Talk about passion for your career!!!  Allie Donnelly is our hero and we are convinced that she will quickly become yours as well.  Allie's passion for her trade pours out of her in this conversation.  As a young apprentice electrician she recognizes the amazing future that lies ahead and walks us through some of the steps she's taken along the way to pave the path.  Allie always had a high level of curiosity and she shares how her mother always had her around trades which exposed her to a multitude of career opportunities.  Ultimately she landed on the electrical trade and hasn't looked back for a minute. 

Allie lays out advice for those coming up behind her on how to learn about certain trades and tricks she used along  the way to make meaningful connections.  She is an avid LinkedIn user and often shares her masterpieces (yes we do mean masterpieces) as she is pushing to bring awareness to this trade and we think she is doing a phenomenal job.  Outside of her network she shares how mentors have helped her grow and the importance of being able to seek wise counsel from others.

For those that want to know her favorite tool in her arsenal you'll have to check out her feedback!  She is a lover of the great outdoors and is always looking for an adventure.  Anyone making a visit to Canada will not want to miss her suggestions on the best waterfalls she's visited.  Allie lights up any room that she enters (no pun intended - or maybe so...) and you will quickly hear why she is our HERO!

Guest: Allie Donnelly - Apprentice Electrician and Panel Builder

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

Allie Mentions:
Canadian Electric Code
Industrial Control Panels
James and the Giant Peach

So many industrial companies are struggling with their industrial network especially with the increased demand on data for process improvement. Ron Thompson shares the experience he had at Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company as he led a massive overhaul of the complete network.  Their needs started to include areas such as video and the infrastructure that existed simply could not support the demands.

We've all seen the "network closet" and Ron shares how that too was a reality when they started the journey.  He found value in focusing on a comprehensive assessment to get started and that laid the base for critical decisions they needed to make in the future.  He unpacks how hardware was evaluated and the overall network design considerations that made an impact.

The beauty of Ron's story is how it clearly demonstrates what can be accomplished with the right mindset and process.  From small/midsize industrials to large corporations the outline that Ron adhered to will set you up for success.  We suggest that you grab a notepad and get ready for the wisdom and insight that Ron lays out as he details how they went from a network that wasn't reliable to one that is poised to support their business for years into the future.  

Ron Thompson -  Controls and HMI development manager at Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company

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

Our hero Michael Manzi loves a challenge.  From serving our country in the Navy working in nuclear submarines to designing world class MIS systems his journey will have you on the edge of your seat.  He shares story after story of how he had challenges land at his feet and the methodical way he approached them all to reach the ultimate solution. 

He offers advice for those wanting to pursue a career in industry and he leads with you should always be an advocate for yourself.  Those are powerful words and he explains why that is important as you need to stay focused on integrity and accept blame when items happen.  There's nothing quite as upbuilding as owning a problem and leaning into it to find a solution.

Michael loves seeing people that he enables do great things.  He is a teacher at heart and loves to pass knowledge to others.  He's also a big gamer and loves to do pretty fun projects around the house to destress.  There are lots of twists and turns in Michael's story and all of them make him our hero! 

Guest: Michael Manzi - Manufacturing Information Systems Practice Lead at Feyen Zylstra

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

Michael Mentions:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig 
Irrational Man by William Barrett

Augmented reality is no longer chasing around Pokémon!  It has made it to the plant floor and we unpack how you can start utilizing this technology in your facility immediately.

Bob Meads shares a ton of insight on the evolution of augmented reality technology and how he is helping industrial users leverage it in their everyday operations. Bob reviews the impact technologies such as this can have on the culture of a company and the best approach for desired results.

He explores practical applications that all industrial facilities have and how implementing augmented reality could improve the efficiency and safety across the board.  The technology is changing fast and the ones that lean in and begin building solutions will be leading the way.

So stop chasing those Pokémon for now and see what possibilities exist for augmented reality at your facility in the future!   

Guest: Bob Meads - President at iQagent

Augmented Reality Demo

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

Learning, doing new things and helping other people is how our Hero Jonathan Noren describes his Why.  From determining how electromagnetic fields behave inside a rail gun to industrial networking his journey has been anything but conventional.  He found his passion helping industrial manufacturers implement and build solutions that connects data and leads to better decisions.

Jonathan offered great advice for those new to industry and spoke openly about the importance of mentorship.  He debunked some ideals around manufacturing and industry which resonates with so many that are trying to change the narrative.

He has a great hobby of 3D printing and shares about some of his fun projects with that venture.  Being a family man he has a full plate at home with his 4 children and stays busy with fun activities all the time. 

This is a fun conversation full of wisdom and insight from our hero Jonathan Noren! 

Guest: Jonathan Noren - Business & Industrial IT Group Manager at RoviSys

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

We are excited to release the first episode of our Industry War Stories.  The feedback has been pouring in and this is a first taste of some of the amazing stories we have collected.  Remember we want the good, the bad, the funny, the stories you will tell at dinner parties and around the family dinner table.  We believe our heroes of industry have amazing things happen all the time and this is the way we can all unite as a community and celebrate the wins, lessons learned and the character of those that make industry great.

Sit back, clear your mind and enjoy some war stories from industry that are sure to warm your heart and maybe leave you saying "yup been there done that." 

Keep the submissions coming and we would love to share your war story on an upcoming episode. 

Remember - keep asking why!

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

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From the great state of Texas to leading the way at ndustrial.io Natalie Birdwell has an amazing journey that she unpacks in this insightful conversation.  She knew early on that her love of STEM would be prevalent in her journey and quickly started to make an impact when she entered industry. 

She offered sage advice to those in industry that are dealing with issues such as transferring knowledge and how the workforce transition is impacting everyone.  Her recognition in the disparity of female leaders in engineering compared to general business was eye opening and she sees that as a great opportunity to advocate and share STEM opportunities to create engagement early and often.

Natalie debunks the myth that industry is not innovative and shares personal insight and experiences she has that speaks to the ever evolving (and exciting) changes that are happening in industry every day!  She loves it when she can make better outcomes and as you will quickly see she does that in every engagement she has.  Her passion and energy is contagious and we even got to learn about her amazing family and some fun hobbies that she enjoys to relax.

Natalie Birdwell is a phenomenal leader in industry and hands down our hero!  Sit back and follow along with her and the outstanding journey she has forged through industry!

Guest: Natalie Birdwell - VP of Strategic and Corporate Development @ ndustrial.io

Resources:
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey
Manufacturing Happy Hour with Chris Luecke
Headway App

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

We brought in Michael Manzi to hit head on the topic of IT/OT convergence.  He brought a ton of wisdom and insight around this ever growing area that is impacting manufacturers everywhere.  Michael explains the general structure of these systems and how the priority of the system owners differ. 

He unpacks how OT networks have an insistent need to always be available and how the massive amounts of data being moved must be taken into consideration.  When dealing with operational data and process decisions speed is crucial.  This can be an area where IT and OT are not in alignment and where parties need to come together to work towards amicable solutions. 

When those solutions are not prevalent that is where experts like Michael can step in and translate for both sides.  His analogy to a marriage counselor that can understand what is important for both parties and lead them through a discussion that will have meaningful results. 

The world of the plant floor is changing and at some point every manufacturer will have to tackle IT/OT convergence head on.  Experts like Michael Manzi give us hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we know the impact this can have on many businesses that are striving daily to be industry leaders.  

Guest: Michael Manzi - Manufacturing Information Systems Practice Lead at Feyen Zylstra

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

"I like helping people, learning and leaving things a little better than I found it."  That sums up our hero Chester Burke and he shared his inspirational journey in this hero conversation. At the core he loves to create new things and he provided great insight to how the world of engineering and manufacturing provides so many opportunities for that to happen.  When he is faced with an opportunity to improve a process or engineer automation he loves how that allows him to use his unique skills to build something truly incredible. 

He shared some of the challenges he sees as a direct front line leader in manufacturing.  There was great advice offered for others to consider as they begin their own journeys and many of the points shared can apply to multiple disciplines of industry. 

Chester is an all around fun guy and has a passion for everything he does.  Whether he is engineering a cutting edge automation solution, finding peace on the gun range, spending time with his wonderful wife and daughter, Chester will always leave a lasting impact on others as his outlook on life and how he treats others truly makes him our hero!

It was an absolute treat to hear Chester's story and for those looking for inspiration and encouragement look no further - enjoy the ride with our hero Chester Burke! 

Guest: Chester Burke

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

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In this Straight Talk With Chris episode he unpacks his internship journey at EECO that was 20 years ago.   The three areas that he remembered the most were the opportunity he had to explore and learn about distribution.  He also recalled how open everyone was and willing to teach him about the industry.  He concludes with the importance he had with his mentor and how he guided him and truly cared about his path.

Internships are an incredible way to bring new people into industry and some of Chris' tips are great to consider when getting started. 

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

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