In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer interviews Darryl Gratrix, who shares his insights on manufacturing culture, leadership, and the importance of attracting the next generation to skilled trades. Darryl discusses his career path in tool and die, the transition to leadership, and the cultural turnaround he has experienced in his workplace. He emphasizes the need for collaboration in the industry and the importance of promoting skilled trades to younger generations. Th...
Aug 12, 2025•48 min•Ep. 120
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Marcus Sheanshang, CEO of JBM Packaging, as he shares his journey from working on the shop floor at age 11 to leading a company that embraces second chances. Discover how Marcus transformed a labor strategy into a purpose-driven mission, providing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals and reshaping company culture. Key Highlights: Marcus's early experiences in the family business and his path to leadership. The development and impact of th...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 119
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer interviews Craig Coyle, a former Apache pilot and now a leadership consultant. They discuss the importance of culture in organizations, the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, and the need for effective leadership in manufacturing. Craig shares his insights on how to create a positive work environment that inspires employees and the significance of community in both military and civilian settings. He emphasiz...
Jul 29, 2025•53 min•Ep. 118
In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer sits down with Lori Highby, a digital marketing strategist, educator, and founder of Keystone Click, to explore the stories manufacturers aren’t telling.They unpack what culture really means inside an organization, why storytelling is manufacturers’ biggest missed opportunity, and how AI is changing, not replacing, the creative process. Lori shares her journey from a night school marketing student to agency owner, her values around ...
Jul 28, 2025•43 min•Ep. 116
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Tyler Marshall shares his journey from the seafood industry to consulting in manufacturing. He discusses the importance of culture in organizations, the challenges faced in food manufacturing, and the evolving landscape of leadership in the industry. Tyler emphasizes the need for alignment between employees and organizational goals, the impact of automation, and the future of manufacturing as it adapts to new technologies and workforce dynami...
Jul 28, 2025•52 min•Ep. 117
What does it take to rewrite your story—and help others do the same? In this unforgettable episode, Jim Mayer sits down with HR Huntsman: speaker, strategist, and founder of Leader’s Edge. From a turbulent childhood in the New Mexico desert to building global humanitarian projects and mentoring the next generation of leaders, HR’s journey is a masterclass in intentional transformation. You’ll hear how a single conversation reshaped his definition of success, why mindset matters more than circums...
Jul 09, 2025•50 min•Ep. 115
In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast , host Jim Mayer talks with leadership coach Nicki Straza about what it takes to create workplaces where people feel safe, trusted, and able to contribute. Nicki draws from more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing, trades, nonprofits, and mental health. The conversation covers how culture is shaped by the small choices leaders make every day, the importance of seeing employees as individuals, and how resilience grows when people feel ...
Jun 24, 2025•50 min•Ep. 114
In this conversation, Jim Mayer and Jeremiah Llewellyn explore the intersection of manufacturing culture, technology, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of embracing imperfection in progress, defining work culture, and the challenges Jeremiah faced growing up deaf. Jeremiah shares his journey into technology, education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his career path. The discussion also touches on the significance of creativity in technology, the future of manufacturing...
Jun 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 113
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer interviews Nelson Bruton, who shares insights on the importance of removing friction in the B2B buying process through conversational marketing. They discuss the significance of workplace culture, personal influences, and the evolution of digital marketing. Nelson reflects on his journey, the lessons learned about success and leadership, and the impact of generating substantial revenue for clients. In this conversation, Jim Mayer an...
Jun 03, 2025•41 min•Ep. 112
In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast , host Jim Mayer sits down with Josh McKain, founder of Henry Rose Consulting, to explore the power of collaboration, leadership, and culture in modern manufacturing. From his unexpected journey from public accounting into the manufacturing world, to building a business focused on organizational alignment, Josh shares the real-world lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy. They dive into the human side of operations — from tackling turno...
May 27, 2025•54 min•Ep. 111
Show Description : In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast , host Jim Mayer sits down with Gina Tabasso , a powerhouse in industrial marketing whose career spans trade publications, Lean Six Sigma certifications, welding credentials, and a deep respect for the people who make manufacturing work. Gina shares how she learned to speak the many “languages” of the industry—sales, marketing, operations, and shop floor realities—and why that fluency matters more than ever. From her time ma...
May 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 110
What if the problem with manufacturing isn’t the work—but the silence? In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast , Jim Mayer sits down with Stephanie Pryor—entrepreneur, writer, and founder of LANC Marketing—to explore why the most prolific industry in the U.S. is still struggling to be seen. From her upbringing in the Lehigh Valley, shaped by the legacy of Bethlehem Steel, to helping manufacturers land features in Forbes , CNN , and The New York Times , Stephanie has made a career ou...
May 14, 2025•55 min•Ep. 109
Recorded live on-site at FABTECH 2024 , this special episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast features Matthew and Lindsay Nix , the dynamic duo behind the transformation of Nix Companies , a fifth-generation family business that has grown into a culture-first manufacturing powerhouse. Host Jim Mayer dives into their remarkable journey—from $5 Saturdays in the shop to 100X revenue growth—unpacking the intentional leadership, deep-rooted values, and community-driven mission that fuel their su...
May 07, 2025•43 min•Ep. 108
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Ron Crabtree, a seasoned expert in manufacturing and organizational culture. They discuss the critical role of culture in manufacturing, the evolution of perspectives on leadership and change, and the importance of addressing the human side of operational transformations. Ron shares his journey through various industries, emphasizing the need for leaders to be self-aware and vulnerable in order to foster a positive ...
May 06, 2025•49 min•Ep. 107
Show Notes: In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast , Jim Mayer sits down with Clare Epstein, General Manager, Commercial at Vector Solutions, for a raw and grounded conversation on what it really takes to lead in manufacturing today. Clare shares how her path—from urban planning to safety tech leadership—was anything but linear. She opens up about the hard lessons that shaped her leadership style, why empathy isn’t optional, and how treating safety like a checklist is costing compa...
Apr 08, 2025•40 min•Ep. 106
Episode Summary When Stephanie Chrystal walked into her first machine shop, she had no idea she’d one day be named ANCA’s Female Machinist of the Year . But according to her, the real story isn’t about the award—it’s about the team behind it. In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast , host Jim Mayer sits down with Stephanie, a geometric grinding specialist at Sandvik Coromant, whose leadership helped grow a small, post-COVID crew into a record-breaking, high-performing team . Togethe...
Apr 02, 2025•35 min•Ep. 105
In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer sits down with Bill Ross—a private equity investor who’s chosen a different path. After two decades in traditional deal-making, Bill stepped away from the short-term mindset that defines much of his industry to take a more personal, hands-on approach to building businesses. Bill opens up about his journey from rural New York to the world of private equity, and why he believes real value in manufacturing comes from understanding peop...
Mar 26, 2025•54 min•Ep. 104
Summary In the Manufacturing Culture Podcast episode, host Jim Mayer speaks with Janelle McGrath, CEO of MarketVeep, about the importance of happiness in business and workplace culture. Janelle shares her journey as an entrepreneur, her unique approach to fostering a positive work environment, and her innovative practices at MarketVeep, including a dedicated wellness day for employees. The conversation also touches on the future of manufacturing, leadership, and the evolving role of technology i...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 103
What happens when we stop accepting “the way things have always been done” and start questioning the sacred truths of manufacturing? In this episode, host Jim Mayer sits down with Joe Hungerman , a continuous improvement leader who has built his career on curiosity, reinvention, and challenging conventional wisdom. Joe’s path from supply chain management to technology was anything but traditional. Along the way, he explored psychology, education, and leadership—building a unique perspective on w...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 102
Most people think inheriting a family business is a golden ticket. Karla Trotman knows better. Her journey to leading Electro Soft, Inc. wasn’t about following in her father’s footsteps—it was about earning her place in an industry that wasn’t built for everyone. From building her own e-commerce company from scratch to taking over the family business and fighting to close the wealth gap in manufacturing, Karla’s story is about legacy, leadership, and breaking barriers. In this episode, Jim Mayer...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 101
In the Manufacturing Culture Podcast episode, host Jim Mayer interviews Bob Wilson, a seasoned manufacturing expert with a rich background in lean principles and operational improvements. Bob shares his journey from the shop floor at Toyota to leadership roles at Ford and AMD, emphasizing the importance of culture in manufacturing. He discusses the challenges and successes he faced, the significance of learning from consultants, and the future of lean manufacturing in the age of automation. Bob'...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 100
Culture. Chaos. Continuous Improvement. Manufacturing leaders love to talk about Lean, AI, and operational excellence, but few truly understand how to bring those ideas to life. Kevin Claxon does. In this episode, Toyota-trained Lean expert Kevin Claxon shares how he went from the factory floor to leading high-stakes operational transformations—including a million-dollar mistake that became his greatest leadership lesson. We dig into: Why continuous improvement fails at most companies—and how to...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min•Ep. 99
In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast , host Jim Mayer sits down with Garret Tornquist , Senior Product Manager at Epicor, to explore the power of a team-first culture in manufacturing. Garret’s career has taken him through multiple industries, including medical devices, education technology, and manufacturing, and through it all, one thing has remained constant: success is built on culture, teamwork, and a willingness to embrace failure . Garret shares how his experiences in team...
Feb 04, 2025•54 min•Ep. 98
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Rachel Marshall, co-owner of Excel Machine Manufacturing, a family-run CNC shop. Rachel shares her journey from a background in sales to embracing the challenges of running a machine shop alongside her husband, Luke. They discuss the importance of work culture, communication, and balancing family life with business responsibilities. Rachel emphasizes the value of community in manufacturing, the lessons learned in th...
Jan 27, 2025•44 min•Ep. 97
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer interviews Arthur Field, Director for Strategic Partnerships at MTD CNC. Arthur shares his extensive journey through the manufacturing industry, discussing the importance of culture, innovation, and collaboration. He reflects on his early experiences in assembly and machining, the challenges he faced, and the leadership roles he took on. Arthur emphasizes the significance of building partnerships and the future trends in manufa...
Jan 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 96
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Sean Walters, General Manager at CapTron North America. Sean shares his insights on the importance of culture in manufacturing, his journey into the industry, and the role of mentorship in business development. He emphasizes the need for a customer-centric focus in leadership and discusses the challenges and strategies for building resilient supply chains. The conversation also touches on fostering mentorship within...
Jan 13, 2025•50 min•Ep. 95
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer speaks with Mark Hedstrom, the executive director of the Skilled Careers Coalition. They discuss the importance of reshaping perceptions around skilled careers, the role of culture in organizations, and the challenges faced in building a talent pipeline for the skilled trades. Mark shares his journey from anthropology to leadership roles in various sectors, emphasizing the need for collaboration among educators, businesses, and gove...
Jan 06, 2025•58 min•Ep. 94
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Tom Ricciardelli, founder of Select Tech, about his journey from studying chemical engineering at MIT to creating innovative flooring solutions from recycled materials. Tom shares insights on sustainability, company culture, and the importance of mentorship in entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the need for resilience and adaptability in business and discusses the future of Select Tech in the static control flooring ma...
Dec 19, 2024•36 min•Ep. 93
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Bryan DeBois, the director of industrial AI at Rova-Sys. They discuss Bryan's journey from a young programmer to a leader in AI, the importance of mentorship, and the evolving role of AI in manufacturing. Bryan shares insights on generational differences in the workforce, the challenges of implementing AI, and the significance of building a positive company culture. The conversation highlights the need for continuou...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 92
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Vince Sassano, CEO of Strategic Performance Company, Inc., about his extensive experience in the manufacturing industry. They discuss the evolution of manufacturing culture, the importance of data-driven management, and the need for effective communication on the plant floor. Vince shares insights on empowering frontline workers, the challenges of integrating technology, and the significance of understanding operati...
Nov 21, 2024•55 min•Ep. 90
