Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment

This week Charli talks with Tim Merkel about taking pump technology into the cloud 

Timothy Merkel has been involved in the water and wastewater industry for over 20 years with a focus on building partnerships in the wastewater business with distributors, vendors, and other key relationships across the industry.  He has served as Secretary / Treasurer for the Submersible Wastewater Pumping Association (SWPA) in the past and is currently the Chairman of the Marketing Committee for the organization.  Timothy got his start in the water and wastewater market at Conery Mfg Inc in Ashland, Ohio in 2003; eventually serving as the National Sales Manager there followed by serving as the Engineered Sales Manager at Topp Industries in Rochester, Indiana from 2011-2017.

Since 2018, Timothy has served as the Business Development Manager at Metropolitan Industries in Romeoville, Illinois.  Operating out of Ashland, Ohio, he continues to travel the United States in support of Metropolitan Industries including the East Coast branch of Emmons Metro located in Albany, New York.

Interview starts @ 7:56

Lets Get Social
 #ManufacturingMonday: DFT
DFT® Inc. manufactures world class, problem solving, in-line, axial flow, nozzle style, silent check valves and severe service control valves. DFT engineers design products using the latest CAD, FEA, and CFD design technology software. Our staff responds quickly and our systems are designed to deliver reliably within our ISO9001-2015 quality management system. For more than seventy years DFT has solved check valve problems, prevented check valve failure and water hammer, and solved severe service control valve problems.

United for Infrastructure - May 16-20th. 

The Chance Project
Meetups!
Don't forget to preregister for them to get the Zoom link

Empowering Women - Wed, May 11th (every second Wed) at 11 CT

Mentorship Circles - every 2nd Monday, May 9th

Book Club - May 24th

Empowering Pumps – May 17 (every third Tuesday) at 10 am CT 

Join us on Slack

In the News

What You Need to Know about Check Valves and Cracking Pressure

How to Set up Environmental Controls for Pump Systems

You can always reach us through social @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected]

We wanted to release this bonus content as a way to say thank you Melissa Meeker and The Water Tower for the amazing event!

In this special bonus episode, Charli interviews Debra Coy and Cindy Wallis-Lage about their view of The Water Tower and how we can continue to collaborate and add value to the Water sector.

Virtual Meetups:
Empowering Women - Wed, May 11th (every second Wed) at 11 CT

• Mentorship Circles - every 2nd Monday, May 9th
• Book Club - May 24th

Empowering Pumps – May 17 (every third Tuesday) at 10 am CT 

Join us on Slack

You can always reach us through social @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected]

This week Charli talks to Dr. Alexa Chilcutt about professional development and continuing education at the corporate level with a focus on leadership and communication. 

Dr. Alexa Chilcutt is an alumna of The University of Alabama where she earned her M.A. in Public Relations and Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences. She currently serves as the faculty lead for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School's Executive Education Business Communication Certificate program where she teaches courses on topics including communication, impression management/executive presence, presentation skills, and team leadership. Alexa was an Associate Professor and Director of The Public Speaking Program at The University of Alabama, from 2010 - Spring 2021. She co-authored the book, "Engineered to Speak: Helping You Create and Deliver Engaging Technical Presentations" (IEEE PCS Professional Engineering Communication Series) with Dr. Adam Brooks and has publications featured in MedEdPORTAL, Journal of American Dental Association (JADA), Association of General Dentist's "Impact" magazine, Public Relations Journal, and Georgia Academy of General Dentistry's Explorer magazine.

Interview @ 9:15

Lets Get Social!
#ManufacturingMonday with CURFLO

CURFLO was founded in 2015 in Houston, TX as part of the Curry Supply Group. CURFLO’s mission from the beginning was to provide the highest quality aftermarket pumps and components to industrial, chemical, and oil & gas markets. Today, CURFLO offers a complete range of ANSI B73.1pumps and components, Blender Discharge pumps, Self-priming trash pumps, and Internal Gear pumps. Supplied from our 32,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Deer Park, TX, CURFLO has become the leader in delivery lead times in the aftermarket pump segment, while maintaining a consistently high level of product quality and offering competitive pricing.

Fluid Sealing Association
Virtual Spring Meeting has been scheduled for May 10-12, 2022

Virtual Meetups:
Empowering Women - Wed, May 11th (every second Wed) at 11 CT

• Mentorship Circles - every 2nd Monday, May 9th
• Book Club - May 24th

Empowering Pumps – May 17 (every third Tuesday) at 10 am CT 

Join us on Slack

IN THE NEWS

Amusement Parks Need Gear Motors Too!
By: Altra Industrial Motion

Keeping Innovative Electrolysis Systems Cool and Flowing
By: Flowserve

You can always reach us through social @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected]

This week Charli talks with Bryan Bieschke about sustainability through his role at Bowery Farming. 

Bryan Bieschke is a CMRP and dedicated maintenance & reliability leader, creating vision through strong culture and business alignment. Bryan has over 15 years in maintenance functions from a heavy equipment mechanic to building and leading multiple state programs at the executive level.

Bryan currently is the maintenance and Reliability leader at Bowery Farming, the largest vertical indoor farm in the country. His leadership and vision have shaped multiple companies' maintenance departments to embrace human connection and the pursuit of fundamental excellence.

Bryan's expertise are in maintenance leadership, scalability, and human connection to business alignment.

Interview @ 8:40

Lets Get Social!
#ManufacturingMonday with Crane Pumps & Systems

Virtual Meetups:
Mentorship Circles - every 2nd Monday, May 9th
Book Club
-April 26 from 3pm-4pm CST (4th Tuesday), April is chapters 4-6

Empowering Pumps Meetup
-April 19 (3rd Tuesday) at 10 am CST 

'Lessons Learned from the Shop Floor' (Pump Talk Celebrity - in the digital mag coming soon!)

Nick Terranova is a Product Manager at HOMA Pump Technology, responsible for product development, sales support, and technical expertise. He has worked for HOMA Pump in many different capacities over his decade-plus with the company, from shop hand and repair mechanic, to order entry and product engineering, providing a wide perspective on many aspects of the pump industry.

NEWS!
Empowering Pumps Slack Community

Chesterton: What is a Double Seal and When to Use One (Double Seals: Part 1)

Effectively Maintain Pumps and Bounce Back After Failures

You can always reach us through social @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected]

Charli Interviews Brent Flavin and Chris M. Meaux about BoomNation.

[Interview Starts @ 5:04]

About Brent Flavin, 
Co-Founder/Co-CEO of BoomNation, Inc.
B.S., Louisiana State University, Columbia University, Executive Education, Value Investing, Investments , and Securities 

Founded and built multiple startup businesses and teams designed to disrupt market leaders and enhance customer experience in the technology, industrial, financial services, and insurance industries.  Co-founded BoomNation to innovate for the skilled trades industries, optimizing the workforce through community, content and communications resulting in meaningful hires and meaningful work.

About Chris M. Meaux
An accomplished entrepreneur and executive, Chris is the Chairman and Co-CEO of BoomNation, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of MallardBay Outdoors, Inc. Prior to BoomNation, Chris played an integral role in building one of today’s leading on demand consumer technology companies into a public company, Waitr Holdings, Inc traded on the (Nasdaq: WTRH). He possesses a unique understanding of consumer behavior and the dynamics of viral businesses, as well as deep experience in driving companies from the earliest stages through periods of explosive, “blitzscale” growth.

Learn more about BoomNation: https://www.boomnation.com/
Download the App: https://apps.apple.com/tt/app/boomnation-app/id1515990445
IG: https://www.instagram.com/boomnationusa/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXvdb54bC7JhqkuZPPNCag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoomNationJobs/

 #ManufacturingMonday: Cornell Pumps
https://empoweringpumps.com/companies/cornell-pump/

Resources and Links:

• EPIC – event information
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup – Wed. April 13
• Empowering Women Book Club
• Empowering Women Mentor Mondays
• Empowering Pumps Meetup – Tues, April 19
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

This week Charli is joined by Bekah to talk about digital media and the Empowering Pumps Digital Edition, which can be found here.

[Interview Starts @19:13]

Join us for our monthly meetups!
https://empoweringpumps.com/virtual-meet-up/
Empowering Women - Wed, April 13th (every second Wed) at 11 CT

• Mentorship Circles - every 2nd Monday
• https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/mentorshipcircles
• Book Club: https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/bookclub
  • April 26 - 3-4 pm CST (4th Tuesday)
  • April is chapter 4-6, catch up
• Empowering Pumps – Apr 19 (every third Tuesday) at 10 am CT 
  • Special Guest Nick Terranova!

Let's Get Social with Cook Compression and their contributions on this #ManufacturingMonday. Check them out here
https://empoweringpumps.com/companies/cook-compression/

Get a shout out on the show by staying connected -  @empoweringpumps on Twitter and Instagram #empoweringindustrypodcast

In the News:
Nominate someone for Industry Person of the Week!
Pumping up Green Hydrogen Production for the Energy Transition
Netzsch Oil and Gas: Advantages of a Digital Progressing Cavity Pump

Interview
This week Charli interviews Matt DeFord.

Contact Matt @ [email protected]
TB Woods Website
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
Facebook

Bio: Matt acquired his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology from Texas State University 2004. After completing an internship at TB Wood’s, he accepted a position as an Application Engineer. In the Summer of 2006, Matt joined Ameridrives, as an Application Engineer, to work on the development of a new disc coupling targeted for the natural gas compression market.  While at Ameridrives, he aided in the relocation of the Ameridrives Standard Gear product line to New Braunfels, TX. In 2007, after Altra Motion purchased TB Wood’s, Matt went back to the TB Wood’s plant in San Marcos, TX, where he worked with both Ameridrives and TB Wood’s coupling products.  He became a Product Support Manager in 2009, and then was promoted to his current role as Product Manager for General Purpose Disc Couplings in 2011. Matt is married and lives in New Braunfels, TX. In his spare time, he enjoys building 4x4 vehicles, 4 wheeling, hiking, camping and travel.

BE EMPOWERING!

This week Charli and Bethany talk about Social Media Branding and how to make your graphics and images stand out.

Then Charli interviews Jeff Kane, the Director of Sales and Marketing at DFT, all about his 35 year career in the valve industry.
 
[Interview Starts @25:31]

Watch on YouTube!

Jeff Kane has been involved in the valve industry and sales for 35 years working for DFT, Deacon Industrial, and XOMOX in positions such as a regional sales manager, sales and marketing manager, and vice president of industrial sales. Jeff has a B.S. in Business Management from East Tennessee State University. Jeff is a long-time member of the VMA Education & Training Committee.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-kane-87a69552/

Resources and Links:

• EPIC - event information
• EPIC - Charli's blog
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. April 13
• Empowering Women Book Club
• Empowering Women Mentor Mondays
• Empowering Pumps Meetup - Tues, April 19
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Centrifugal Pump Basics: The Importance of Best Efficiency Point
• CFturbo, Inc. Launches Major Software Update

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode Charli interviews Caeley Looney, Space Mission Analyst and Founder and CEO of Reinvented Inc.

Watch on YouTube!

Caeley Looney is a total space geek, avid Netflix binger, and french fry lover. After graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, she started working full-time as a Space Mission Analyst at L3Harris Technologies, where she currently supports their small satellite programs. Once the work day is over, she comes home and works on Reinvented Inc. As the founder and CEO of this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Caeley works to empower young girls to pursue STEM fields through each of Reinvented’s three core programs. Outside of work and running a nonprofit, Caeley is continuing to advance her education by pursuing her M.S. in Space Systems Engineering part-time at Johns Hopkins University online.

www.reinventedmagazine.com

• Twitter: @cae_looney @reinventedmag
• Instagram: @caeleylooney @reinventedmagazine

Resources and Links:

• EPIC - event information
• EPIC - Charli's blog
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. April 13
• Empowering Pumps Meetup - Tues, April 20
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode Charli interviews Susan Hobson, Leadership Mindset Coach.

Watch on YouTube!

Sign up for her Masterclass on ‘Braking Burnout’ Thursday March 24th at 1pm est:

https://thehplaunchpad.mykajabi.com/registration-page-ee2a8c2a-d5b4-452e-a107-231a98e44793

Susan Hobson is a High-Performance Leadership Coach, published author, Founder/CEO of Elite High Performance Inc. and host of the podcast ‘The Leadership Launchpad Project.’

Susan’s science-based Elite High-Performance Coaching process draws on her first hand experience competing at some of the most competitive environments on the planet – Princeton & Harvard Universities and The NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League).

She now leads a practice of High-Performance Mindset Coaches based in the financial district of downtown Toronto, Canada.

Susan has been leading the industry for 15 years, working with some of the world’s highest performing people and teams: Professional Athletes, C-Suite Executives, Entrepreneurs and many of the world’s leading tech companies like Google.

Her specialty is in the area of mindset strategy architecture, which essentially means that she teaches High-Performers how to think strategically so that they can play their biggest impact.

Your highest potential is her passion, so join her on her mission to change the way the game of life and business is being played forever.

 https://www.elitehighperformance.com/
https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmVzYZy8sDDwUgOeqJPSg

Resources and Links:

• EPIC - event information
• EPIC - Charli's blog
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. April 13
• Empowering Pumps Meetup - Tues, March 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany talk about how to build brand awareness through consistency on social media.

Then Charli interviews Bill Tipton, CEO and co-founder of Odaptix all about data driven decision making regarding company culture and strategy.
 
[Interview Starts @25:24]

Watch on YouTube!

Bill has worked and led in both small privately held businesses and large global multinationals including The Weir Group, FMC Technologies, Flowserve, and Sulzer where he had global roles over the past 25 years. As VP of Strategy and Business Development at Weir Oil & Gas he led two post acquisition integrations with over $1B invested. 

Spurred by his leadership experiences and battling culture clashes in mergers and acquisitions, Bill uncovered the need to develop data-driven solutions for leaders and executives to improve the performance of their businesses and integrations. He recently partnered with Dr. David Schweiger and Andrew Schweiger to launch Odaptix, who's mission is to provide organizational diagnostic data and insights not previously available. 

Bill grew up in Portland, Oregon and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University. Soon after graduation, he worked in Germany for two years with Sulzer Pumps. 

When not working, Bill enjoys golf, is an avid cyclist as well as enjoys grilling & cooking, and spending quality time with his wife & family. 

linkedin.com/in/tiptonwilliam | [email protected] | https://odaptix.com/ 

Resources and Links:

• EPIC - event information
• EPIC - Charli's blog
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. April 13
• Empowering Pumps Meetup - Tues, March 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• The Right Equipment And Proper Maintenance Can Extend The Life Of Critical Components
• Mission to reach 300 million people with access to drinking water by 2030 with SafeWater

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/