EECO Asks Why Podcast

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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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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