Springs Are Everywhere

Can workplace coaching boost morale, retention, and bottom-line productivity in modern manufacturing?

In this episode of Springs Are Everywhere, SMI Executive Director Gary McCoy hosts Carisa Peters (Life Coaching with Carisa), a transformational life coach and 28-year manufacturing veteran. Carisa breaks down how emotional well-being, clarity, and targeted coaching directly influence shop-floor performance and prevent costly burnout.

Carisa will also be presenting at the SMI Educational Symposium during Spring World 2026 with her session: "Beyond the Shop Floor: How Workplace Coaching Keeps Modern Teams Happy, Loyal, and Productive."

Don’t miss our “Did You Know?” segment at the end of this episode, where we explore the springs that help make school buses operate safely in your community.

You can learn more about Carisa Peters at: https://lifecoachingwithcarisa.com/

Connect with her on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisapeters

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast explores key issues facing manufacturers and highlights the surprising ways springs show up in daily life. From cars to cellphones to workplace equipment, springs are everywhere—often hidden in plain sight.

This episode is made possible by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (https://www.gibbswire.com/); our Gold Sponsor, Radcliff Wire (https://radcliffwire.com/); and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (https://aimcoil.com/).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at https://www.smihq.org/.

Learn more about SpringWorld 2026 at https://www.springworld.org/

#leadership #lifecoaching #springworld #smi  #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing

North American manufacturing is shifting fast — and thesignals aren’t always easy to read. In this episode of Springs Are Everywhere, host Gary McCoy sits down with Cara Walton, Director at Wipfli and one of the leading voices in manufacturing intelligence, economic trends, and tariffdynamics. Cara and her team analyze millions of data points from thousands of manufacturers, giving them a uniquely clear view of what’s happening across North America.

Cara breaks down the real health of the manufacturing sector, the economic indicators that matter most, how durable goods demand is evolving, and why customer health is becoming harder to interpret. She also explains the ripple effects of tariffs, trade deals, and geopolitical events —and how manufacturers can protect margins in a year defined by volatility.

You’ll hear insights drawn from millions of data points across hundreds of manufacturers, plus fresh benchmarking results that reveal where top performers are pulling ahead.

Topics include:

• The financial health of North American manufacturing

• Durable goods demand and sector specific trends

• Interest rates, inflation, and employee financial stress

• Tariffs, trade policy, and the hidden cost oftransactional waste

• Geopolitical pressures and supply chain normalization

• Benchmarking data: capacity utilization, profitability,and top performer habits

Don’t miss our “Did You Know?” segment at the end of the video, where we explore the springs that help make your outdoor BBQ grill function safely and efficiently.

You can learn more about Cara Walton at:https://www.wipfli.com/about-wipfli/partners-and-associates/cara-walton

Connect with her on LinkedIn at:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-walton/

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast explores key issues facing manufacturers and highlights the surprising ways springs show up in daily life. From cars to cellphones to workplace equipment, springs are everywhere—often hidden in plain sight.

This episode is made possible by our Platinum Sponsor, GibbsInterwire (https://www.gibbswire.com/); our Gold Sponsor, Radcliff Wire (https://radcliffwire.com/); and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (https://aimcoil.com/).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute athttps://www.smihq.org/.

#leadership #supplychain #AI #workforce #smi  #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing

Manufacturers are navigating a perfect storm — tight margins, expensive capital, workforce shortages, policy uncertainty, and rapid technological disruption.

In this episode, host Gary McCoy, Executive Director of SMI, sits down with author and industry strategist Dan Varroney to unpack the forces reshaping the industrial economy and what small and mid‑size manufacturers can do to stay competitive.

Varroney, founder of Potomac Core and author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Rethinking Economic Growth, brings decades of experience working with manufacturers and trade associations nationwide. Together, Gary and Dan explore:

• The “three M’s” driving today’s challenges: margins, money, and manpower
• How sector profitability reveals whether an industry is gaining or losing competitiveness
• Policy gaps that disproportionately impact small and mid‑size manufacturers
• What a truly pro‑growth policy environment should look like in 2026 and beyond
• How value‑chain partnerships strengthen advocacy and resilience
• Innovative workforce strategies, including second‑chance hiring and community college partnerships
• Long‑term approaches to supply chain resilience, onshoring, and nearshoring
• How AI, automation, and machine learning are reshaping industrial competitiveness
• Why scenario planning is essential for leaders navigating uncertainty

You’ll also hear real‑world examples from Dan’s research — spanning tooling, machining, energy, and advanced manufacturing — plus insights on leadership, risk, and the future of the American industrial base.

Learn more about Dan Varroney and his work:
https://danielvarroney.com

https://potomaccore.com/

And don’t miss our “Did You Know?” segment, where we break down the spring‑powered mechanism inside your car’s seatbelt retractor — a reminder that springs truly are everywhere.

Springs Are Everywhere explores the issues shaping modern manufacturing and highlights the surprising ways springs show up in everyday life — from cars to cellphones to workplace equipment.

Sponsors:
Platinum — Gibbs Interwire (gibbswire.com)
Gold — Radcliff Wire (radcliffwire.com)
Silver — Automated Industrial Motion (aimcoil.com)

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing #leadership #supplychain #AI #workforce

In the first episode of Season 3 of the Springs Are Everywhere podcast, host Gary McCoy welcomes Susan Frew—international business leader, TEDx speaker, and author ofCompete on Awesome with AI. Her book equips entrepreneurs to stop competing on average and start winning with bold, practical AI strategies.

This episode delivers a clear, actionable conversation for anyone looking to bring AI into everyday business operations. Susan breaks down how to make AI accessible, profitable, and even enjoyable.

She also offers a preview of her upcoming session at the SMI Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico and shares what attendees canexpect to take away.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast explores key issues facing manufacturers and highlights the surprising ways springs show up in daily life. From cars to cellphones toworkplace equipment, springs are everywhere—often hidden in plain sight.

This episode is made possible by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com); our Gold Sponsor, Radcliff Wire (radcliffwire.com); and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing #AI

In this episode of the Springs Everywhere podcast, host Gary McCoy sits down with Dr. Laura Helmrich-Rhodes — board‑certified safety professional, associate professor, and SMI’s longtime regulatory and compliance consultant — for a deep, practical conversation about the state of safety inmodern manufacturing.

Rhodes talks about the biggest safety risks in manufacturing, the daily habits that actually prevent injuries and how “smart safety” will reshape the future. She also shares a preview of her session at the SMI Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico andexplains how SMI members can tap into her expertise year‑round.

A powerful, practical conversation for every manufacturing leader.

Please note an update from Rhodes regarding the cost of musculoskeletal disorders: "More than half (56%) of workplace injuries impact the back, shoulder, knee, ormultiple body parts — costing nearly $32.6 billion."  That’s according to the Workplace Safety Index from Liberty Mutual Business Insurance.

You can connect with Rhodes through LinkedIn, email [email protected] or contact SMI at 847-450-6848.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast highlights critical issues facing manufacturers and gives a brief glimpse of products that contain springs! Though often hidden in plain sight, springs are part of everyone’s daily life and used in products commonly found in your car, cellphone or workplace.

This podcast episode is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com) and our SilverSponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing #safety

This edition includes Desmond Clark, a former NFL tight end with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. He’s now an entrepreneur serving as the owner, president and CEO of Bear Down Logistics. Desmond is a motivational speaker and the author of “Principles of Winning: 5 Keys to Create a Standard of Excellence.”

He’ll be one of the featured speakers for SMI’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico.

Desmond talks about the influence of his childhood, important lessons he learned while playing professional football and how it translates to how he now conducts business. He also talks about the motivation to write his book and how it has impacted others.

You can connect with Desmond Clark on LinkedIn. You can also visit his websites at dezclarkspeaks.com or beardown-logistics.com.

This edition also features Harry Moser the founder and president of the Reshoring Initiative. Many would call the Reshoring Initiative championed by Harry as the first foray into a national drive towards reviving manufacturing in the U.S. The mission of the organization is to bring good, well-paying manufacturing jobs back to the United States.’’

Harry talks about the important role of reshoring in bringing jobs back to the U.S., why companies originally decided to reshore and and how the landscape has changed more recently. He also talks about how reshoring aligns with a company's long-term competitive strategy.  

The Reshoring Initiative website can be found at www.reshorenow.org

You can reach Harry through LinkedIn, by email at: [email protected] or phone 847-867-1144.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast highlights critical issues facing manufacturers and gives a brief glimpse of products that contain springs! Though often hidden in plain sight, springs are part of everyone’s daily life and used in products commonly found in your car, cellphone or at your workplace.

This podcast episode is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com) and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing #reshoring

This edition includes Clay Martin, the founder of Isla Talent. Clay’s company is a staffing agency that specializes in recruiting skilled blue-collar workers from Puerto Rico in an effort to connect U.S. employers with top-tier talent across various industries. With attracting qualified workers being among the most challenging aspects of being a manufacturer, you will learn about the advantages of recruiting workers from Puerto Rico.

Visit http://www.recruitingpuertorico.com or contact Clay Martin at [email protected].

This edition also features Dr. John Passante. John is president of the Organizational Development Group where, among many talents, he is an executive coach and keynote speaker. He has worked for many notable corporations during his career and is the author of “The Human Side: High-Touch Leadership in a High-Tech World.” You will learn from John about the need for the human touch in leadership and how kindness is needed more than ever today.

You can reach John at [email protected] or by phone at 401-252-9430.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast highlights critical issues facing manufacturers and gives a brief glimpse of products that contain springs! Though often hidden in plain sight, springs are part of everyone’s daily life and used in products commonly found in your car, cellphone or workplace.

This podcast episode is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (http://www.gibbswire.com) and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (http://www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at http://www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing

This episode of the podcast features Susan Quinn, an accomplished author, keynote speaker, leadership expert and executive coach. As CEO of circle S studio and the author of “Does Your Business Show Up or Stand Out?,” Susan provides insights into nine key traits she has identified in high-performing companies.

The episode also includes an interview with Don Jacobson III of Newcomb Spring, who currently serves as president of the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI). A fourth-generation springmaker, Don discusses his recent visit to the SkillsUSA National Championships in Atlanta, addresses current challenges within the spring manufacturing sector, and highlights resources offered by SMI to support business growth.

For more information about Susan, please visit www.circlesstudio.com/business-playbook. You connect with her on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/susanquinn01. You can reach Don at [email protected] or through LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/don-jacobson-iii-24479b152.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast addresses significant topics affecting manufacturers while offering an overview of products that incorporate springs. Although frequently overlooked, springs are integral to many everyday items, including automobiles, mobile phones, and workplace equipment.

This podcast episode is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com) and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing #skillsusa

This edition features a special conversation with Dan Sebastian, better known as the “Dean of Springs.” Dan takes us on a journey through his long career in the spring industry and provides commentary on the many changes he has seen over the years.

Dan was president of the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) from 2005-2008. He later wrote a column in Springs magazine from 2015 to 2025 where he shared his thoughts on both technical and management issues. He also served many years as a technical advisor for SMI.

Dan started his career at Associated Spring/Barnes Group as an intern and worked at the company for 23 years in various technical and management roles. After that he served for 20 years as the president and CEO of MW Industries.

Dan continues to consult and be involved in a variety of companies in the spring industry.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast highlights important issues facing manufacturers and gives a brief glimpse of products that contain springs! Though often hidden in plain sight, springs are part of everyone’s daily life and used in products commonly found in your car, cellphone or workplace.

This podcast episode is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com) and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing

This edition looks at how to achieve success working with a multigeneration workforce and how to create an awesome company culture.

The multigenerational workforce topic is explored in-depth with Jeff Butler, an author and workplace strategist, on how different cultures and employees can successfully interact with each other.

Chris Dyer, a trailblazer in leadership, company culture, and business growth, talks about the key ingredients to create an amazing company culture.

The Springs Are Everywhere podcast highlights important issues facing manufacturers and gives a brief glimpse of products that contain springs! Though often hidden in plain sight, springs are part of everyone’s daily life and used in products commonly found in your car, cellphone or workplace.

This podcast episode is brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, Gibbs Interwire (www.gibbswire.com), our Gold sponsor Pyromaitre  (www.pyromaitreovens.com) and our Silver Sponsor, Automated Industrial Motion (www.aimcoil.com).

Learn more about the Spring Manufacturers Institute at www.smihq.org.

#smi #springsareeverywhere #manufacturing