Oliver Schmitz, associate dean for corporate engagement and entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joins Kate and Ann on this episode to preview a new event: the Wisconsin Drives Manufacturing Summit he's helping organize for June 1-2 at Lambeau Field.

The first day of the event will feature an innovation showcase, and the second day will be filled with programming -- all of it, Schmitz says, is designed to help inspire collaboration within the state and help bridge the gap between industry and academia. 

Learn more about the summit online at widrivesmanufacturing.com. 

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring the podcast throughout the year. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Keith Schlegel of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Manufacturing and Trade and Tammie Clendenning, a Wisconsin-based USSBA economic development specialist, join Kate and Ann on this week's episode to help small manufacturers understand the federal resources that may be available to them as they navigate lending, supply chain and exporting challenges. 

Listen as Keith and Tammie give a brief overview of programs like the Working Capital Pilot Program, the MARC (manufacturers access to revolving credit) Loan Program, the Express program and more. They also highlight special incentives for manufacturers and military-connected families and partnerships with programs like Exim Bank, SCORE mentoring, and Small Business Development Centers, which in Wisconsin are connected to the UW System.

"At the end of the day, there are a lot of free, available resources out there for small businesses," Keith tells the co-hosts. "Part of navigating those resources is just knowing who to reach out to."

Learn more about the U.S. SBA at sba.gov/district/wisconsin and sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-manufacturing-trade.

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring NEW Manufacturing Insights each week! Learn more at stokerga.com.

Sam Thomas, president of De Pere-based Robinson, Inc., joins Insight's Kate Bruns and NEWMA's Ann Franz on this week's episode to talk more about his company's history and future, including its recent recognition as Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year in the "large" manufacturer category. 

Thomas, who is also featured in this month's issue of Insight on Business with fellow Northeast Wisconsin MOTY award recipient Spark Ops Metalworks, says 2026 is likely the last year Robinson will be in the "large" manufacturer category as it quickly approaches 1,000 employees and prepares to open its fifth manufacturing facility -- in Altoona, Iowa, marking Robinson's first presence outside the state of Wisconsin.

Read the Insight story here: Two New North companies earn Manufacturer of the Year honors | Manufacturing | insightonbusiness.com

Hear more from Thomas, including what he believes has been key to his company's growth and what he considers his best leadership insight, by listening to this week's full episode. Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this and all 2026 episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights. Learn more about our sponsor at stokerga.com.

Jackie Anderson, head of talent acquisition for Ornua USA in Hilbert, will be a panelist at next week's NEW Manufacturing Alliance "Future of Work" Summit focused on employee retention (April 16 at Fox Valley Technical College). This week she joins Ann and Kate on the podcast to give a preview of her insights on the critical topic, as well as share the history of her career journey, which has also included 11 years in child care and 5 1/2 years at Fincantieri Marine Group. While Jackie has a diverse background, she says talent acquisition is the field where she plans to spend the rest of her career. 

Her career path wasn't always well defined, though. Jackie is a contributing author to the best-selling anthology "Voices of the 21st Century: Unstoppable Women Standing Strong," in which she shares her personal story of growing up poor, dealing with bullying and mental health issues and eventually taking her own power and achieving resiliency in her personal life and career. She is proud to share more about her story and her personal rebrand on this week's episode.

In December Patti Habeck became the third-ever president and CEO of New North, Inc. -- the 18-county economic development organization serving Northeast Wisconsin -- after 14 years with the nonprofit Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. A few months into her new role, she sits down with Ann and Kate on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights to discuss the challenges ahead for New North, Inc., what it has been like taking over a "small but mighty" organization, and what it has felt like to shift gears. 

She tells the co-hosts that collaborations are key, including those New North has with NEWMA and Insight, going forward. She also describes her priorities leading New North, including as they relate to manufacturers and technology, and provides a preview of the upcoming New North Summit, which will be held June 9 at Lambeau Field.

To learn more about New North, Inc., visit thenewnorth.com.

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about how Stoke RGA is helping manufacturers, visit stokerga.com.

Kristen Jonas, owner of Kinesiology HR, joins Ann and Kate on this week's episode to talk about her HR career and experience and the challenges and successes of owning her own business, as well as give a sneak preview of her presentation for the April 14 NEWMA "Future of Work" Summit on employee retention.


A self-described "productivity addict," Kristen also works as a certified divorce coach and says she enjoys being a fractional HR practitioner because of the variety of industries she is able to serve, including manufacturing.


Learn more about Jonas' work at kinesiologyhr.com.


Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more about how Stoke RGA supports manufacturers at stokerga.com.

For the last two years, Kathryn Clouse has served as director of co-innovation for the Green Bay-based venture capital firm TitletownTech, helping companies -- including manufacturers -- fast-start their innovations in the realm of artificial intelligence. On this week's episode, Kathryn attempts to put into context for Kate and Ann how fast AI is exploding; how much the space has changed just since 2024, when large language models were first gaining foothold; and what innovation looks like for companies today.

Learn more about co-innovation at TitletownTech at www.titletowntech.com/co-innovation.

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Ricky Nutt, chief of shipyard operations at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, and Amelia Compton Wolff, editor of Insight on Business magazine, join Ann and Kate on this week's episode to dive deeper into the March 2026 Insight on Manufacturing feature "Staying the course," written by Amelia about how the shipbuilder has modernized its operations and pivoted in the wake of U.S. Navy contract shifts and the Industry 4.0 revolution.

Ricky, who has worked with the company since 2011, has had a front-row seat to the operations revolution and speaks on this episode about topics ranging from what he loves about his craft to whether or not he's been skeptical of new technologies as they have come along to what the future holds with regard to Fincantieri's partnership with the U.S. Navy.

Read the feature online here: How Fincantieri Marinette Marine is modernizing shipbuilding in Wisconsin | Manufacturing | insightonbusiness.com

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Dayne Rusch, CEO of Vyper Industrial -- one of the Midwest's fastest growing companies and the subject of Insight's March cover feature written by Kate -- joins Kate and Ann on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights to talk more about the short history of the company and how he, his brother Dylan, his father Chris, and director of brand partnerships Alex Ostrihonsky have worked together to build Vyper, which started out importing motors, into one of the coolest brands in the U.S. making, of all things, shop chairs.

With a new building on I-41 in Wrightstown and the chairs now available at lowes.com as of this month, Vyper is making some big moves and continuing to grow in 2026, all while having fun and leaning into new ideas.

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this week's episode. Learn more at stokerga.com.

Read this month's cover story on Vyper online here: Vyper Industrial builds a booming brand around shop chairs | Cover story | insightonbusiness.com

W.E. Hoban Company quality engineer Elizabeth Senn, the 2026 NEW Manufacturing Alliance All Stars honoree who graces the cover of this year's NEWMA All Stars magazine, joins Kate and Ann today on the podcast along with her All Stars nominator Shannon Young, the company's director of human resources.

W.E. Hoban Company, formerly known as Green Bay Drop Forge, is a regular participant in the NEWMA All Stars program, which recognizes young manufacturing employees in our region who are setting an example for the next generation manufacturing workforce. 

Read more about Elizabeth and W.E. Hoban in All Stars magazine here: 2026 New Manufacturing Alliance - All Stars

Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast all year long! Learn more at stokerga.com.