WAM

In today’s episode of Women and Manufacturing, Frances Brunelle speaks with Emily Feenstra, the Managing Director of Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Emily leads the division responsible for government affairs, media relations, and infrastructure policy for the society, including ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card, which we learn more about in today’s episode. She also serves on the board of advisors for the Eno Center for Transportation and the Innovative Infrastructure Initiative. In today’s episode, Emily elaborates on why we should be investing in infrastructure for the future and some of the negative implications for America’s economic growth if we continue with the status quo as it is. We touch on Emily’s role as a storyteller, the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and how manufacturers can benefit from it, plus so much more! Tune in today.

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In today’s episode, Frances Brunelle speaks with US Army veteran and Co-Owner of Smith Metal and Sutton Machining, Chelsea Sutton, about how manufacturing businesses can use social media to attract new customers and promote their services or products. As with all small business owners, Chelsea wears multiple hats, acting as head of business development, marketing, and public relations at Smith Metal and Sutton Machining, which offer services in CNC milling, CNC turning, EDM, 3D printing, surface grinding, welding, and fabrication. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Chelsea expanded through acquisition during COVID and lost nearly half of her customer base as a result of shutdowns due to the pandemic. She shares how she used social media to attract new customers and boost business, as well as her advice for manufacturers who hope to do the same, plus so much more! Make sure to tune in today.

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When working on mission-critical assets, quality and reliability are imperative, but how do you leverage a client's experience and respect the integrity of the system while also introducing valuable new technology and ideas? In today’s episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks to Cheryl Texin, an award-winning Principal Systems R&D Engineer for the Aerospace, Defense, and Government Business Unit at NI and the President of the Austin Section for the Society of Women Engineers. Cheryl shares her perspective on being a catalyst for change, not only creating value by implementing new technology within government systems but also by maintaining a strong voice as a woman in a male-populated industry like engineering, particularly in the military space. We touch on the benefit of building a network of support, how the SWE drives change in the engineering industry through awards and speaking opportunities, and how Cheryl is thinking about leadership and development in the future. Plus, she shares her advice for other women engineers: don’t be afraid to communicate what you want! Tune in today to learn more!

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Have you considered the role that social media has to play in manufacturing? Many experienced members of the manufacturing community maintain that social media is not necessary for their businesses. After all, manufacturers are B2B companies that sell to other manufacturers. This kind of thinking, however, ignores the much larger role that social media has to play in terms of branding and storytelling. Here to help us shed light on this topic today is the wonderful Charli K. Matthews, founder, and CEO of Empowering Brands, a digital media and marketing services company that manages the following brands: Empowering Pumps and Equipment, Empowering Women in Industry, and Empowering Industry Podcast. Charli has worked in the pump and equipment industry since 2005 and has established herself as a leader in brand building, growing online networks, and helping industrial companies embrace digital media. In our conversation with Charli, we discuss her passion for storytelling and enthusiasm for technology, and how this facilitated her deep understanding of how to leverage social media platforms. Tuning in you’ll hear Charli share clear and insightful instructions on how to build a social media presence from the ground up. From sending the first post to making sure you have buy-in from your employees, to finding your authentic voice. She also addresses the value that women bring to the industry and how to overcome the obstacles that are keeping women from pursuing a career in manufacturing and manufacturing acquisition. To hear all of Charli’s incredible insights and valuable tips, be sure to tune in today!

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Today, Rosemary Coates speaks with Cindy Oehmigen, the Director of Energy and Corporate Services at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, which is also known as MACNY. Cindy has worked with numerous manufacturing companies during her 30-year career, guiding them through change, creating team environments, reducing costs, and developing staff potential. In this episode, she emphasizes the importance of building a strong network and the benefits that the MACNY apprenticeship program offers aspiring manufacturers. We discuss how MACNY has assisted manufacturers through the unpredictability of COVID-19 and both disseminates and gathers important information about community health and vaccinations, and Cindy shares her perspective on the essential place that women occupy in manufacturing. She also leaves us with some pertinent advice for young women in the industry: don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and think laterally to get ahead! For all this and so much more, make sure to tune in today.

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Today, host Lydia Di Liello speaks with the President of Harvest Specialty Foods, Nikki Lamb, about her journey into the food manufacturing industry and what she has learned along the way. Business development and relationship building are some of Nikki’s greatest strengths, and she has a keen sense of tying together fruitful relationships that align to fulfill a clear vision. In this episode, Nikki elaborates on the trajectory of her career in manufacturing, starting with FormulaNow, an on-demand liquid concentrate dispensing system for baby formula that she founded and developed, and the power of failing forward. We also touch on the value of being the expert, owning your mistakes, and sharing the story of your products, as well as what Nikki means when she urges women in manufacturing to just “get in the room!” This conversation is filled with nuggets of information and inspiration, so make sure to tune in today!

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Lisa Ryan is an award-winning speaker, podcast host, and the author of more than 10 books, including one that every manufacturer on the planet should read, Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Talent in Your Industry. As the Founder and Chief Appreciation Strategist of Grategy, Lisa’s programs focus on positive workplace culture, intergenerational communication, employee acquisition, engagement, retention, and gratitude strategies (or ‘grategies’) for personal and professional development. In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about Lisa’s career path, her personal manufacturing experience, and her strategies for attracting and retaining talent using the acronym, THANKS. We also touch on the importance of building relationships between tenured workers and new recruits, using automation as a recruiting tool, and why prioritizing basic human connection is more important than throwing money at the problem. Tune in today to learn more!

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Since Eileen Small entered the textile and garment industries in the 1980’s, a lot has changed. When she started out, close to 90% of garment manufacturing took place in the USA and today this number has dropped to less than 10%. Furthermore, technology has made the world a much smaller place, and a more entrepreneurial one, and sustainability and transparency have become vital to staying relevant. In today’s episode, Eileen gives us an inside look at what it was like sourcing piece goods (commonly known as fabrics) from all over the world in her twenties, and the nuances that exist within the textile and garment industries. As a trade show veteran, Eileen also has valuable advice to share about how to get the most out of these events, and what you can expect from some of the upcoming ones that are going to be held in the near future. The textile and apparel industries have some of the most responsive and attentive supply chains of all manufacturing sectors, and you will have a greater appreciation for the apparel that clothes you after listening to this episode! 

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This week on WAM, host Lydia DiLiello is joined by the dynamic professional powerhouse and former Senior Director of Nike, Sarah Walton! During her 15-year career in Corporate America, Sarah worked in 10+ functions, proving herself to be an asset to any team, which successfully landed her roles at some of the largest global brands, including Target.

In the episode, Lydia and Sarah discuss Sarah’s decision to part ways with the corporate world in pursuit of a more flexible schedule and new passions, including Bettrmeant — her soon-to-be-launched professional consulting, advising, and coaching startup. As a part of today’s “Great Resignation” period, Sarah delves into what repositioning her work-life balance as life-work balance looks like, and how to transform the trajectory of your career to build a happier life.

Sarah Walton is also a Corporate Director on the Miller Paint Company board, a mother of two, and a graduate of Wellesley College where she played collegiate-level volleyball.

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In light of the current climate and the effects of the COVID pandemic, the entrepreneurs of today and going forward, are going to need to have a very different skill set to what was required even five years ago. Today we talk to Cara Macklin, a business coach and the founder and CEO of Caram, a success coaching firm. Cara is a serial entrepreneur and a leading businesswoman in Northern Ireland. She was the director for 15 years of a multi-million, and multi-award-winning hospitality and healthcare group, growing it from three businesses with only 200 employees to seven businesses with over 600 employees. She is renowned for helping entrepreneurs to achieve meaningful change and sustained growth. Cara believes that creating an innovative culture is key to the success of businesses in this current time. In this episode, she explains that people are no longer happy to sit on the sidelines and be told what to do, they want to be involved in the progress and success of a business and that the most important thing for the happiness of people is the leadership at every level. Listening in you’ll hear what innovative culture is, as well as how to engage people properly and bring them along with you as a leader. Tune in today to find out what an entrepreneur should be doing to create a culture that makes people want to stay!

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