Chris Roche forged an amazing path that started with his love of soccer.  Starting back in his elementary days in England he always found himself pursuing an entrepreneurial journey. Since coming to the US he has taken on some incredible challenges and currently is the CEO of Catalyst Consulting.

His knowledge of marketing and demand generation put him at the forefront of helping SaaS and B2B companies connect better with their customers.  Marketing is a long-run game and he emphasizes the importance of how investments today are critical for impact in the future.

His advice for those wanting to enter the world of marketing is spot on.  Too often others are waiting to get everything "perfect" before taking action. He advocates for making something happen now and adjust based off what you learn. 

In regards to learning and mentorship his take on both topics is full of wisdom. One-step ahead - find someone one step ahead, learn, apply and keep moving forward.

This hero conversation had it all and there was so much that can be applied to any career to grow.  Chris gave us a peak behind the curtain during the lightning round including his favorite movie - hey if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball!

We highly encourage others to connect with Chris and check out the great things he and the team at Catalyst Consulting are doing.  Enjoy learning from this hero and remember to keep asking why!

Guest: Christopher Roche - Chief Executive Officer at Catalyst Consulting

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

Electric motors are the lifeblood of industry and knowing how to properly select them is critical.  It is easy to get overwhelmed if you have never sourced an electric motor before and this conversation will take all the stress away.

Mike Rathbun is an expert in all things power related and electric motors is one of his specialties.  He shares practical tips that everyone needs to know to make the best decisions when it comes to electric motors.  Mike reviews:

• Nameplate basics (what matters most)
• Operating environment considerations
• Motor nomenclature 
• Reliability 101

This episode is packed with insight that you can implement right now to make an impact.  Stop being confused by electric motors as we close the knowledge gap on this critical area of industry. 

Enjoy and remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager @ EECO

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

Joe Sullivan is making a huge impact on the world of manufacturing and it was an honor to have him share his amazing story.  He unpacks how his love of marketing led him down several paths that ultimately opened the door to the industrial manufacturing sector. 

He is helping manufactures amplify their voice and combat the lies that manufacturing is dark, dirty and dangerous.  He and his amazing team at Gorilla 76 are pouring light onto the new and exciting world of smart manufacturing that so many are simply not aware of. 

Joe founded The Manufacturing Executive Podcast in 2020 and each week brings tons of wisdom and insight from the brightest minds in industry. He speaks to the impact the show makes on their business and how it has led to numerous opportunities.

We got a peek behind the curtain at who Joe is away from the office including spending time with his amazing family. There are a few fun facts he shares including his love for ping pong and his favorite podcasts!

This was a great conversation full of insight and if you are considering a career in marketing or manufacturing our hero Joe Sullivan is someone to follow as he is leading the way and making a significant impact!

Remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Joe Sullivan - Thinker & Founder @ Gorilla 76

Joe's Recourses:
Gorilla 76 Industrial Marketing Learning Center
The Manufacturing Executive Podcast
They Ask You Answer
New Sales Simplified 

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

Close your eyes and picture your dream career.  What are you doing?  Where are you finding joy?  While that exercise is fun the reality is that to land that dream job you will need to sharpen your skills around interviewing.  In this powerful conversation Vic Parangelo unpacks ten areas that everyone can take, learn and apply that are guaranteed to help you in the next interview.  

Vic unpacks in detail the following areas:

1. Desire - why do you want this? 
2. Resume - it is not to be taken lightly
3. Research - homework starts before the interview
4. Sales 101 - no matter the role you are always selling "Yourself"
5. Bi-Directional Negotiation - mastering 2 way conversation
6. Comfortable Confidence - balancing the line between confident and cocky
7. Control the Meeting - remember the power of asking questions
8. Defense Strategy - slow down and recognize what you do not understand
9. Checklist - define the process and follow through
10. Close - the classic line Always Be Closing is true in interviews as well

Vic also uncovers red flags that we all should be aware of and the power of soft skills.  He even reviews how the landscape has changed for remote workers and the best way to show up for success in a virtual interview. 

This is an episode that you will need a notepad to keep up.  If you are preparing for an interview or if you know someone who is there is a ton of value in the tips shared.  Huge thank you to Vic for sharing his secret sauce to interviewing for success!

Remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Vic Parangelo - Regional Manager at ProSoft Technology

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

Be present in what you are doing and make an impact!  That is the approach our hero Prabhjot Singh takes to business and life.  He is leading the way as the CEO at Pyze and his passion for helping manufacturers improve their processes is inspirational.

Prabhjot shares how the pressure is impacting industry as the markets are more competitive than ever and the end users who understand their processes the best will have a unique advantage.  As businesses strive to produce faster, at a lower cost and increasing quality their ability to step back from the tree to see the forest is critical.

For those that want to learn more about lean manufacturing and Six Sigma he shares insight on how that has evolved.  There are also a few industry myths that were completely debunked along the way.

Prabhjot gives us a peek behind what drives him and he truly lights up when sharing about his family.  He loves making custom pizzas for his family and may be the best Candy Crush Saga player you will ever meet.

At the end of the day he is making a huge impact on industry and there is a ton of wisdom and insight that we can all learn from.  Here's to our hero Prabhjot and be sure to connect with him and the amazing group at Pyze to learn more.

Remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Prabhjot Singh - CEO at Pyze

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

The customer experience impacts us all.  When you enter a store the journey begins. Everything from how you find the items you are looking for to the actual purchasing process, every step makes an impression on how you evaluate a business.  This reins true in the industrial manufacturing sector as well as the markets are more competitive than ever so any opportunity to remove friction should be capitalized.

Paula Courtney knows the importance of a fluid customer experience and shares a ton of wisdom and insight on how to make a true impact.  She shares when customers make a decision to walk away versus when they will stick around even if the experience isn't perfect.

A few of the areas that Paula unpacks that provide valuable insight are:

• Exposure of weaknesses 
• Investments that move the needle
• Soliciting the right feedback
• Understanding behavioral analytics 
• The golden rule - follow the money!!

At the end of the day the more you can arm your customers with information and foresight on what challenges you might have as a supplier. The better your customers will be and in that process you will build trust like no other.

Grab something to take notes with as Paula is an absolute expert in the customer experience and she will shine a light on many areas we all need to understand better as we strive to provide superior customer experiences! 

Take action and remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Paula Courtney - CEO & President at The Verde Group

Website
Verde Group Blog
Twitter

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

Alicia Wilson is leading the way at Summerville CPW and after walking through their amazing case study we had to unpack her journey as a nice cherry on top. She shares with us many of the steps she has taken in her career and even how a Clemson girl can stand strong surrounded by a world of Gamecocks! 

This was the first time we were able to connect with someone in the water/wastewater industry and Alicia shares wonderful insight into many of the challenges they are facing.  From governmental regulations to public health they must be on top of their game everyday and she embraces that challenge head on.

She shares how her site is a living biological system.  It is her teams goal to keep the system healthy and operating at the highest levels.  This means always analyzing the current status and adjusting to meet the changing demands.  As Alicia describes a career in this industry can be extremely fulfilling as you are serving your community daily and there are numerous opportunities to grow professionally.

Alicia has an amazing family and you can hear her light up when she starts talking about her daughters and husband.  She was born and raised in South Carolina and her roots are firmly planted in the community that she serves with pride daily.  You will quickly hear why Alicia Wilson is our hero!

We want to thank the wonderful staff at Summerville CPW for their hospitality and it was a treat to be able to meet and learn from so many amazing people.  These types of conversations are critical to growing and learning together.  So sit back, take notes, apply what you learn and remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Alicia Wilson - Deputy General Manager - Operations at Summerville CPW

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

This is the incredible conclusion to Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun's amazing modernization case study.  It began by them working together to get their ducks in a row.  Then it moved into actual project management which basically meant they were dialed in with each other at all times (this is how trust and friendship is built). 

In this episode they review the moment we have all been waiting for - delivery and commissioning!! 

This part of the story had many twists and turns (LITERALLY) and you can feel the pressure build as they recap how the equipment made it to the site.  Everything came together to the moment where the rubber meets the road.  In those tense times the results of planning, engineering and good old fashioned teamwork come to light.

Listen for yourself as you hear how this project had an "IT'S ALIVE" moment!  This was such a powerful testimony and really shows how the EECO team is committed to serving others. As EECO Asks Why says we are all about people and ideas over products.  Stories like this are what makes that not just a saying but a reality. 

Many thanks go to Micah and the team at Summerville CPW for opening up their facility and sharing their story.  Come back next week to hear an amazing hero journey from one of the primary leaders at Summerville and listen as she unpacks her incredible story.

Share this case study with others and remember to keep asking why! 

Guests:
Micah Miley - Engineer at Summerville CPW
Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager at EECO

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

For those that have walked a modernization project from cradle to grave you know success lies in the details and planning.  Showing up on gameday doesn't work for a NFL team and neither does success in a project of any size.  In part two of this powerful story Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun unpack how they were able to work together to ensure the project would have a successful outcome.

They explore areas such as how communication flowed between all parties in the heat of planning.  There was a special bond that formed due to the constant communication and you will hear the power of partnerships that are grounded with trust. 

As with most things in life there were plenty of hurdles and obstacles.  Micah and Mike openly review how they managed adversity together and through exquisite communication, complete honesty and a few bottles of Tums they were able to navigate the project management phase of this journey together.

There is a ton to learn from this case study and the transparency they share is what makes conversations like this golden.  If you are struggling right now with project management grab a notepad as this team shares it all and there are a ton of tips that could serve you well as you aim for success in the future.

Come back next week for the incredible conclusion of this Case Study of Modernization!

Guests:
Micah Miley - Engineer at Summerville CPW
Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager at EECO

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

Guests:
Micah Miley - Engineer at Summerville CPW
Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager at EECO

On this episode EECO Asks Why hits the road and goes to plant to talk about modernization. And what better way to do that than to discuss a real life case study with the people who implemented the project.

We sit down with Micah Miley the engineer from Summerville CPW and Mike Rathbun form our EECO Team as the cover from cradle to grave the entire process of bringing the E-House to life.

This is just the first part of this modernization series. In this episode we cover the decision makers, the ground work, and get our ducks in a row. Stay tuned for part two discussing more of the project management, headaches, and hurdles as well as in part three the final product. 

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