On this episode of the Rundown, we are joined by Shannon Lee, Executive Director of Leadership Columbus . Leadership Columbus provides state-of-the-art education and training for emerging and existing leaders. In this episode, Paul and Shannon discuss what it means to be a leader, the nuances of leadership, and the resources that are available to prioritize learning how to be a successful leader. They also discuss the process Shannon underwent to write her book, Servant Leader Mindset. This book...
Aug 10, 2023•54 min
Our guest this week is Sandy Doyle-Ahern, President of EMH&T . EMH&T is a civil engineering firm based in New Albany, Ohio that offers a variety of services such as landscape architecture, infrastructure evaluation, urban design, and more. In this episode, we learn about Sandy’s extensive career with EMH&T and how their service offerings have evolved. Paul and Sandy also discuss some key regional problems and opportunities that Central Ohio is facing such as affordable housing and ra...
Jul 27, 2023•56 min
On this episode we are joined by Sheri Chaney Jones, the CEO & Co-Founder of SureImpact. SureImpact is a software that enables day to day case management and data collection, while also enabling organizations to manage, measure, and communicate their unique social impact in the nonprofit sector. In this episode, Sheri shares her lessons in entrepreneurship and her insights on how social change impact is modernizing. She also discusses her inspiration for starting SureImpact as well as her ot...
Jul 13, 2023•31 min
We have an exciting episode this week on the Rundown! Taylor Evans (Founder & Owner, Rust Belt Recruiting) takes over as host this week to help our listeners get to know his close friend and our host, Paul O’Connor. This is a great episode to learn more about the host you hear each week. Listen in to learn about why they chose Episode 57 for this conversation, how Paul and Taylor became friends at OU and more about Paul’s background in podcasts and his career outside of podcasting. This conv...
Jun 29, 2023•51 min
This week we are joined by Kyle Triplett, Director of Aluminum at Olympic Steel ! In this episode Paul and Kyle discuss their experiences at Ohio University and how their student involvement influenced and enhanced their careers. Kyle tells us about his extensive career with Olympic Steel and how his role and the company has expanded over the years. Paul and Kyle also discuss the benefits of careers in the manufacturing industry and how many different opportunities there are as the workforce con...
Jun 15, 2023•31 min
Our guest this week is Dr. Ethan Karp, President and CEO of MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network . In this episode we learn about Ethan’s educational background and what led him to ultimately pursue the impact that business and manufacturing can make. He shares with us the vision of MAGNET and how they aim to grow the local economy through collaboration. He offers us his insight on how the workforce is evolving and how automation and technology play into that as well as the work...
Jun 01, 2023•32 min
On this episode of the Rundown, we are joined by Elad Granot, the Dean of John Caroll University’s Boler College of Business . Elad shares with us how his career evolved beyond venture capital and marketing strategy into higher education in his current role. He offers his perspective on the landscape shifts in higher education, specifically in Midwest business schools. He tells us about Boler’s Jesuit take on serving others through business skills and knowledge to positively impact the ecosystem...
May 18, 2023•33 min
On this episode we are joined by Megan Kim! Megan is the Senior Vice President of Membership Development and Marketing at Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), our region’s leading economic development organization. She is also the Executive Director of COSE , (The Council of Smaller Enterprises) a non-profit designed to help small businesses succeed. Megan details her career, starting with her interest in public relations and her desire to make an impact by telling the stories of businesses. Wan...
May 04, 2023•29 min
Our guest this week is Connie King, Workforce Development Director for the Precision Metalforming Association ! In this episode Connie offers us her expert take on workforce trends and the importance of investing in and upskilling workers. We also learn more about what resources PMA provides their members such as METALFORM EDU . Paul and Connie also discuss AI and automation in relation to how the workforce evolution. Connie’s food recommendation is Kelly’s Cafe in Brunswick for breakfast! Conne...
Apr 20, 2023•26 min
Joining us this week on the Rundown is Miguel Lugo, the Chief Operating Officer at E.C Kitzel and Sons . In this episode, Miguel shares with us his inspiring story of career advancement in the manufacturing industry from general laborer to COO. Listen in to hear what E.C Kitzel and Sons does, how Miguel approaches his role as COO, and his advice for career advancement and leadership. He and Paul also discuss Miguel being named a Crain’s Newsmaker of the Year in 2021 and what that career mileston...
Apr 06, 2023•21 min
It’s the 50th episode of the Rust Belt Rundown! On this episode we are joined by Art Oestrike, the Founder of Jackie O’s Brewery. Our host, Paul O’Connor, had the unique opportunity to record this episode at Jackie O’s On Fourth in Columbus, Ohio! This location is currently a carryout storefront but construction is underway for the inside bar and outdoor patio and they are scheduled to open in the near future. Check out the full video of the episode here. Jackie O’s Brewery originated in Athens,...
Mar 23, 2023•42 min
This week we are joined by Jack Schron, President of Jergens, Inc. , a global manufacturing leader in workholding, lifting and specialty fasteners products. In this episode Jack tells us about his extensive career with Jergens, what it’s like to work for a family-owned business and how his military experience influenced his leadership style. He also tells us the story of his innovative ideas around the inception of Tooling U-SME . Jack and Paul discuss trends in the manufacturing industry, Jack’...
Mar 09, 2023•35 min
This week on the Rundown we are joined by Ned Hill. Ned is a Professor of Economic Development in Ohio State’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He is also a faculty member of The Ohio Manufacturing Institute, which is housed within OSU’s College of Engineering. Listen in as Paul and Ned discuss economic development in relation to regional planning and what cities need to do to attract remote workers back downtown. They also debate public transportation and the current housing market. Ned of...
Feb 23, 2023•38 min
On this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown, we are joined by Brian Krusz. Brian is the Founder of Sgt. Clean Car Wash, a premier car wash chain that has proudly served Northeast Ohio since 2013. As a former Marine, Brian emphasizes that Sgt. Clean is proudly Veteran owned and operated. Listen in as he shares with us why he chose the Marines and how he got started in the car wash industry. He also tells us how Sgt. Clean has achieved their mission of changing the face of car washes. They created a ...
Feb 09, 2023•35 min
Michael Ciatto joins us on this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown! Michael is the SVP and Supply Chain Service Line CEO at Genpact , a global professional services firm. Michael talks about his experience at Dickinson College and how it connected him to mentors and offered him a more global perspective. Those experiences, along with the Rust Belt work ethic he inherited from his family, helped to shape his mindset and launch his career. He got his start in operations and supply chain management w...
Dec 15, 2022•35 min•Ep. 46
On this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown, we are joined by Nick Kasik, Director of Operations at the Hermanson Company. With over 30 years of experience as a construction executive, Nick has poured his experience and passion into “making the trades cool again”. Listen in as he shares the mission of his non-profit group, Working Class, and the different mediums they use to help young people explore the skilled trades. He also offers us insight on his role at the Hermanson Company and his work wit...
Nov 30, 2022•26 min•Ep. 45
We have a special episode this week on the Rust Belt Rundown! We are joined by Taylor Evans and Nate Stansberry as they introduce us to their newest venture, Workforce Strategy Partners . Rust Belt Recruiting has just reached five years of business under Workforce LLC and the family of companies is expanding to include WSP. WSP is a talent management consultancy that delivers processes and strategies to employers to optimize their internal efforts around the attraction, selection and integration...
Nov 03, 2022•33 min
This week we are joined by Harry Moser, the Founder of Reshoring Initiative . Reshoring Initiative is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to spread the “return-manufacturing-home” message to help manufacturers realize that America is an advantageous place to produce goods. He tells us the story of his personal experiences that inspired him to start this industry-led initiative in early 2010 and why offshoring was not the best choice for many companies in the long-term. He also explains why...
Oct 27, 2022•30 min
Joining us this week is Hallie Crouch, the Director of Strategy and Associate Principal of Bialosky Cleveland. Bialosky Cleveland is a multidisciplinary design firm whose clients include institutions, civic organizations, government agencies, and private developers. Hallie is a strategic and trusted advisor within her company where she occupies a self-created role. She offers us insight on the power of creating positions from within and the importance of emotionally intelligent leaders. Listen i...
Oct 13, 2022•35 min
In this episode, we are joined by the Executive Director of the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board , Michelle Rose . Listen in as Michelle shares her experience at the federal level with the U.S. Department of Labor and her return to Cleveland in this new era of leadership in our city as an appointee of Mayor Justin Bibb. Michelle offers us insight on the newfound buying power that workers have and what that means for employers and businesses, discusses overcoming barriers to ...
Sep 14, 2022•26 min
Mick Jendrisak joins us on today’s episode of the Rust Belt Rundown. Listen in as Mick discusses his role at Pilot Plastics , their philosophy on workforce development, and the many service offerings they have to offer. Mick also takes the time to discuss the sales process of finding a new client in this industry, workforce automation and what it entails, and other future trends to expect over the next decade. Also, expect to hear about Pilot Plastic’s recent rebrand, issuing a brand new website...
Aug 16, 2022•34 min•Ep. 40
We are joined by Ryan Landau, Founder of Purpose Jobs in this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown. Ryan discusses the revitalization of Detroit and other similar cities in the Midwest, detailing how and why to retain recent college graduates in their local workforce. Listen in as Ryan takes us through his motivation for completing 5 Ironman triathlons, the effects of the pandemic on recent college graduates, and his experience with the founding of his company. When asked, Ryan gave us two great din...
Aug 02, 2022•18 min•Ep. 39
Matt Secrist of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP joins us in this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown. Matt recently joined Taft as an employee benefit and executive compensation attorney. Listen in as Matt discusses his time in the employee benefits industry, his new role with Taft, and some of the potential tax implications of remote work. If you find yourself in Chagrin Falls, check out a few of Matt’s favorite spots to eat! M Italian is his go-to for Italian cuisine, and Flipside is his favo...
Jul 19, 2022•24 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown, we speak with Sam Friedman, Brand Director of Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve. Since moving back to Cleveland from his teaching job in Spain, Sam has helped to take family-owned Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve from his mother's kitchen to the successful online retailer it is today. Sam's favorite spot in Cleveland is called Hingetown, home to Amba , a newly opened Indian restaurant, and Larder , a European-style deli that combines traditional ingredients...
Jul 07, 2022•54 min•Ep. 37
Start your career by saying yes! In this episode, we're joined by Roslyn Quarto, Director of Workforce Innovation at Towards Employment. Listen in as she takes through her diverse career journey and gives advice to recent and upcoming grads on how to approach the world outside of college.
Jun 16, 2022•38 min•Ep. 36
We’re going abroad for this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown with logistics ninja, Ms. Ashley Lawson . Ashley is the Vice President and Managing Partner of Achieve Incentives & Meetings . Since the global pandemic began, Ashley set out to save her family business by proving that global travel was still safe (safer even in some parts) with only a backpack and her partner. After years in non-profit, Ashley said this was her chance to “serve in a different way”. Listen in to this episode as Ash...
May 19, 2022•29 min•Ep. 35
In this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown, we speak with Tanya Budler , Founder of Rise Together. Tanya co-created Rise Together, an impact consulting firm in Cleveland, because she truly believes that cities thrive when workforce, economic development and international newcomer communities work together. And don’t be fooled, just because Tanya is a Cleveland newbie does not mean she came unprepared! When asked, Tanya said Mason’s Creamery helped sell her on the city and Ready, Set, Coffee is phe...
May 05, 2022•38 min•Ep. 34
In episode 33 of the Rust Belt Rundown, we’re joined by Andy McCartney, President of Bowden Manufacturing. Andy leads the conversation with lessons about leadership and teamwork learned from his experience in the Navy and from his love of sports. Being the president of a manufacturing organization, Andy knows the importance of workforce retention and keeping the interest of all generations. Bowden Manufacturing understands that it’s no longer good enough to have a good job; people want a great j...
Apr 14, 2022•49 min•Ep. 33
In this episode, we’re joined by Northeast Ohio career development experts, Ned Barnett of Polaris Career Center , Dustin Peugeot of Matrix Trade Institute , and Tim Duffy of Cleveland Industrial Training Center . These three panelists discuss the future of skilled trades in our region and the importance of educating high school students on the meaningful career options within the trades....
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 32
In honor of Women's History Month, we're joined by Beth Dawson , Apprenticeship Program Manager at Manufacturing Works , and Sara Tracey , Managing Director of Workforce Services at The Ohio Manufacturers' Association , who talk share their personal journeys of building a meaningful career as a woman in manufacturing, as well as a robust discussion on the challenges and opportunities women have on manufacturing and the impact they create....
Mar 17, 2022•48 min•Ep. 31
