Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment

This week Charli has Humera Malik on the pod to talk about how AI is already making Industry better.

Humera Malik is CEO of Canvass AI, a leading provider of industrial AI software that puts industrial companies in control of their data to achieve operational excellence. The company is recognized by CB Insights as one of the top technology companies that is advancing manufacturing. Internationally, Ms. Malik is one of the leading voices in Artificial Intelligence and how it can help the industrial sector propel growth, accelerate sustainability, and augment human expertise. She sits on Canada’s AI Technology Advisory Council and is a recipient of the RBC Women of Influence Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Women of IoT/M2M award, and Special Jury Recognition for the Women in AI Awards North America 2023. She is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences and has been featured in publications such as Bloomberg and Forbes.

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th.

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Charli is joined by long time friend of the pod, Jeff Shiver this week to talk change.

Jeff Shiver, CMRP guides people and organizations to overcome their reliability and operational challenges. Working together in partnership, we move beyond the status quo in culture, business results, and most importantly, people. 

Jeff has over 25+ years of practitioner experience. Within Mars North America, he worked at four plant locations and held two corporate roles. Job functions included Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations management. Before Mars, he held contract engineering positions at Proctor and Gamble, and IBM.

Founding People and Processes, Inc. in 2006, Jeff is a trusted advisor for the maintenance and reliability community. Certified in maintenance and reliability best practices, he holds the SMRP Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP), Asset Reliability Practitioner Cat I, II, & III, Certified Reliability Leader (CRL), AFE’s Certified Professional Maintenance Manager (CPMM), ICML’s Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT), and is a certified RCM 2 & 3 Practitioner with The Aladon Network. 

He is a book author, conference speaker, thought leader, and published in domestic and international trade journals. Jeff is also the past Membership Services Director for the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP). Jeff was recently listed as one of the top one hundred professionals to follow by Upkeep.

 Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th.

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Bonus Episode Time!

Jim Nowakowski joins Charli to chat about Marketing.

Jim has been a business strategist, speaker, and author since starting his company in 1990. His business experience, along with his dynamic presentation style, is a key reason why companies utilize his firm for marketing and marketing communications. Jim presents business ideas in a variety of formats, including trade shows, webinars and in-company presentations to professionals, including architects, designers, engineers and showroom managers. In his eight recently published Survival Guides, which are available from Interline (guides.interlinegroup.com), Jim provides a comprehensive strategic platform that helps transform management teams using proven basics of marketing and advertising. A respected thought leader, Jim’s experience in business strategy and growing his business to a 25-person firm has formed the basis of his presentations that challenge other business owners to excel. His ad agency experience, combined with real-world client growth, brings a unique point of view to companies facing the issues brought about by today’s economy.

 Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th.

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Charli is joined on the pod this week by Mike Mancini to talk about his journey thought the industry.

Mike Mancini started his career in 1974 at Ingersoll-Rand designing pumps for the US Navy SSN 688 and Trident submarine program. He was Vice President of Worldwide Aftermarket Services for Ingersoll-Dresser Pumps. He had profit responsibility for a $370 million-dollar business and control of over 22 repair centers.

Mike went into business as an independent pump consultant in 2003. He worked with many customers in varied markets in the training of personnel, specification development, root cause analysis, and strategic planning and process improvement. Mike is now President of Total Solutions for Hydro, Inc. His job responsibilities mirror his consulting work, supporting customers in reducing their total cost of pump operation.

https://hydroinc.com/

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th.

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Another double whamy as Charli has two guests this week! Iman Eldib, a graduate student at the Colorado School of Mines, and Dr. Tzahi Cath, a Professor at the School of Mines, join Charli this week on the pod.

 Iman holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Colorado School of Mines, working with Prof. Tzahi Cath. Before enrolling in grad school in Fall 2023, I worked for three years in water and wastewater treatment in Saudi Arabia. My current research focuses on advanced water treatment and reverse osmosis systems, seeking energy-efficient and sustainable treatment methods. I am passionate about environmental sustainability and empowering women in engineering, having been the first female engineer in my previous company in Saudi Arabia, and last March, I received Mine’s Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics (WISEM)’s  Sister-to-Sister Scholarship Fund.

Dr. Cath is a professor of environmental engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. His main field of research is membrane and biological processes for wastewater treatment, desalination of saline and hypersaline brines, reclamation of impaired water for potable reuse, and energy from water and wastewater. Dr. Cath is a PI on many research projects focusing on the integration of membrane processes in seawater and brackish water desalination, and in domestic and industrial wastewater treatment (including oil & gas wastewater). Additional research focus is on advanced data-driven control system for early detection of system failure, techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of water-energy systems, and decision support tools to select efficient and low energy treatment technologies for a broad range of water and wastewater applications. Prof. Cath is the director of the Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC) and the co-director of the WE2ST Center at Mines. He also holds a joint appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th.

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

This week Charli has double the Chris on the pod to talk.

Chris Karasch and Chris Davis of Roto Pumps sit down to talk about the evolution of Roto Pumps into what the company has become today in the Progressive Cavity Pump world. These two have been a team for over a decade and have brought that dynamic with them.

Contact Chris Karasch:  [email protected]

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th. Make sure to find Chris Davis and connect, he will be on a panel.

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Special Bonus Episode! Charlie has The McNeil Team from the Colorado School of Mines, this year's EPIC location, on to get to know them bit more.
 
The McNeil Team

Sid Hanna Saleh, Ph.D. – McNeil Center Director and Associate Professor

As the Director of the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Dr. Sid Saleh plays a pivotal role in upholding our mission to cultivate a campus-centric entrepreneurial culture by producing experiential programs that combine creative discovery with business and financial astuteness towards creating sustainable value. Leading unique programs such as Innov8X, Sid fast-tracks early innovative endeavors via rigorous curricula, efficient methods, demonstration spaces, mentorship, and early-stage funding.

In 2023, Sid was honored as the Americas Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year by the Accreditation Council of Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities. Sid is a member of the Mines Faculty Senate and was past chair of the Research Council which represents faculty on matters pertaining to the Mines research enterprise. It provides research instrumentation funding and recommends faculty for academic research excellence awards. 

Sid’s research investigates why some early ideas gain traction while others fizzle out. He explores how founders can collaborate to frame problems and create value despite their constraints. A former Apple product manager and entrepreneur, Sid’s experience motivates his research and enriches his teaching. In practice, Sid has conducted over a hundred conjoint analysis studies for innovation-seeking high-tech organizations including Apple, Best Buy, CEA, IBM, Motorola, Philips Medical and others. Sid currently serves as a board member of the Tri-County Workforce Development Board, Future Cities and the CiviCore Foundation.

Lia Franklin, Ph.D. – McNeil Center Associate Director

Dr. Lia Franklin has spent the past 30 years of her career in higher education supporting students, training, teaching, and inspiring others. She is passionate about helping people live their dreams. An entrepreneur at heart, she has run her own small business for over 25 years and has developed women’s leadership training programs over her career.

Lia’s sweet spot is where education and industry connect. She began with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing, and later earned her master’s in college student personnel (Ed / Psych) from Western Illinois University before earning her PhD in Leadership, Research, and Policy from University of Colorado. Before joining the Mines community, Lia ran an international MBA program at a regional campus. She joined Mines in 2014 and first served in the Advanced Steel Processing Center. She then moved to Student Life and helped run operations for the Division of Student Life before joining the McNeil team in January 2023.

As the McNeil Associate Director, she leads all the Innov8x Challenges, including sourcing industry problems, developing partnerships, marketing and student engagement, and event day planning and implementation. She also focuses on developing industry, government, and non-profit partnerships with the McNeil Center, and develops Center based programming and outreach. 

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Getting to know your partners is an important part of any industry. This week Charli invites Cody Kaufmann from Sepco on the pod to get to know him and our amazing partner Sepco a little bit better.

Cody Kaufmann is the Business Development Manager for Sealing Equipment Products Co., Inc. (SEPCO). He has nearly 20 years of experience in plastics manufacturing and sealing technology specializing in high-performance thermoplastics.  Cody has been with SEPCO for 8 years in total.  Cody may be reached at [email protected].  For more information, visit sepco.com.

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC in Colorado this November!

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

A special bonus episode treat as Kelly Franko joins Charli on the mic today!

Kelly Franko began her career in healthcare, where she cultivated a deep
understanding of patient needs and the importance of compassionate care. Her passion for supporting women led her to work with a medical equipment company, where she successfully launched three post-mastectomy boutiques.
This venture inspired Kelly to open her own retail bra boutiques, dedicated to offering products that fit all the sizes of women.

Trained by industry experts in design, function, and fit, Kelly’s years of experience and expertise in this field are unparalleled. Recognizing a unique need in the market, Kelly was approached with a challenge that would change the course of her career: creating a flame-resistant bra. Embracing this opportunity, she founded Seraphina Safety Apparel, a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of flame-resistant undergarments and base layer protective clothing for women. Under Kelly's leadership, Seraphina Safety Apparel has become a pioneer in women's safety apparel, combining functionality with comfort and style.

Kelly is a passionate advocate for women to have access to appropriately fitting personal protective equipment (PPE). She is dedicated to ensuring that women are not only safe but also comfortable and confident in their protective clothing, bridging the gap between safety and style. This advocacy led to her co-founding the Alliance of Women’s Safety Apparel Manufacturers; a non-profit association of specialty manufacturers
committed to women’s PPE.

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC in Colorado this November!

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected] 

Enrico Aloi joins Charli on the pod this week.

Enrico Aloi is a seasoned professional with a robust background in sales and engineering leadership. As the Director of Sales and Marketing at Metallized Carbon Corporation (METCAR), he has demonstrated exceptional skill in driving revenue growth, managing diverse teams, and forging strategic industry partnerships. Under his leadership, METCAR saw a 20% revenue increase in FY22. Enrico's experience spans various sectors including Aerospace Engineering, Energy, Food Processing, Textile Manufacturing, Automotive Engineering, and Fluid Handling.

Previously serving as Director of Engineering at METCAR, Enrico led the development of innovative solutions, including a new grade of material for the Aerospace and Automotive markets and the implementation of a $5 million facility. His expertise in Operations Research, Supply Chain Management, and lean principles is further supported by his Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.

Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC in Colorado this November!

Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn,  Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email [email protected]