On MiddleGround’s fifth episode of Executive Sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with MiddleGround Founding Partner John Stewart and his brother, Co-Partner of Banner Industries, David Stewart. This episode covers:

1. Building a Bootcamp
2. Creating and Maintaining Cooperative Change
3. Lean Manufacturing Requires Standardization
4. The Impact of Bootcamps

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://bit.ly/3Ptj6NE

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Find Banner Management Consulting on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/banner-management-consulting/

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:06:52) Bootcamp 101
(00:10:40) Gaining buy-in
(00:18:15) Building a Bootcamp 
(00:27:22) The importance of manufacturers
(00:36:58) Impact on the portfolio
(00:43:49) The value of teaching lean manufacturing basics
(00:48:47) Simple, cheap solutions yield results 
(00:53:54) Standardization in manufacturing 

On MiddleGround’s fourth episode of executive sessions, discussions are led by MiddleGround's Director of ESG, Madelyn Tutewiler, and Managing Director of ESG, Mike Bridge. This episode covers:

1. The importance of involving ESG in businesses
2. Raising minimum full-time pay to $25/Hour by 2025
3. Equitable hiring to reflect local communities
4. How we bring ESG to life in portfolio companies

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://middleground.com/podcast-executiv…-the-abcs-of-esg/
Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find Mike Bridge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebridge/
Find Madelyn Tutewiler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelyn-street-tutewiler-460356115/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Forrest Gump skit
(00:01:20) Guest introduction 
(00:10:20) What is ESG? 
(00:14:45) Why does ESG matter?
(00:23:42) Case study: Attala Steel
(00:35:02) Data in ESG
(00:40:15) ESG and diversity 
(00:45:46) $25 by 2025
(00:48:50) Advice for firms starting their ESG journey

In MiddleGround’s third episode of executive sessions, discussions are led by MiddleGround Capital's Founding and Managing Partner, John Stewart, and a Vice President on the Transaction team, Tyler May. This episode covers:

1. Factors in driving electrification and autonomous vehicles forward
2. Shift from the automotive industry to the mobility industry
3. Barriers to fully autonomous cars

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://middleground.com/executive-sessions-automotive-today/
Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Find Tyler May on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-may-385872106/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Austin Powers skit
(00:01:42) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:06:35) Reducing brain drain in financial industry
(00:08:40) Electrification, the environmental impact, and driving it's adoption
(00:20:25) The inevitable shift to EVs
(00:23:54) Automotive's shift from transportation to mobility
(00:26:44) The road to full autonomy 
(00:40:40) Challenges updating American infrastructure 
(00:47:40) Future business models in automotive
(00:58:45) 5G for the connected car

In MiddleGround’s second episode of executive sessions, discussions are led by MiddleGround's VP of Operations, Alicia Motomura, and a senior associate on the Investor Relations team, Jordan Gabbert. This episode covers:

1. Respecting and valuing shop floor employees
2. Connection between adding value and employee retention/company stability 
3. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of great

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://bit.ly/3WUdAHs
Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find Alicia Motomura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-motomura-a5bb8811/
Find Jordan Gabbert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-gabbert-43572a37/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) The Waterboy skit
(00:02:20) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:17:36) The importance of the shop floor 
(00:20:14) Partnering with shop floor employees
(00:28:30) Creating value in manufacturing processes
(00:35:15) Growth and stability
(00:37:44) Being a woman in manufacturing
(00:41:57) Dealing with adversity in your career
(00:45:30) Data and the Pareto principle
(00:50:00) Worker well being

Introducing MiddleGround’s first episode of executive sessions, where discussions are led by John Stewart and Scot Duncan, founding Partners of MiddleGround Capital. This first episode covers four primary topics:

1. Who are John and Scot?
2. Changing labor markets
3. The human element of business
4. Near term challenges

Check out our company blog recapping this episode here: https://bit.ly/3UFnHPe
Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Follow John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Follow Scot Duncan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scot-duncan-45a23211/

Timestamps
00:00 - 01:31 - "The Grouper" skit
01:32 - 05:12 - Podcast and guest introduction
05:13 - 22:16 - John/Scot's working relationship
22:17 - 28:26 - COVID and changing labor markets
28:27 - 48:22 - Working conditions in manufacturing
48:23 - 53:02 - Doing what's right
53:02 - 58:17 - Near term challenges in 2023