Buckle up for this hero episode where Daniel Herrington shares his amazing journey.  He is a proud NC State Wolfpack alum and the first professional race car driver to be on EECO Asks Why.  Daniel completed his graduate work at Duke University and is now the CEO of Voxel Innovations which is located on Tarheel Street in Raleigh - he's all over the place and having a blast!  Daniel shares about his passion for pulsed electrochemical machining and how he's taking that industry head on and making a significant impact.

His roots began in a 800 foot garage and one machine which fueled his desire to grow.  He gives amazing advice for young entrepreneurs that want to start their own journeys and how to consider partnerships when beginning.  Daniel is truly living the American dream and is making a significant impact every day.  Voxel Innovations is serving others and it is Daniel's leadership that is guiding their path.

We highly encourage everyone to follow our hero Daniel Herringto and Voxel Innovations to see more the of the incredible solutions they continue to innovate daily.  

Guest: Daniel Herrington - CEO at Voxel Innovations

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

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Connect with Voxel Innovations:
Educational Portal
Website
LinkedIn

Daniel Mentions:
Planet Money
Why We Sleep
 

Claire Stevens summed it up with her "why" when she said she loves finding solutions to problems. From her early childhood days where she analyzed the angles on her smore's around the campfire to her collegiate studies at Duke University she loves challenging her thinking and learning how items work.  You did read that right - Duke University - and she works at NC State so that can create some fun work dynamics which bleeds over to her family where her father attended NC State and her sister attended UNC (talk about a house divided).

Claire has a passion for her craft and it radiates through when she talks about advice, mentors and even some pretty incredible projects she's been involved with.  A turbine project at NC State provided a great opportunity to learn and be part of a ground breaking solution that had never been done on campus. 

She loves to be active and walks through her experiences as a triathlon athlete.  She's done full and half iron man events with her husband and loves to push herself to see the finish line.  From popcorn to wine the lightning round was a blast and her energy is contagious.  We are honored to call Claire Stevens our hero and know you will find inspiration and wisdom from her amazing story.

Guest: Claire Stevens - Utility Distribution Engineer at North Carolina State University

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

Paul Van Metre learned at an early age that he has a passion for building things and that led him down an amazing journey.  His love for cars grew exponentially when he entered a program that let him design, build and even race open wheel cars.  He actually owns the car he designed and it was through all of that where he fell in love with machining.  With six partners, 2000 square feet and one machine his career began.  From there it has blossomed and now at ProShop ERP he leads the team in helping machine shops implement ERP systems that will make a huge impact to their bottom line.

The myths Paul debunks are spot on and he reveals how being a great machinist doesn't always equate to a great business owner.  That is where he loves to step in and serve.  He is also a huge advocate for manufacturing and speaks to ways companies can start acting to get visibility on the exciting world that industry has to offer.

Outside of work Paul loves to get sawdust flying doing woodworking and anytime he can get outside for a camping trip in the mountains he's happy.  His three generation backpacking trips area staple for the Van Metre's and he shared about some of the wonderful items his family loves to do together. Paul is such a fun guy and his passion for industry cannot be beat.  You will quickly hear why Paul is our hero!

Guest: Paul Van Metre, Co-Founder of ProShop ERP

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editing: Andi Thrower

ProShop Resources:
LinkedIn
YouTube

Paul Mentions:
Within Tolerance Podcast
Car Talk Podcast
Making Chips Podcast
Sell the Way you Buy by David Priemer
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber 

From her roots in Eastern Tennessee to leading the team at Onex Ashleigh Walters has an amazing journey! She shares about how she has been able to lead her team through two major crisis at Onex and the lessons learned along the way.  As the author of "Leading with Grit and Grace" she opens up about the process she put in place to complete the book and how she learned so much along the way. 

Ashleigh is big on helping the next generation learn about the many possibilities that exist in manufacturing.  She regularly takes her sons to different facilities to let them experience first hand the exciting world that so many never get to experience unless they enter industry directly.  To her point there is an opportunity for manufacturers across the country to open the doors and give people the chance to learn and be inspired about the amazing products we make as a country.

She loves to get out and take a run and shares about some of the cool technologies she's tried that make that even more fun.  Family is important to Ashleigh and she shares about her amazing crew and how they are always there for each other.  Ashleigh is a leader of industry and you will quickly hear why she is our hero!

Guest: Ashleigh Walters - President of Onex

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

Ashleigh's Resources:
Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey in Organizational Culture Change
Grounded by Inspiring Thyme
Make Your Bed by William McRaven
Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Graham Staples is making an impact in industry everyday and shares about his amazing journey as our hero! From his time at NC State to the many roles he's held at RoviSys he's been at the forefront of industry and helps people achieve their automation and modernization goals on a daily basis.  He shares how it is so important to focus on how we all learn as individuals.  Learning how to outfit your toolbox to solve real world problems is something he strives to do everyday as the needs of industry are always evolving.

He is the happiest when he can sit down with an end user and help them bring their vision to life.  He loves to vision cast and talk about possibilities which gets people thinking past what they currently understand and into the world of what could be.

Graham is a family man and shares about his lovely wife and their two young daughters that are keeping them busy in this wonderful season of life.  We were blessed to have Graham share his story and we know others will find his wisdom and advice inspirational as you strive to be the best version of you in the future.  Here's to our hero Graham Staples!

Guest: Graham Staples - Power & Energy Group Manager at RoviSys

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

Graham's Resources:
RoviSys Website

Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman
The Tim Ferriss Show
The Peter Attia Drive Podcast

Conceited Genius 2.0 by Wise Man Brewing

Knowing the difference between breakers and fuses can be tricky.  This is a common question we get asked and thought Jonathan Fuller would be just the guy to break down those two technologies.  Jonathan walks through items to consider such as time to react and how different conditions can be protected with each device. 

Understanding overload conditions is important and he does a great job of demystifying this area to help others provide better circuit protection.  When designed correctly a circuit breaker and a fuse can provide robust protection for your electrical equipment.

For more information on how to build reliable circuit protection designs reach out to us for further support in this crucial area.  

Guest: Jonathan Fuller - Automation & Power Product Manager at Electrical Equipment Company (EECO)

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

From the heart of Texas our hero Wendy Covey is leading the way by helping engineering companies evangelize their messages to the audiences they want to serve.  Being a Texas Aggie herself Wendy has a passion for her craft and her journey is full of inspiration.  She offers great advice to the next generation of industry leaders and believes in the power of putting yourself out there to learn from others which could lead to opportunities you could only dream of. 

Reps and at bats are key to growing and she shares some practical tips that anyone can start with to get started.  Learning how to communicate your thoughts to others (written and verbally) is a desirable skill that will accelerate anyone's career.  To that point Wendy is a phenomenal storyteller and loves to use them to find ways to intersect with others through the journey of life.

She shares some of her passions outside of work and her love of the outdoors.  Check out the video to see one of the record setting fish that she's landed.  Wendy opens up about her wonderful family and how she even gets to work with her son on her podcast Content Marketing Engineered.  Wendy's passion, energy and love for what she does is full on display in this conversation and we are proud to call her our Hero! 

Guest: Wendy Covey - CEO And Co-Founder of TREW Marketing

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

Culture in a successful manufacturing operation is key.  Jon Meighan unpacks the ideas of lean manufacturing and 5S by highlighting by the effectiveness of these initiatives comes back to culture every time.  For those new to these topics he explains that the essence of what you are trying to accomplish is remove those items that do not add value to your customer from your process. 

Jon gives meaningful examples of how he has implemented lean manufacturing into his process at Lake Erie Rubber and some of the metrics that he finds value in monitoring.  Creating a process map is a great way to begin and one of the benefits from this practice is the knowledge that all parties bring to the table to determine success.

5S programs have been around for a while and Jon highlights how they began working the system and some of the headwinds faced to get user alignment.  He speaks to how getting the team involved is crucial but how staying persistent is where many fall short. 

This conversation is full of real world insight on how to start, implement and maintain initiatives that make a huge impact to manufacturers.  Before you begin your next lean manufacturing or 5S project learn from the expert directly to put you on the path to success. 

Guest: Jon Meighan - President at Lake Erie Rubber

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

Joe Frank has a passion for learning and technology.  He turned that passion into an outstanding career and shares about his journey and lessons learned along the way in this hero episode.   The speed at which technology moves can be mind boggling and Joe highlights how that is the most fulfilling part of his career.  If you have a personality that likes to be challenged and constantly evolving he suggests stepping into industry could be the best decision you ever make. 

Joe reveals that asking the right questions is a great way to overcome head winds and by seeking to understand what is important to the other person is where people often make a mistake.  It's that type of insight and wisdom that he brings throughout this conversation.

At home Joe is a two time girl dad and loves spending time with his wife especially if they can be outside.  He loves to get time on the water fishing and even started making his own lures (fish beware).  Joe is one of those people that light up every room he comes in and we are proud to call him our hero! 

Guest: Joseph Frank

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio/Video Editor: Andi Thrower

The best way to learn about a career path is directly from the expert themselves.  Chester Burke is a phenomenal controls engineer and unpacks what to expect from this fun and challenging role.  He digs deep behind the curtains of how controls engineers automate production equipment by utilizing the latest technology on the market.  No two days are the same and the constant challenge is something that drives Chester to keep learning and evolving.

Chester shares advice for the next generation and shares one of his largest learning curves was the vocabulary of industry.  He has some comical references here and it highlights how we always need to check for alignment and understanding when communicating at work.  Chester digs deep into the many different types of systems and solutions a controls engineer interacts with on a daily basis. 

This idea is chocked full of insight and wisdom from one of the best controls engineers we have ever met.  It was an absolute blessing to learn from Mr. Chester Burke and fun note - Chester is a loyal EECO Asks Why listener and never misses an episode.  So grab a notepad and get ready for a look inside the life of a controls engineer.  

Guest: Chester Burke

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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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