Talking Textiles

Listen in to get a sneak preview of education sessions that will be happening at the Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim, CA, Sept. 23-26. Jeff Sponseller, Miller Weldmaster, enlightens us with a few fun facts about Expo and interviews presenters Erin Parker Tillery, North Carolina State University, Bruce Danziger, Danziger Engineering Collaborative, Inc. and Apurba Banerjee, Innovation at Standard Textile. Be sure to stop by each of our guests’ educational sessions to gain more insight.

On this episode, we have an all-women’s panel featuring Donielle Lorelli, Product Manager of Textiles at National Industries for the Blind, Kaylee Smith, Senior Sales Executive at MMI Textiles, and Lindsay Zientek, Channel Account Manager at Gold Eagle Company. They will discuss how they got their start in the textile industry, how they build and manage personal and professional relationships with colleagues, how they navigate a healthy work-life balance, the steps they take to manage burn-out, and what’s next in their careers.

Listen in as our Artificial Intelligence Part 1 podcast guest, Adam Penner of AP Consulting and Technical Services, interviews Dan Hughes, co-founder of Claritee.AI, a seasoned expert in Generative AI, with over a 20-year career helping clients implement emerging technologies. Dan discusses how he got into AI, specifically Generative AI, and why he finds it so beneficial for companies to implement this technology.

Adam Penner has a background in engineering, but after college he began his career as a CAD designer and developed a passion for automation. After transitioning to work for an automation company, he traveled nationally installing automation equipment and training others on how to use it. He discovered a love for teaching and ventured into consulting, founding AP Consulting and Technical Services. He was introduced to AI’s Chat GPT through a friend and immediately loved it. He learned Chat GPT could help him write code, improve his writing, and generate content in areas outside of his expertise. Listen as Adam explains how he is a huge proponent for AI’s role with his work by saving time and enhancing his work efficiency. 

Listen in as Justine Decaens, Director of Research and Development from CTT Group in Quebec, Canada, discusses how her company supports industrial development. CTT Group’s research and development teams help take innovations from development all the way to the testing phase to ensure products meet certain criteria and specifications. Tune in as Justine discusses the products and materials her company is working on and any challenges they may face.

Listen in as Natalie Cormier, Owner of Able Canvas in New Brunswick, Canada, discusses how she took on the challenge of becoming the owner in 2011. Cormier loves a challenge, so becoming an owner of a business in an industry she had no knowledge of was something she wanted to take on.

She further discusses the challenges of hiring skilled workers in the New Brunswick area. She does her due diligence in teaching customers and clients that buying quality canvas from companies like hers will last longer than buying from large chain stores. Another challenge she faces is when she retires, who would she sell her company to or who would even want to buy the business. Tune in to hear her story!

Kyle VanDamme sits down with Keith Purves, Jeff Newkirk, and Johannes Lombard at the Marine Fabricators Conference. The guests share from different backgrounds—from what it was like growing up in the family business to being recruited by a sail maker and coming into the business after a career in the yachting industry. They cover the trades and hiring for character and teaching the skills, to learning a craft, and managing a multi-generational staff. They also touch on building an environment of belonging and end with succession planning and how to prepare for selling your business.  

Listen to part two as we dive deeper into why NC State doctoral student Erin Parker chose to further her education in textiles and wanted to focus on wearable technology for her thesis research. Also, new attendee Todd Pusser discusses how he got into the textile industry and how being CAD certified not only helped him hone his skills on the job, but also how he found a passion for design outside of work. We close out with a discussion on the future of the textile industry, how the industry is attracting young people, and how the panelists think the younger generation will benefit and shape the future of the textile industry.

Listen in as Kyle VanDamme and Mark Tyrrell interview Jeff Sponseller, Michael Woody, Todd Pusser, and Erin Parker. You will hear the viewpoint of regular attendees Jeff Sponseller and Michael Woody on how Expo has evolved, the connections and friends they have made with other individuals in the industry, the business opportunities they have received, and advice for new attendees. Also, you will hear viewpoints from a first-time attendee, Todd Pusser, and current NC State doctoral candidate, Erin Parker, on what they expected from Expo and what they have seen and experienced so far.

On this episode, Michael Boatman discusses how his passion for boat covers grew by learning and working alongside his father in their family business. Ultimately, this passion led him to start his own boat cover business - Boatman Marine Canvas. He also recalls his first experience attending an MFA conference, how he “found his people” and loved everything about the conference. Since becoming an ATA and MFA member, he has made many lifelong connections and vows that he’s not going anywhere. So listen in as Michael Boatman discusses his past and what his future looks like!