Harvest Specialty Foods, Nikki Lamb, about her journey into the food manufacturing industry and what she has learned along the way. Business development and relationship building are some of Nikki’s greatest strengths, and she has a keen sense of tying together fruitful relationships that align …
Lisa Ryan is an award-winning speaker, podcast host, and the author of more than 10 books, including one that every manufacturer on the planet should read, Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Talent in Your Industry. As the Founder and Chief Appreciation Strategist of Grategy, Lisa’s programs focus on positive workplace culture, …
Since Eileen Small entered the textile and garment industries in the 1980’s, a lot has changed. When she started out, close to 90% of garment manufacturing took place in the USA and today this number has dropped to less than 10%. Furthermore, technology has made the world a much smaller place, and a more entrepreneurial …
This week on WAM, host Lydia DiLiello is joined by the dynamic professional powerhouse and former Senior Director of Nike, Sarah Walton! During her 15-year career in Corporate America, Sarah worked in 10+ functions, proving herself to be an asset to any team, which successfully landed her roles at some of the largest global brands, …
In light of the current climate and the effects of the COVID pandemic, the entrepreneurs of today and going forward, are going to need to have a very different skill set to what was required even five years ago. Today we talk to Cara Macklin, a business coach and the founder and CEO of Caram, …
Today we get to have an amazing conversation with the Chief Operating Officer of CH Technologies, Bridget Jaeger! The company is dedicated to equipping its clients with a responsive source for cutting-edge inhalation and particle exposure systems, which can be custom-tailored to specific needs. In our chat today, we hear from Bridget about the work …
Today’s guest is from a country that many people probably know little about. Uganda, situated on the African continent, was one of Africa’s first countries to have a female vice president, is one of only a few countries in the world which has a ministry dedicated solely to women’s issues, and as recently as 2006, …
Manufacturing garments for the likes of Ralph Lauren to the United States Coast Guard, our guest today is also the recipient of the Step Ahead Award from The Manufacturing Institute. Today we welcome to the show, Gabrielle Ferrara. Gabrielle is the Chief Operating Officer at Ferrara Manufacturing, a family-owned and operated, American garment manufacturer company …
In this episode, WAM host Rosemary Coates sits down with Eileen P. Guarino, the CEO of Greno Industries Inc. — a machine shop based in upstate New York that has evolved to become a trusted manufacturer of machine parts, which serve a wide range of industries, including several Fortune 500 companies. After taking over for …
On today’s episode, we speak with Rachel Snyder, an employee at TR Cutler Inc. who recently published an article in Manufacturing Outlook magazine on why it is so important to embrace Gen Z in the world. She brings us up to speed with the biggest platforms that Gen Zs use, and why, if companies want …
Today on the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, we talk about how the right software systems can greatly improve productivity. We are joined by Deb Geiger, the VP of global marketing at Aegis Software. Founded in 1997 by two manufacturing engineers, Aegis has over 20 years of experience providing world-class software to customers around the globe, …
On today’s episode, Linda Rigano speaks with a true frontierswoman and inspiring leader in world-class tech. You’ll hear about her background, growing up in the Rocky Mountains, and the powerful role her strong single mother had as a role model in her life. We touch on the core values taught to her in childhood that …
Project-based businesses have unique challenges that are very different from traditional service industries. While many project businesses use traditional ERP systems, they don’t really work for them because they are not built with projects in mind. Today we chat with Shina Neo, editorial director and media relations specialist at Adeaca. She explains the relatively new …
Michelle Seiler Tucker has personally sold over 500 companies, with the tally reaching over a thousand with her Mergers and Acquisitions Firm. She has spoken all over the United States and Canada, and written three books on the subject, and considers entrepreneurship to be her passion, and her mission in life. In today’s episode, she …
Today on the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, we delve into the subject of SBA lending. Fran Brunelle is joined by Michelle Orr of Live Oak Bank, the number one SBA lender in the nation for the past three years in a row and a great option for financing M&A deals. Michelle comes to Live Oak …
The role of a project manager in any kind of business is absolutely essential. Today’s guest, Daisie Hobson, is a structural and process engineering but, unlike most engineers, she is a huge people person. She has found a niche for herself working as an independent consultant in a customer support role with new products as …
Born and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Nicole Glenn is no stranger to engineering and manufacturing fields. She grew up in a home filled with inspiration from her engineer father and her hardworking mother who ran a Scholastic warehouse. Surrounded by such accomplished figures ultimately attributed to Nicole’s personal love of learning and drive, which she …
Today on The WAM Podcast, host Frances Brunelle of Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers interviews Maggie Oltarzewski, the Sales and Marketing Engineer for Balyo AGV Systems. Balyo is a company doing some truly incredible things in the tech industry, having a unique intelligence technology that turns standard electric trucks into standalone intelligent robots. Maggie talks about the partnerships …
In today’s episode of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, host Rosemary Coates speaks with Cynthia Andela, an engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of two companies Andela Products and Ruby Lake Glass. In our conversation, we talk with Cynthia about striking out on her own to become an entrepreneur and leaving the comfort of her corporate career. …
In today’s episode of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, host Linda Rigano sits down with Laura Putre, award-winning journalist and Senior Editor at IndustryWeek, to discuss the challenges women face in manufacturing and her first-hand experience of raising a family while also managing a very demanding career. Laura manages a network of 200 plus contributors …
Daniela Dubois is a Product Manager at Engineering Intent — the world’s leading provider of enterprise and engineering automation tools and solutions, and the developer of Knowledge Bridge. Knowledge Bridge is a cloud-based application that allows engineering companies to capture engineering rules to then share with their organization. In this episode, Daniela dives into how Knowledge Bridge works — from the way it helps companies adapt to specific client needs and communicate more effectively to how it …
After working as an economist in the aerospace industry for 40+ years, Dr. Tulinda Deegan Larsen transitioned to a startup that helped commercial airlines improve on their time performance through use of a cloud database. From there, she was recruited to join her current company, Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), where she sits as Executive Director. Her comprehensive skillset taps into drones, composites, and leadership — all of which …
Welcome to another episode of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast! In today’s program, Linda Rigano speaks with Joanna Hall, Executive Director and Co-Founder of SustainChain. a free tech platform that connects people on a mission to accelerate action to ultimately save humanity. Joanna leads an exclusive team of technologists who believe that data, talent, and …
When the COVID-19 pandemic overtook our “normal” way of life, it also greatly impacted the manufacturing industry. Today’s WAM podcast guest, Kathryn Kelley, is the Executive Director of Ohio Manufacturing Institute. Kathryn brings with her over 20 years of experience in program leadership and strategic communications at industry-oriented higher education, economic development, and statewide technology …
In today’s episode, we speak with Stephanie Richelieu Stagger, Chief Revenue Officer for 3Gtms. Stephanie shares how her international upbringing and global experience have aided her career in supply chain management. In our discussion, we talk about how she fell in love with software and supply chain management, why her work is never boring, and …
As the co-founder and general partner of REFASHIOND Ventures, the co-founder of The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation, and the founder of the New York Fashion Tech Lab, Lisa Morales-Hellebo’s life has always been closely tied to technology. At REFASHIOND, Lisa works to help companies reframe their supply chain processes and goals to keep up with …
As companies grow from national to international, private to public, so does their tendency to apply increased layers of bureaucracy and rigid hierarchical structures, often accompanied by a death knell for innovation. In today’s episode Frances Brunelle, The President of Accelerated manufacturing brokers inc. speaks with Sheryl Corrigan, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety …
The world of startup funding is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming arena to enter. Here on the WAM podcast today, Rosemary Coates interviews Christine Howard, who is the founder and CEO of E.B. Howard Consulting as well as StartupFundHub.com! In her work, Christine helps startups find and apply for non-dilutive funding and she gives a …
While women in the U.S. receive more than 50% of college degrees each year, they remain largely absent from executive leadership positions. As a female leader who successfully ran Planned Parenthood at regional and national levels, best-selling author, and co-founder of Take the Lead, Gloria Feldt continues her lifelong mission – to help prepare, develop, inspire, …
Our guest on today’s show is a woman in manufacturing with a PhD in material science and a passion for gender related issues, so much so that she has written two books on the subject. Tanushree moved to the United States to study because she wanted to have freedom of choice that she didn’t feel …
Tracy Coon, joins us today to explain that there are so many elements that go into the operationalizing of a manufacturing company. One of the biggest challenges experienced by manufacturing companies is “making sure they have the right product in the right place at the right time.” If you don’t have this under control it …
Logistics – particularly trucking is a male-dominated world. No one knows that better than Kristy Knichel, President of Knichel Logistics. Kristy is a fearless leader who grew her family business into a major industry player. Nothing was handed to her. Kristy worked for years in just about every area of the company including marketing, sales, …
To have a happy and empowered workforce, you need to have a good foundation, a good company culture, and a healthy garden from which to grow your people and your business. Today’s guest is Karen Norheim, who is the President of American Crane, an Equipment Corporation, with three locations in Pennsylvania, totaling over a quarter …
Divya Demato is a rock star in the supply chain community. She has mastered the practice of merging supply chain sustainability with profitability — no easy task in today’s economic landscape. Early on, Divya’s mother – a key role model – instilled in her a strong work ethic, authenticity, entrepreneurship, and a deep bond for …
Manufacturing is an amazing career choice and people seem not to understand that they can have a wonderful life taking up a career in this industry. Our guest today is passionate about informing kids and their parents that just because you go into a trade and start working right out of high school, does not …
Today, Fiona Delaney is a champion for supply chain traceability in the agricultural world – but she started on a different path. Growing up in Dublin she pursued a career as an artist – producing and directing films including reality television and a local hit version of “The Voice”. In her early thirties, Fiona found …
In the world of negotiators, people either seem to think they are really good at it or that they stink, but there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground. Some people stick to instinct and luck when it comes to business negotiations, but our guest today works with well thought-out strategies, important concepts, and an …
Hear Linda Rigano’s conversation with Lisa Clark, an empowering leader who shares her personal and professional journey. Growing up Lisa’s parents instilled the value of hard work, perseverance and a generosity of spirit. These are all lessons Lisa practices daily as co-founder and Managing Director of BITCADET, a technology company that increases manufacturers’ sales and …
Seeking through acquisition what you do not have in-house is a strategy implemented by our guest and her company to see growth. With acquisition comes diversification, which can help companies through things like global pandemics, and also provides a new customer base, and ultimately opportunities to expand your offerings, and thus quickening turnaround and increasing …
Too many women blame themselves for the scarcity of well-made, professional, plus size clothing, but today’s guest is on a mission to help women feel better about themselves (and help them look fabulous in the process)! In today’s episode, Rosemary Coates interviews Danielle Malconian, President and CEO of Plus by Design and the brand, Vikki …
WAM Podcast co-host Linda Rigano introduces us to Stephany Lapierre, an empowered professional who comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and strong women growing up in Canada. After college Stephany took a year off to be a “ski bum” at Whistler Mountain where she taught herself English and even worked with Justin Trudeau! After …
In today’s episode, host Rosemary Coates welcomes Rachel Jones, who is the Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, or what we call the NAM. She oversees the NAM’s energy and environmental policy and she has expertise on issues ranging from energy production and use to air and water …
Meet Chloe Songer, founder of Thousand Fell – more than just a manufacturer of foot wear, but a leader in the movement to build a circular economy. Motivated by the enormous waste in the fashion industry and a desire to make a difference, Chloe took it upon herself to learn everything she could about the …
While most businesses are moving online, many manufacturers continue to ignore the possibilities of eCommerce and continue to rely on landing face-to-face deals. Today, host Frances Brunelle welcomes Marketing Director Anna Korolekh of Oro Inc to explore the incredible opportunities that arise from taking your business online. We open our conversation by unpacking Oro’s product …
Our guest on today’s show established a company with a mission to deeply understand the pain of using Excel to forecast inventory, scale your supply chain, and bring change. In this episode we are joined by Rachel Liaw, co-founder and CEO at Fuse Inventory. Rachel was born and raised in Hawaii, and she is a …
