Josh Cardoz is the Chief Creative and Learning Officer of Sponge, A global enterprise learning company, focused on enabling the workforces of the world. They recently released a whitepaper entitled Mobilizing Generation Numb, which tackles global upheaval, economic instability, the insidious after-effects of the pandemic, and the digital saturation that is creating a workforce generation that is ‘numb.’ This conversation tackles many of these topics including economic instability, ai uncertainty, digital overstimulation and the role each plays in creating a numb workforce. You will not want to miss this incredible conversation!

Visit their Website! https://www.spongelearning.com/en/meet-generation-numb.

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Reach out to us below. https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Welcome back Maria Emilia Ballesteros, Defense Architect at praesiDM, who joins us as a co-host on today's episode!

Want to be a guest? Join the Manufacturing Insiders Network and fill out an application on our website! https://mfginsiders.com/

Chris Basgall is the CEO of Catamount Machine Works, whose 10 year plan, covered in this video, has secured their AS9100 Certification, their ITAR Registration, their JCP Certification, and are CMMC 2.0 Compliant. This conversation covers this 10 year plan, incorporating automation, the value of certifications, the role of leadership in implementing the plan, and how they create the incentives necessary to maintain compliance. This is an amazing conversation anyone can learn from!

Visit their Website! https://catmw.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Reach out to us below. https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Want to be a guest? Join the Manufacturing Insiders Network and fill out an application on our website! https://mfginsiders.com/

Steve Alviti is the President of Bel Air Finishing Supply Corporation, where they engineer individualized mass finishing solutions for industries like jewelry, metal finishing, precious metal polishing, and recovery applications. This is a really insightful conversation into the process of Bel Air in creating these individualized automation solutions. We cover their value proposition, how automation drives their solutions, and how they handle customer pain points. Take some time to learn from Steve’s vast experience in the manufacturing industry.

Visit their Website! https://belairfinishing.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Want to be a guest? Join the Manufacturing Insiders Network and fill out an application on our website! https://mfginsiders.com/

Errol Rodericks is the Product & Solutions Marketing Director at DenodoTech, a Data Management Platform for Agentic AI. This is a very niche conversation covering AI impact in the manufacturing industry. We cover the gaps Errol finds in manufacturing operations, Denodo’s data driven solutions, global trends for manufacturing broken down by region, and the evolution of the agile workforce strategy.

Visit their Website! https://www.denodo.com/en

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Want to be a guest? Join the Manufacturing Insiders Network and fill out an application on our website! https://mfginsiders.com/

This is a very special episode with Nathan Yearsley, the President of Blue Chip Group LLC. It's particularly special because, as Nathan will reveal, his family was once the recipient of food assistance that came from the company that he is now representing. This episode covers his incredible story from poverty to president, and more significantly, it acts as a testament to how great America can be when we are charitable and seek to lift people up. Nathan has immense experience overcoming challenges, join us and learn about his personal growth, the ready to eat food industry, emergency preparedness, and how they are adapting to the struggles of Manufacturing in America in 2026.

Visit their Website! https://bluechipgroup.net/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Want to be a guest? Join the Manufacturing Insiders Network and fill out an application on our website! https://mfginsiders.com/

Timur Goreci is the chief revenue officer at Orderfox Schweiz AG where they are developing AI-based solutions to address the complex challenges of different industry sectors. This conversation revolves around their AI powered network of CNC businesses called Partfox. We cover the new age of digital marketing and procurement, using AI to navigate the fragmented manufacturing industry, a debate over the efficacy of trade shows, and how to get started with implementing AI. Manufacturers need to help each other to stay competitive. Learn how Timur Goreci and Orderfox are connecting Manufacturers throughout the world, connecting the fragments of this Industry.

Visit their Website! https://www.orderfox.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Reach out to us below. https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Want to be a guest and join the Manufacturing Insiders Network? Fill out an application on our website! https://mfginsiders.com/

Kyle Dell’Aquila is one of 4 co-founders of RISE Robotics. The inventors of a revolutionary new kind of hydraulic that does not use fluids. This is an incredible conversation about their revolutionary solution for logistic services, even showing it off for us! This conversation covers how they got started, a demonstration of their solution, a deep dive into technology and automation, how we as a society respond to new technology, and finally how he promotes their product and services to clients.

Visit their Website! https://www.riserobotics.com/

We have a second new face for today's episode! Maria Emilia Ballesteros, Defense Architect at @praesiDM , joins us as a Co-host with hopes to make her a regular part of the podcast!

Visit their Website! https://praesidm.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Need help or want to be a podcast guest? Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/

https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Jessica Hickman Fresch does marketing and sales at Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring, a part of the Hickman Woods Family of Businesses. They are a fourth generation manufacturing company that produces real hardwood floors. This conversation revolves around the company’s growth, the regulatory environment of forest management, and a discussion about employee retention.

Visit their Website! https://hickmanwoods.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Need help or want to be a podcast guest? Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/

https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Preston Gardner is the Chief Operating Officer, Palmer Hamilton, LLC, where they manufacture a variety of furnishing solutions for a variety of applications. The key point of this conversation hinges on the effects of the Trump Tariffs on Manufacturing in the United States, and why businesses are struggling to cope with them. Additionally the conversation covers some of the vertical integration strategies Preston and Palmer Hamilton have been deploying to remain competitive. And Finally, they talk about the struggles of the manufacturing space like the workforce shortage and employee retention. Spend some time to learn from Preston’s incredible experience navigating the harsh manufacturing market, to grow and apply your own understanding.

Visit their website! https://palmerhamilton.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Need help or want to be a podcast guest? Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/

Alex Houtchens is the Operations Manager at Pro Plastic Welding, which is a part of CNE Creative Enterprises. He specializes in Plastic Welding, Fabrication, and Machining. They utilize methods such as plastic welding, forming, cutting, and shaping, to create parts specific to the needs of many diverse industries. This conversation covers his start as a normal employee, how his experience with good leadership helped him grow, the challenges he faces now that he is in a leadership role, and the innovative process he is leading at Pro Plastic Welding.

Visit their website! https://www.proplasticwelding.com/

Nate Wheeler is the owner of weCreate, a nationally recognized marketing agency that helps manufacturers grow, save money, and become more efficient. Need help or want to be a podcast guest? Reach out to us below.

https://www.wecreate.com/services/marketing-consulting/ https://www.wecreate.com/contact/