So Chris got on a roll with this one and spoke to how features and benefit days are over. He stresses the importance of understanding the problems that are trying to be solved.  Another area he suggests is to be succinct in your solution.  The quickest to the answer these days is the one that provides the most value.  Finally he speaks to the power of listening with intent to understand instead of to respond.

Maybe this is the year you challenge yourself and others around you to focus on solving problems and serving others at the highest level possible. 

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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Our heroes always stress the importance of networking.  Chris wanted to provide some tips he's learned as you work on building your professional network in your career.  He discusses areas such as social media, the importance of sharing ideas and how impactful groups can be.  Networking has shifted in many ways and there are some nuggets of wisdom here that can help you break past the wall and start building meaningful connections in the future.

Connect with us on LinkedIn and let us know how your networking journey is going. Good luck! 

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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With a new year comes a new opportunity to build good habits that will help you bring the best version of you at work.  Chris talks about the importance of starting your day off right, the importance of boundaries and how using PTO is in place to help everyone rest and recharge. 

Here's to a fresh new year of ideas and heroes that make industry great! 

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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In the first "Straight talk with Chris" episode he breaks down some of the craziness of 2021 that he saw.  No doubt the supply chain issues hit everyone hard and made it a challenging year.  His points of communication, patience and the need for more manufacturing in America are areas that will bring us together moving forward.

Happy New Year from the EECO family and many blessings for you all in 2022!  

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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In this special hero episode we are flipping it around on Chris.  In true EECO Asks Why fashion we are staying true to our love of families and Chris has his daughters lead the interview.  They have a blast talking about his past and learned some new things about their dad along the way.   Listeners know that Chris is a proud girl dad and it was fun to see him light up when sharing stories with Chloe and Ava. 

From the Rock, to the Robertson's, to fun memories as a child riding four-wheelers this conversation gives a true behind the scene look at the life story of our host.  We had a blast creating this episode and we hope you find some inspiration and that it brings a smile to your face (especially when Chloe and Ava land some surprise questions).

Thank you all for making EECO Asks Why part of your journey and remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Chris Grainger

Hosts: Chloe and Ava Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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Chris Mentions:
Unashamed
Undaunted.Life
The Order of Man
The Briefing
Smart Passive Income
Investing for Beginners

95 guests strong and each season gets better on EECO Asks Why!  We had a blast with our Holiday's with our Heroes and have some new plans for 2022.  You will start to see some "Straight Talk with Chris" episodes dropping over the next few weeks and be sure to check out the special Hero conversation is episode 177.

Thank you for staying with us for another amazing season and remember - Keep Asking Why! 

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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Our hero Amos Purdy is leading the way and helping many in industry reach their new goals when it comes to technology and data! He holds master degrees in both electrical engineering and business and they help him connect the dots for many on both sides of the aisles.  He loves helping others realize the insight that is available with the latest IOT and IIOT devices and how better data driven decisions are key to the next evolution of industry. 

Amos got specific on how young engineers can begin investing time now to learn the skills that will propel their careers in the future.  He led the effort in creating a programming course in Wyoming and that material is still helping the next generation of engineers learn the skills that will be crucial for their success in the future. He loves it when users see the value in new technologies and when user adoption starts to surge that is sure to bring a smile to his face.

Amos loves to find time to have some fun at the beach and anytime he can get to the ocean is a good day.  He is a passionate leader of industry and his story is sure to bring inspiration for others.  You will quickly hear why Amos Purdy is our hero! 

Guest: Amos Purdy - Lead Systems Engineer at Global Process Automation
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Connect with GPA:
LinkedIn
Facebook
YouTube
Website

Amos Mentions:
Tech Review
The Indicator

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"Give me a complex problem, let me own it and let me try to solve it."  That sums up our hero Sandy D'Souza and how he is leading the way at Fiix Software.  Sandy's journey starts at his roots in Toronto and he has many lessons learned along the way that is sure to help others in the pursuit of their personal best.  He gives great insight to what change management looks like for those in industry and how the evolution of technology is disrupting the game in a good way.  The trick he shares is that you must have empathy for those using the solutions and work with them to lead the change that will make an organization better.

His advice for others that want to find their passions is to maintain a high level of curiosity in their daily walk.  He also recognizes that at the end of the day business is still all about people interacting with people so keeping focus on that is where true success lies.  As a leader of a revolutionary industrial software solution Sandy does a great job of hearing the challenges that industry faces and he works tirelessly to provide robust solutions.

Sandy gave a peak behind the curtain of what drives him outside of work and it sounds like he is having a blast raising his young son and daughter in Pittsburg.  Whether he is teaching his son Brazilian jujitsu or being outside as a family when he gets to be with the ones that mean the most to him Sandy finds joy.  Sit back and listen to the wisdom and inspiration that Sandy D'Souza shares as our hero!   

Guest: Sandy D'Souza - Director Strategic Alliances at Fiix Software

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Fiix Software

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Our hero Hussain Al-Khalaf has an amazing journey and his passion for life is incredible.  His path has included time in Iraq, Beirut, Abu Dhabi, Canada , Washington and Georgia.  Going from Abu Dhabi to Canada was quite the culture and temperature shock which he embraced.  He shares amazing advice for the next generation of engineers and how manufacturers could act to showcase the multitude of opportunities that exist. 

Hussain has such a positive outlook on everything he tackles.  He is an avid runner and coaches people to achieve physical goals they never thought possible.  Through his love of coaching he is able to share his wisdom with others and is always pursuing the best in everyone.   

Hussain has a wonderful young family that he shares about and he loves being a dad.  He is very focused on being present for his children and speaks to the importance of family.  Hussain's journey has literally taken him across the world and wherever he travels in the future he will always be our hero!

Guest: Hussain Al-Khalaf - Sr. Project Manager at Jedson Engineering

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

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Hussain Mentions:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Awaken the Giant Within
Can't Hurt Me
Running Rewired

Richie Fortenberry is leading the way in helping industrial end users enhance their safety and security as a consulting engineer at Prism Systems.  His journey through engineering actually started with his love of music.  As an avid musician he had an interest in audio engineering and that has led him down a fantastic journey in learning. 

He has a passion for security systems and provides insight to what he is seeing everyday as the Industry 4.0 revolution is unfolding before his eyes. He lives in the world of connecting the data that is being generated in industrial environments to the people that need it to make better decisions all while keeping the idea of security at the forefront.

Richie is a passionate engineer and shares about some of his hobbies including woodworking.  He has an incredible story about a woodworking incident that will have you on the edge of your seat.  We were blessed to have Richie share his amazing journey with us and you will quickly hear why he is our hero!  

Richie Fortenberry - Consulting Engineer/Operations Manager at Prism Systems

Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Prism Systems

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