Manufacturing Happy Hour

Gavin Collier is an attorney turned serial entrepreneur. After cutting his teeth as an attorney and cofounding multiple companies, he's now focused on his latest venture as the CEO of Dynamic Blending, a global cosmetic manufacturing company. Dynamic Blending was just ranked #17 on Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing private companies in 2020.

In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we discuss Gavin’s varied career journey from law to contract manufacturing. We look at the reasons behind Dynamic Blending’s impressive growth and Gavin’s focus on people at the heart of the business. Gavin says that people are the secret to success and highlights the importance of keeping great customers happy and building a reliable team. We round off our talk with Gavin’s tips for turning ideas into real successes.

In this episode, find out:

• How Gavin made the leap from a law background to contract manufacturing
• How success in cosmetics is about more than just the product. It’s also down to the packaging and marketing
• How important great products are to creating a successful manufacturing business
• The reasons behind Dynamic Blending’s crazy-high growth in 2020
• Why keeping customers happy is Gavin’s number one focus
• The importance of having a great team that shares ideas freely
• How to push through challenges and get where you want to go with your business.

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “The products speak for themselves…If you have a great product, people will buy it.”
• “We’ve been looking for ways to solve our customer’s problems, and that has made us a more attractive business to do business with.”
• “You’ve got to put your money where your mouth is. If you really believe in something, you’ve got to risk a lot to get it.”

Links & mentions:

• Dynamic Blending, a contract manufacturing company based in Utah that specializes in cosmetics.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Jake Hall is a believer that the future of manufacturing is in the hands of millennials. By day he’s a Business Development Manager at Feyen Zylstra, but most people know him as “The Manufacturing Millennial.” Through conversations and online manufacturing videos that he releases on a constant basis, he's doing his part to highlight the excitement behind automation and high-tech manufacturing.

In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk to Jake about how he built such a strong personal brand and his thoughts on the future of manufacturing. Jake discusses the increasing need for millennials in manufacturing and how they can bring some much-needed innovation into the industry. Jake also shares how he balances his day job with The Manufacturing Millennial brand and his top LinkedIn networking tips.

In this episode, find out:

• How Jake got started with The Manufacturing Millennial
• How Jake creates engaging content on LinkedIn to build a recognizable brand
• Why more big brands aren’t taking advantage of repurposing manufacturing processes and creating engaging content
• The power of LinkedIn for anyone in the manufacturing industry and why Jake views LinkedIn as a social networking site for professionals
• How networking has benefited Jake and his personal brand
• The core reason why Jake pursued manufacturing
• Jake shares his thoughts on the best paths young people can take in manufacturing
• Why the manufacturing industry needs millennials and their innovations
• How to find time to build a personal brand
• Jake’s tips for LinkedIn networking (plus mistakes to avoid).

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “Stop selling your product, start solving problems…If you solve the problems, selling is easy.” – Jake Hall
• “Millennials are some of the most innovative people out there.” – Jake Hall
• “The manufacturing workforce is aging, and as people in skilled trades are retiring, there are huge gaps out there for new electricians and programmers.” - Jake Hall

Links & mentions:

• The Manufacturing Millennial, a solution to help manufacturing companies learn more about new tech, automation, and Industry 4.0.
• Feyen Zylstra, a team of highly skilled thinkers who help electrical and tech industries with innovative solutions.
• Titans of CNC, one of Jake’s favorite LinkedIn accounts to check out.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Craig Francisco is a modern sales & marketing guru in manufacturing and beyond. In his 25 year career, he's served as an operations leader, a podcast host, a sales consultant, and now he’s the President at RōBEX. This brand-new automation company is taking the world by storm with an incredible team and deep expertise in the food, glass, and tissue industries, just to name a few.

In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we discuss Craig’s varied career, some tips he’s picked up over the years, and how to stay relevant online. We look at what type of social media content most resonates with people and how to build a solid strategy. We round off with some of Craig’s best tips for staying ahead online and how to measure your progress.

In this episode, find out:

• We start by discussing how RōBEX helps businesses find automated, smart technology solutions
• What lessons Craig has picked up throughout his career from mentors and books
• Craig discusses why there’s no reason you can’t be successful
• Craig reveals why creating customer avatars is step one in any successful marketing plan
• How to create valuable content on social media and avoid common mistakes
• How RōBEX manages to stay consistent (even through a pandemic)
• The importance of measuring the results of your strategies
• How to stay relevant online, despite all the competition

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “The content is the most important thing in social media, not the frequency” – Craig Francisco
• “No matter what you do or where you decide to put your money, always measure the results” – Craig Francisco
• “Make sure you are figuring out how to stay relevant online” – Craig Francisco

Links & mentions:

• RōBEX LLC, an industrial robotics and industrial automation company with uncommon experience & expertise
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Craig’s top book recommendation for sales success
• Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, one of Gary Vaynerchuk’s best books on tactical social media strategy
• Benchmark, the top steakhouse in the Toledo area and one of Craig’s personal favorites

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Karen Kerr has a long track record in Venture Capital and manufacturing. For over 2 decades, she has been developing technology-based businesses, serving as Executive Managing Director at GE Ventures, as well as the Senior Director of New Ventures and Alliances at USC's Stevens Center for Innovation (just to name a few). Today, she's the Managing Director at Exposition Ventures in Chicago, IL.

In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we discuss Karen’s exciting career in venture capital, how she got started and what she has planned for the future. We also take an in depth look into where manufacturing fits into venture capital, as well as which companies are leading the way with innovative technologies. We round off our talk with what Karen prioritizes when looking for new companies to invest in.

In this episode, find out:

• We start by discussing Karen’s background and how she first got into venture capital
• What type of firms Karen’s worked with in the past
• Karen discusses her projects with Exposition Ventures
• We talk about what venture capital looks at when considering new businesses
• How GE Ventures has changed over the years
• Karen discusses how far into Industry 4.0 we really are
• Karen talks us through her interest in manufacturing and technology
• Interesting companies that are harnessing Industry 4.0
• We wrap up our conversation by talking about Karen’s love of baseball and single malt scotch.

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “The entrepreneur is the most critical thing, and her ability to build a high-functioning team.” – Karen Kerr
• “It’s really how you manage people in teams…that’s what makes for a successful business.” – Karen Kerr
• “Companies that can address challenges that apply to different industries…that’s what I look for” – Karen Kerr

Links & mentions:

• Exposition Ventures, Venture Capital advisory services
• mHUB, an innovation center which removes barriers for hardtech entrepreneurs and manufacturers
• Pitchbook, a financial data and software company to help venture capitalists discover new opportunities
• Bruichladdich Distillery, a single malt distillery on the Isle of Islay in Scotland
• Springbank 21, Karen Kerr’s favorite single malt

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Chris Grainger has had a long, illustrious career in electrical distribution, currently serving as the Engineering & Services Manager for the Electrical Equipment Company, better known as EECO. Now, he’s also the host of the podcast EECO Asks Why, a show that focuses on the heroes and ideas impacting the industrial world.

In this episode, we talk about the origin story of how Chris’s career in electrical distribution got started, how he launched his amazing podcast, and how he secured buy-in from his company. As we dive further into Chris’ love for podcasting, we cover the nuts and bolts of running a good, consistent podcast. Last but not least, we talk about some of Chris’s biggest lessons from podcasting that you’ll want to pay close attention to if you want to start a successful podcast of your own!

In this episode, find out: 

• We start the conversation by addressing what the podcast, EECO Asks Why, is about
• What drew Chris to the manufacturing industry (and held his interest for 18+ years!)
• Chris reflects on his self-awareness journey that brought him to the service side of the business
• What systems and processes help Chris balance his day job and his passion for podcasting
• We talk about all the ways Chris prepares for an interview and the importance of doing your front-end homework on your guests
• Chris reveals one of the most unexpected lessons he learned from hosting a podcast
• Why Chris and EECO decided to record and publish two podcast episodes per week instead of one
• Chris shares some incredible results that have been generated from the EECO Asks Why podcast
• Chris discusses what has been the most rewarding part of hosting a podcast for him personally
• What hobbies have kept Chris occupied lately besides hosting an amazing podcast

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “If you really care about the guest and you want to put the best spotlight you can on the guest, you better do your front-end homework.” – Chris Grainger
• “Everybody has a different style…find one that works for you and make it yours.” – Chris Grainger
• “When passion and talent align, you get that moment of joy, where you feel like you're doing what you're supposed to be doing.” – Chris Grainger

Links & mentions:

• EECO Asks Why, an industrial distribution and manufacturing industry podcast focused on the people and ideas in this industry (not product)
• EECO (Electrical Equipment Company), leading industrial automation and electrical distributor serving Virginia and the Carolinas
• Tom Woodson on EECO Asks Why, Episode 36 of EECO Asks Why featuring one of Chris Grainger’s standout guests
• Chris Grainger on LinkedIn
• EECO on LinkedIn

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Greg Paulsen is the Director of Application Engineering at Xometry, offering industry-leading manufacturing and 3D printing on demand. While we can’t help but highlight Greg’s experience as a wine educator back in his college days, today, he leads the Application Engineering team at Xometry as an advanced manufacturing expert and 3D printing evangelist.

In this episode, we talk about the inner workings of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Greg is so passionate about his role in the 3D printing universe that it is sure to inspire you to follow your own passion in your career. Greg also shares some actionable tips to help advance your career before he debunks some of the biggest myths around 3D printing and lets us in on a few industry secrets. Finally, we wrap up the conversation with a discussion focused on Greg’s second passion – good wine and good company.

In this episode, find out:

• How Greg adapted a unique perspective of 3D additive manufacturing
• Greg reveals how he got started in the wine industry
• How Greg went from working in wine education to his current role as Director of Application Engineering at Xometry
• Greg debunks two common myths around 3D printing
• How prototyping is like “going from an analog to a digital camera”
• Why Greg is so passionate about 3D printing
• Greg shares some great career tips and advice to help you get your dream job
• How manufacturing and real production as the new 3D printing frontier can scale in terms of customer acceptance, cosmetics, cost, output, etc.
• How the aerospace industry accumulates an amazing ROI
• The ROI benefits of adopting metal additive manufacturing in aerospace
• Greg reveals what comes first – CAD or 3D printing
• We wrap up our conversation with some wine recommendations, and Greg shares a simplified description of what Xometry does

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “Someone who's a fantastic communicator, who can also learn a technical expertise, is a jewel.” – Greg Paulsen
• “Manufacturing and real production is the new 3D printing frontier.” – Greg Paulsen
• “In 3D printing, you can put different features together in a way that you couldn't naturally combine.” – Greg Paulsen

Links & mentions:

• Xometry’s website
• Greg’s LinkedIn
• Greg’s Twitter
• SteamChain.io

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We’re back with another cybersecurity edition of the podcast, only this time, we’re focused on ransomware. Today we’re joined by Ofer Shaked, Co-Founder and CTO of SCADAfence, an Israel-based security company with the most comprehensive OT and IoT cybersecurity platform for critical infrastructure and enterprises. He’ll be sharing the details of a targeted ransomware attack he and his team recently helped resolve.

In this episode, we’ll cover why targeted cyberattacks are becoming more common, why manufacturing is such a hot target, and what it’s like being on the ground floor of a cyberattack. Ofer walks us through how the SCADAfence team responds and the steps they take to address these events. Finally, we’ll share what might be next in the cyberthreat landscape.

Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Kristin Russum is a Director of Human Capital Services at TriNet. Having spent almost 2 decades as an HR leader across a number of companies, at TriNet, she’s now helping small and medium size businesses implement full-service HR solutions tailored by industry.

In this episode, Kristin takes us through her journey in the HR world and shares some of her best tips HR tips that every manufacturing leader should keep in mind. From succession planning to creating workplaces that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive, Kristin makes it clear that creating a people-centric organization doesn’t just stop and start at the HR department.

About TriNet:

TriNet is a professional employer organization that provides small and medium size businesses (SMBs) with full-service HR solutions tailored by industry. To free SMBs from HR complexities, TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation and compliance, payroll and real-time technology. From Main Street to Wall Street, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most—growing their business.

Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Kristina Harrington is an eCommerce expert with no shortage of experience when it comes to easing the process of doing business with manufacturers. Having moved up the ranks with large equipment companies like Bucyrus and Caterpillar, she is now the President and COO of GenAlpha, a B2B eCommerce software business for equipment manufacturers.

In this episode, we hear about Kris’ career journey and how her work experiences took her from Wisconsin to Latin America and back to cofounding GenAlpha. She gives us a rundown of GenAlpha’s Equip platform and how manufacturers should be leveraging eCommerce and analytics to grow their business. Finally, we’ll get to hear about Kris’ agricultural side hustle and the lessons she’s learned from farming that have helped her in her career.

Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Paul Van Metre is a machine shop owner-turned-entrepreneur. After starting Pro CNC in Bellingham, WA in 1997, he recently went on to co-found ProShop, a cloud-based ERP software system that combines elements of an MES (a manufacturing execution system) with a QMS (a quality management system) into a single platform.

In this episode, Paul shares his story about starting a company right out of college some Formula SAE buddies and how the challenges they faced as machine shop owners inspired them to create ProShop. In addition to hearing some of the lessons that Paul has learned throughout his entrepreneurial career, we discuss why systems, documentation, and business processes are the key differentiator for manufacturers – particularly machine shops – in today’s market. We even get into a little car talk before the interview wraps up, so make sure to stick around until the end!

Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.