It was a real privilege to welcome my longtime collaborator and friend, Dr. Susan Helper, to the Manufacturing in the American Century podcast. Sue is not only a Harvard-trained PhD economist and professor at Case Western Reserve University, but also a seasoned federal leader who's served as Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce and on the White House Council of Economic Advisers. She’s a nationally recognized expert on manufacturing and one of the most influential thought leaders advancing bottom-up economic development in America today.

In this episode, we dive into our shared work on the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP), which was an early and influential federal initiative that helped seed the emergence of place-based development strategies across the country. Sue offers fascinating insights into the practical, evidence-based methods for catalyzing regional growth through smarter manufacturing, to include the power of industrial ecosystems, the risks of "racing to the bottom," and the need for better structures, metrics, and coordination among federal, state, and regional actors.

From her reflections on the enduring value of manufacturing to her passionate call for a long-term national industrial strategy, Sue’s clarity and conviction make her such a trusted leader in the field. Whether you're new to the AMCC network or a seasoned stakeholder, this episode is full of wisdom and takeaways from one of the nation's foremost champions for bottom-up, evidence-based sustainable development - it’s a must listen!!

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Find Susan Helper on Linkedin.
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.
• Visit our website.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with Melissa MacGregor from Jobs for the Future (JFF) to talk about something that keeps coming up in our conversations with regional manufacturing leaders: how do we actually build stronger apprenticeship pathways that meet both worker and industry needs? Melissa brings deep experience and a practical perspective to the table. We get into the nuts and bolts of what makes a "quality job," how registered apprenticeships are structured, and what regional leaders can do to support them,even if they’re starting from scratch. 

Melissa also shares some hard-earned lessons from the field, including the real barriers that stall progress and where she sees opportunities for systemic change. If you’re wondering how to move from talk to implementation when it comes to workforce development, this conversation offers a grounded and honest look at what it really takes. Thanks to Melissa and JFF for their exceptional work and for partnering with AMCC to bring about more collective impact for American workers and businesses!

Matt

Links to Learn More:

• JFF on State Tax Credits and Tuition Support
• JFF Quality Job Framework
• Find Melissa on Linkedin.
• Learn more about Melissa on JFF’s website.
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.
• Visit our website.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I had the chance to sit down with Bert Feuss, a longtime leader in mission-driven capital deployment, to unpack what capital access actually means for regional manufacturing communities. Bert helped us understand how philanthropic dollars can go far beyond traditional grants. We explored how the other 95% of these funds (what Bert calls the “corpus”) can be aligned with community impact, including financing manufacturing-related efforts like workforce development, sustainable production, or even employee ownership transitions.

What stood out to me was how real the opportunity is right now to connect regional manufacturing ecosystems with the world of impact investing. Bert talked about the need for place-based investment strategies that aren't just about writing checks, but about building relationships, de-risking innovation, and convening stakeholders across sectors. If you're a regional leader looking to strengthen your manufacturing base, this episode will give you a new lens on the role that philanthropic capital can play in fueling sustainable, long-term economic growth.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Find Bert on Linkedin.
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.

Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Andrew Hoffman, professor at the University of Michigan and author of 19 books, to talk about his latest, Business School and the Noble Purpose of the Market. Andy’s journey is remarkable, from his early days as a carpenter to becoming one of the most respected voices calling for a rethinking of social benefit enterprises and business education.

We dug into why today’s business schools must evolve beyond outdated shareholder-first models and start preparing leaders to take on the big challenges of our time—climate change, inequality, and rebuilding trust in institutions. Andy makes a compelling case for how markets, when properly guided, can serve a noble purpose. He also shares a vision for how universities, government, and business can better align to drive meaningful change.

If you're part of a regional ecosystem, a university, or simply someone working to make your corner of the nation work better for more people, Andy’s insights offer both a critique and a clear path forward. I hope this conversation sparks ideas—and more importantly, action—in your own work.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Find Andrew on Linkedin.
• Read Business School and the Noble Purpose of the Market
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.

Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, I’m joined by two powerhouse leaders doing the heavy lifting to strengthen our country’s innovation economy—Shalin Jyotishi from New America and Deb Volzer from SME. These folks aren’t just talking about change—they’re out there building the systems to make it happen. Shalin walks us through how New America’s Future of Work and Innovation Economy initiative is working to ensure that technological advancement strengthens—not sidelines—the American middle class. He discusses the launch of a new national Accelerator for Community Colleges, designed to build capacity across institutions and regions engaged in tech-based economic development.

Deb, meanwhile, shares how SME’s 90-year legacy is evolving with their new Manufacturing Imperative Workforce Pipeline Challenge; a bold initiative engaging 25 community colleges across 17 states. Her team is addressing workforce gaps through scalable, employer-driven models that align local needs with national priorities in manufacturing and advanced technologies.

Their work offers a roadmap for how public, private, and educational sectors can come together to meet the moment.If you care about making workforce development more effective—or just want to hear from people who are rolling up their sleeves and doing the work—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Find Shalin on Linkedin.
• Find Deb on Linkedin.
• Learn more about New America’s Future of Work and Innovation Economy
• Learn more about SME’s Manufacturing Imperative Workforce Pipeline Challenge
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.

Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to Manufacturing an American Century! Today, I had the pleasure of talking with Laura Teicher, the president and executive director of FORGE, a nonprofit that's laser-focused on helping hard tech entrepreneurs turn their prototypes into real-world solutions. FORGE is filling a crucial gap in the manufacturing ecosystem, making sure that companies working on physical products—whether it's next-gen solar panels or AI-driven industrial systems—get the connections and support they need to scale and succeed.

Laura walked us through FORGE’s unique approach, which isn’t your typical incubator or accelerator. Instead, FORGE acts as a matchmaker between innovators and the manufacturers who can help bring their ideas to life. And they do it all with a deep commitment to local manufacturing, helping strengthen regional economies while reducing global supply chain risks and emissions. We also got into Laura’s personal passion for climate-focused innovation and sustainable economic development, which drives her work at FORGE. She sees firsthand how manufacturing and hard tech solutions can tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, from climate change to supply chain resilience. 

If you’re an entrepreneur, a manufacturer, or someone looking to help build America’s hard tech future, FORGE is a resource you need to know about. That’s it for today’s episode—keep innovating, keep making, and let’s manufacture a stronger future together!

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.
• Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey everyone, Matt Bogoshian here! On this episode of Manufacturing an American Century, I sit down with Mark Hedstrom, CEO of the Skilled Careers Coalition, to discuss the big-picture challenge of getting more young people into skilled careers. We dig into why these careers—especially in manufacturing—are essential for America's future and why we need to shake the outdated stigma around them.

Mark shares how his background in philanthropy and collective impact work is helping to bring together education, industry, and entertainment to reach more students and parents. We also get into how storytelling (and yes, even TikTok) plays a massive role in getting young people to see skilled careers as a smart and fulfilling option.

And for those working in workforce development, Mark lays out some ideas on how we can better connect regional best practices and scale them up nationwide. Plus, we talk about the power of partnerships—like how Warner Bros. Discovery is using entertainment to spotlight these career paths. Give it a listen, and let’s talk about how we can go further, faster in solving this workforce challenge together!

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Links to Learn More:

• The SkillsUSA National Conference is happening this June—if you're in workforce development, you don’t want to miss it!
• Students: March 1 is the deadline to register if you want to compete at the SkillsUSA national competition.
• Find Mark on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Skilled Careers Coalition
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.

Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I chat with Sanjiv Malhotra, Founder and CEO of Sparkz, and a true force in clean tech manufacturing. Sanjiv takes us through his fascinating journey of battery innovation and the gap he saw in the national supply chain manufacturing cathode materials here in the United States. This guy is all about bringing battery production back to America, ensuring sustainability, and building a resilient supply chain that’s free from dependence on foreign powers. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this inside look at how clean energy manufacturing is reshaping our country’s future.

We also dive into workforce development, which Sanjiv has championed by retraining former coal workers to build the batteries of tomorrow. Sanjive also describes the partnership between Sparkz and the United Auto Workers establishing a historic climate-tech workforce partnership. It's a real testament to the power of collaboration between government, private industry, and communities. Stick around to hear how Sparkz is paving the way for a cleaner, greener, and more independent energy sector—all while keeping jobs right here at home.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Key Ideas:

• Supply Chain Independence: Sparkz sources 100% U.S.-based materials, ensuring national security and economic independence.
• Workforce Development: Retraining displaced coal workers in West Virginia to drive the clean energy future.
• Infrastructure Needs: The importance of robust utilities, permitting processes, and local partnerships for manufacturing success.
• Ecosystem Approach: Building industries through collaboration between public and private sectors, universities, and communities.

Links to Learn More:

• Find Sanjiv on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Sparkz Inc.
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.

Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Manufacturing an American Century, Matt Bogoshian gets to sit down with two brilliant minds from the U.S. Small Business Administration—Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development, and Jennifer Shieh, Chief Scientist and Program Manager. We dive into how the SBA is doing more than just helping small businesses thrive—they’re pioneering a whole new way to think about entrepreneurship and innovation by using ecosystem science. It's all about creating connections, fostering collaboration, and delivering real, tangible results for businesses and communities across the country.

We also talk about some of their key programs, like SBIR, STTR, and Regional Innovation Clusters, and how these initiatives are making waves in industries from manufacturing to ag tech. Plus, Brittany and Jennifer share how they’re working to bring underrepresented communities into the fold and why trust is at the heart of every successful ecosystem. Whether you're a small business owner, a policy wonk, or just someone curious about what’s next for American entrepreneurship, this one’s for you!

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

💡 Key Ideas:

• Ecosystem Science in Action: SBA integrates ecosystem science to strengthen small business networks, support innovation, and encourage regional collaboration.
• Trust as a Foundation: Building trust among stakeholders, from federal to regional, is essential for ecosystem success and sustainable partnerships.
• Interdisciplinary Connection: Translating between sectors—such as scientific research, economics, and entrepreneurship—is a key to enabling comprehensive ecosystem development.

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Learn more about SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation, and its Regional Innovation Clusters, SBIR/STTR programs, and more!
• Find Brittany on Linkedin.
• Find Jennifer on Linkedin.
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.
• Visit our website.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.