On this episode of Made in Iowa, host Leisa Fox sits down with entrepreneur Billie Asmus, founder of Repaint Studios, to share the story behind a simple frustration that turned into a national retail brand.

Billie didn’t plan to become an inventor or retail entrepreneur. As a busy mom trying to pause a painting project when her daughter woke up from a nap, she grew tired of using plastic wrap and wasting brushes. After searching Amazon for a better solution — and realizing it didn’t exist — she decided to create one herself.

In this inspiring conversation, Billie explains how necessity sparked innovation, how she developed her product from scratch, and what it really takes to break into major retail stores. She also shares behind-the-scenes insight on funding a product-based business, navigating manufacturing, pitching to retailers, and scaling a brand from Iowa to a national audience.

In my conversation with Erin Rollenhagen, CEO of Entrepreneurial Technologies, and Ann Staudt, the dynamic duo behind Water Rocks!, listeners discover how a passion for Iowa’s natural resources has been transformed into an innovative educational movement. These two leaders are on a mission to make water science exciting and accessible for learners of all ages. Through engaging online games, captivating videos, original music, and interactive events, Water Rocks! brings awareness to the importance of clean water in ways that resonate with students, teachers, families, and even adults. Their energy and creativity demonstrate how education can be fun, relevant, and deeply connected to the world around us.

Iowa’s future — including the strength of its manufacturing industry — depends on having clean, abundant water. Erin and Ann explain how Water Rocks! supports that future by fostering stewardship and curiosity across communities statewide. From classroom resources to statewide challenges, their work connects environmental science with everyday life and economic vitality. For more about their programs and how they’re inspiring the next generation of water leaders, visit https://www.waterrocks.org/.

In this episode of Made in Iowa, we sit down with Will Rogers, founder of Monks Brandy, to talk about what it looks like to take a bold leap later in life. Will shares the story behind the name Monks Brandy, why he chose brandy as his spirit of focus, and what motivated him—in his 50s—to step into the adult beverage world with confidence and intention. Rooted in memories of growing up when Brandy Alexanders were all the rage, Monks Brandy blends nostalgia with a modern sensibility, honoring tradition while inviting something new.

Will also introduces listeners to Monks Brandy’s newest addition, The Liberty—a modern twist on the classic Sidecar and a refreshing summer-ready cocktail. As the brand begins to find its way into retail spaces across Iowa and beyond, this conversation offers a ground-floor look at an entrepreneur who proves that timing, experience, and courage matter more than age. It’s a story about trusting your instincts, building something meaningful, and pouring your past into a product designed for the future.

Stepping out on your own takes courage—especially when your reputation, relationships, and livelihood are built on trust. In this episode of Made in Iowa, we sit down with Laura Peterson, co-founder of Unison Design Studio, to talk about the bold decision to launch a purpose-driven architecture and design firm rooted in clarity, collaboration, and care. With more than 90 years of collective experience across healthcare, education, and community spaces, Laura and her partners didn’t set out simply to start a firm—they set out to serve their clients more fully and more authentically.

In Iowa, business is personal. It’s built on long-term relationships, earned trust, and doing what you say you’re going to do. Those values anchor Unison and show up in the buildings they design—spaces that reflect the people, missions, and communities they serve. Laura shares what it means to lead with intention, why bravery and trust go hand in hand, and how truly listening to clients results in buildings that are not only beautiful, but deeply representative of the organizations inside them. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when you design in unison with your clients, the results endure.

On this episode of the Made in Iowa Podcast, I sit down with Loras Schaul, whose career story is anything but conventional. After decades of success in executive-level sales leadership, Loras made a bold, later-in-life pivot—cashing in all his chips to purchase Douglas Machine & Engineering. What followed was not a quiet transition, but an energizing leap into ownership, vision-setting, and hands-on leadership that allowed him to fully unfurl his leadership wings and shape the future of the organization.

Under Loras’s leadership, Douglas Machine & Engineering has focused on expanding market segments, diversifying its customer base, and reorganizing internally to support long-term growth. By intentionally reducing reliance on any single sector—particularly the cyclical swings of agriculture—Loras has strengthened the company’s resilience and created a more stable, future-ready business. His story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to take a calculated risk, lead with purpose, and make a meaningful impact. Tune in to hear Loras’s inspiring journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

When LMT Defense made the move from Illinois to Eldridge, Iowa five years ago, they didn’t just relocate a factory—they planted a mission. “We provide tools for individual soldiers to protect themselves and to try to come home at the end of their mission,” says Mike Neff, VP of Operations. That sense of purpose isn’t marketing language; it’s lived every day inside the walls of LMT, where one in five employees is a veteran or active reservist. The work is personal, the stakes are real, and the responsibility—to the people who will carry their equipment into harm’s way—drives every decision they make.

That responsibility shows up in uncompromising standards. What once passed as elite performance in defense manufacturing has been redefined. Endurance expectations have tripled, weapons are tested across brutal temperature extremes, and reliability isn’t optional—it’s assumed for decades of service in sand, mud, cold, heat, and chaos. LMT has scaled alongside those demands, growing from 85 employees in a cramped facility to 215 people in a state-of-the-art operation, supported by a strong Iowa workforce and a community that believed in what they were building. Today, their precision-made products serve nearly 40 countries around the world.

Yet what truly sets LMT apart isn’t just growth or global reach—it’s how they treat their customers. While larger competitors push one-size-fits-all solutions, LMT builds relationships through customization, flexibility, and service. They’ve never lost a military customer to a competitor. Even in an industry marked by volatility and uncertainty, the company’s north star remains clear. “Integrity is the foundation of our moral structure,” says COO and CFO Jim Jestile. Doing right by the customer. Doing right by employees. And ultimately, doing right by the soldiers who depend on them. That’s the heart of this Iowa success story—and why it’s worth listening to.

In this episode of Made in Iowa, Leisa Fox visits Electrical Power Products in Des Moines to spotlight the people and innovation behind the systems that quietly keep our world running. Featuring Amanda Haugen, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Manager, and Riley Knutson, Director of Engineering and second-generation leader, the conversation reveals how this modern manufacturing facility produces highly specialized—but absolutely essential—products responsible for delivering reliable power to homes and communities. While their work may be largely unseen, its impact is undeniable.

Riley shares insights into engineering, innovation, and the company’s long-term vision, highlighting how Electrical Power Products continues to evolve in a rapidly changing industry. Amanda brings the workforce perspective, candidly discussing the challenges of sustaining rapid growth while protecting a strong, people-first culture. Together, they illustrate how intentional leadership, investment in employees, and a commitment to quality have allowed the company to scale without losing its soul. This episode is a powerful reminder that Iowa manufacturing isn’t just about products—it’s about people, purpose, and powering the future.

In this episode of Made in Iowa, Leisa Fox sits down with leaders from Accumold to explore what modern manufacturing looks like in today’s business and cultural climate. The conversation begins with Accumold’s evolution as a company and its role in serving highly specialized global markets, including medical technology, micro-electronics, optics, and emerging technologies. As products continue to get smaller and more precise, Accumold’s capabilities—and the demand for them—are only expanding, even as advancements like additive manufacturing reshape the broader industry landscape.

A significant focus of the discussion centers on people and workforce development. Accumold leaders emphasize that their success is driven by culture, long employee tenure, and intentional career pathways—standing in stark contrast to national manufacturing turnover trends. The episode candidly addresses the challenges facing the skilled trades, including the aging workforce, skills gaps, and outdated perceptions among younger generations. Accumold’s response is proactive and hopeful, highlighted through programs like Accumold Scholars, Iowa Learns, and deep partnerships with schools such as DMACC. Together, these initiatives showcase manufacturing as a viable, future-proof career path offering strong wages, hands-on learning, educational support, and long-term opportunity—right here in Iowa.

Reynolds Cramer, CEO of Fareway and a member of the workforce committee for Iowa’s Department of Governmental Oversight and Efficiency (DOGE), outlines the committee’s commitment to strengthening Iowa’s workforce and economic competitiveness. The committee is focused on preparing Iowans for the future through targeted skills-development programs, expanding employment opportunities across sectors, and implementing policies that support small and medium-sized businesses. Together, these efforts aim to ensure Iowa remains a place where businesses can grow and people can build meaningful, sustainable careers.

Cramer highlights early success stories that demonstrate the real-world impact of these initiatives and emphasizes that collaboration with Iowa’s business community is essential to continued progress. He calls on business leaders to engage with workforce programs, share feedback, and partner in shaping solutions that meet evolving industry needs. By working together, Iowa’s public and private sectors can build a stronger workforce, drive innovation, and secure a prosperous future for communities across the state.

What does a science center have to do with Iowa’s future workforce, manufacturing, and innovation economy? In this episode of Made in Iowa, Julie Pelds shares how the Science Center of Iowa is far more than a destination for families—it’s a launchpad for curiosity, problem-solving, and the skills Iowa employers need next. From hands-on learning to immersive experiences, the Science Center is helping young people (and adults) see themselves as engineers, innovators, and critical thinkers.

Julie also talks about the power of partnerships—how industry, education, and community can work together to make learning tangible, relevant, and inspiring. This conversation connects the dots between STEM education and Iowa’s long-term competitiveness, reminding us that the future workforce isn’t built overnight—it’s sparked early, nurtured intentionally, and strengthened when business and community step up together.