March 18, 2025

227: Are the Challenges Facing Rural vs. Urban Manufacturers Really That Different? Live from the Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference

1 hour 7 minutes

When you imagine a rural versus an urban manufacturing company, that picture might look a bit different. But some things are the same. Both types of manufacturers face challenges, but do they face different ones?

The good news is that there are some incredible people and businesses in the industry who are on a mission to bridge connections, build up local communities, and train future talent to solve those challenges.

Live from the Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference, we sit down with three manufacturing champions to talk about the different challenges facing rural and urban-based manufacturers. We chat about the great work that companies and individuals are doing to raise awareness of the opportunities in manufacturing and connect the dots between businesses and future talent.

You’ll hear from Krisi Schell, Executive VP of HR at SRC Holdings Corporation, Chris Oravec, the Director at L&R Industries, and Manufacturing Happy Hour regular Drew Crowe, Founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance. Krisi, Chris, and Drew all bring their experiences of different sides of manufacturing, what they’ve learned about connecting with the local community and solving the talent shortage issue.

In this episode, find out:

How to make a company people want to work for – Krisi explains SRC Holdings’ approach to building a company culture of businesspeople
Why more organizations don’t open up their finances to the employees despite the positive impact on SRC Holdings
Some background on SRC Holdings Corporation as a job saver and creator
The benefits of organizations, particularly in rural areas, investing in the local community
Krisi’s advice for manufacturing leaders to build their culture and community
Chris gives us a backstory on his company as a family-owned, small-town manufacturer
How L&R Industries manages to attract and retain talent by looking after its people
The different ways L&R Industries gets involved with and gives back to the community
Chris’ advice for attracting and retaining talent, plus building connections with other organizations
What Drew has learned from traveling around the country to talk to manufacturers
The different challenges for rural-based manufacturers vs. those in the inner cities
Drew explains the two main parts of his mission – raising awareness and building connections between organizations and potential talent
Strategies that are working for rural and urban manufacturers and how to get the right people involved to solve challenges

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

“Being conscious of what you give to the community is where you are able to build that brand and build those relationships and then attract the talent that you need.” – Krisi Schell
“If you can get an employee to buy into, say putting a new product line in, they want to be involved in that project. And the company wants them to be involved. Your productivity is going to go through the roof.” – Chris Oravec
“ When manufacturing left the inner cities, it almost took that middle class with it. And it took a lot of opportunity with it.” – Drew Crowe

Links & mentions:

SRC Holdings, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers sell parts and whole goods through custom remanufacturing programs
L&R Industries, producing large and complex heavy-duty industrial metal fabrications
Drew ‘The MFG’ Crowe, inspiring the next generation of manufacturing leaders
The Great Game of Business, written by Jack Stack; an open-book approach to management

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

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By Chris Luecke

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