Jason Woodard, COO at Geislinger Corporation, returns to The Manufacturing Employer to share insights from his new book, "Manufacturing Leadership That Works." Drawing on 35 years of experience, Jason discusses why traditional leadership models fall short, the importance of holistic people-first management and practical tools like one-on-one meetings. He explains how investing in frontline operators and leading with empathy drives lasting change and stronger cultures in manufacturing.

Andrea D. Carter, organizational scientist and founder of Andrea Carter Consulting, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how measurable belonging can transform manufacturing culture. Andrea discusses her Belonging First methodology and its five key indicators that drive trust, performance and retention. She explores the real costs of culture gaps, how leaders often miss hidden pockets of disengagement and practical steps for frontline supervisors to build strong teams. This episode shows why belonging is not a perk, but essential infrastructure for operational success.

Chris Zdenek, founder of Soma Ergonomics, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how manufacturers can shift from reactive safety efforts to proactive workforce protection. With more than three decades of experience, Chris breaks down the hidden impact of chronic, repetitive stress injuries and introduces bionomics — a holistic approach to optimizing human performance, cognition and well-being on the shop floor. He shares practical strategies for designing safer workstations that reduce injuries, lower workers’ comp costs and improve employee retention, showing how smart design investments drive long-term returns.

Laura Hanley, licensed therapist and workplace consultant at Big Picture Companies, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack generational diversity on the shop floor. Drawing from her clinical background at the Mayo Clinic and VA, Laura explains why communication and occupational empathy are key skills in today’s manufacturing environment. She breaks down why older and younger workers often talk past each other, how wiring, motivation, and stress responses play into team dynamics, and why leadership rooted in empathy and data-driven insight is essential.

Kevin Patrick, ERP leader and Certified Dream Manager, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share hard-won lessons from his career to date. Drawing on his journey from the shop floor to leading more than 120 ERP deployments, Kevin reveals why successful systems aren’t just about technology, but instead how they hinge on human engagement, trust and personal growth. He discusses the consequences of employee disengagement, the transformative power of trust-based leadership and the business impact of connecting personal dreams to organizational success. This episode touches on Kevin’s experiences in recovery, how vulnerability reshapes leadership and explores the Dream Manager philosophy as a path to reducing turnover and fostering lasting employee loyalty.

Eric Gassaway, a globally recognized sustainability and ESG leader, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how sustainability drives workplace culture. With experience shaping strategies for Fortune 100 companies and building enterprise-level sustainability initiatives, Eric shares why sustainability is more than a box-checking exercise — it’s a culture engine that improves morale and aligns employees around a shared purpose.

Steve Cadigan, renowned expert on the future of work and author of "Workquake," joins The Manufacturing Employer to tackle some of the biggest workforce challenges facing manufacturers. He shares insights from his experience at LinkedIn and across the industrial sector, covering strategies for retention, skills gaps, union dynamics and adapting to AI on the factory floor.

Host Jon Franko details six learnings and quotes from guests throughout 2026 that he's going to carry into the new year.

Diane Ferrera, Director of Human Resources at AccuRounds, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how a people-first culture and commitment to learning have shaped the company’s success. With nearly 30 years of HR experience, Diane discusses building AccuRounds’ HR function from the ground up, fostering a workplace centered on respect, transparency and continuous development. She explores how AccuRounds invests in employee growth, community partnerships and workforce development, proving that a strong culture is the foundation for operational excellence and long-term retention.

Celeste Warren, renowned DEI expert and author of "The Truth About Equity," joins The Manufacturing Employer to demystify equity in the workplace and explain why it’s essential for manufacturing organizations today. Celeste shares actionable frameworks like the "rocks and fence" analogy, addresses misconceptions about meritocracy and discusses how equity improves team performance and business outcomes.