In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Paul Adams, Senior Director of Partner Ecosystems at GE Vernova, to explore how his nearly three-decade journey with GE has shaped a deep understanding of software, systems, and integrator partnerships. From building global relationships to embracing cloud transformation and tackling cybersecurity challenges, Paul shares real-world insights into what it takes to scale, support, and modernize industrial automation...
Jul 15, 2025•29 min
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Joe Mazzola, General Manager of McEnery Automation, to unpack his journey from co-op student to company leader. Joe shares how McHenry has grown from a two-person startup to a 30-person team, fueled by long-term customer relationships, CSIA certification, and a culture of engineering excellence. From process automation innovations in brewing and consumer goods to navigating workforce transitions and integrating E...
Jun 16, 2025•37 min
In this special crossover episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter shares a conversation from Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast , featuring outgoing CSIA CEO Jose Rivera. As he prepares to step down after 10 transformative years, Jose looks back on the challenges and triumphs that shaped the Control System Integrators Association—from navigating the pandemic and launching remote certifications to championing emerging leaders and expanding globally. Listeners will gain i...
May 15, 2025•33 min
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Brian Doyle, CEO of Holden Advisors, to explore how B2B companies—especially in manufacturing and industrial sectors—can unlock growth through value-based pricing. Brian shares insights on navigating market uncertainty, communicating across generational teams, and tackling challenges like tariffs and inflation with pricing strategies that stick. Key Takeaways: Why value-based pricing outperforms cost-plus models ...
Apr 15, 2025•28 min
In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Matt Wise, CEO of E Tech Group as we explore how E Tech Group became a powerhouse in system integration, earning accolades like the 2025 System Integrator of the Year award. Discover Matt's unique journey from marketing to leading over 600 employees across North America and how his diverse background shapes innovative strategies for tackling industry challenges. Key Takeaways: - Learn about E Tech Group's evolution through strategic ac...
Mar 14, 2025•22 min
In this encore presentation of one of the most listened episodes of Talking Industrial Automation, Jim Biehl reveals why some businesses thrive and others flame out, based on his decades of experience. Plus, he discusses the No. 1 inhibitor to business growth. Hint: It's not what you think. Register for the CSIA 2025 Conference HERE
Feb 15, 2025•27 min
In today’s episode, we’re talking industrial automation with Cole Wangsness, who is a Solution Architect at OnLogic. Since joining the team in 2018, Cole has focused on empowering companies to solve complex technology challenges at the edge -- encompassing both software and hardware -- by leveraging OnLogic's industrial computing solutions and its robust partner ecosystem. Through his work with customers, partners, vendors and the team at OnLogic, Cole gets to feed his passion for making complex...
Jan 15, 2025•24 min•Ep. 105
In today’s episode, we’re talking industrial automation with Kyle Carreau, who is an Enablement Manager for the Kepware team at PTC. Kyle is the “go-to” technical and commercial resource For Kepware’s technology partners, international distributors, and North American resellers, Kyle Carreau is a go-to technical and commerical resource. In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, you'll hear how he uses his decades of experience in Industrial automation -- a heavy focus on Industrial Netwo...
Dec 15, 2024•27 min•Ep. 104
In this episode, you'll hear from Jim Gillespie, who is the co-founder and chief growth officer of GrayMatter, a leading OT-focused company that provides consulting, services, and curated technology to transform operations and empower people. Since its inception, GrayMatter has grown to over 290 team members and over $80M in revenue. Along the way, it also completed 5 acquisitions and achieved national and international recognition. Listen to find how how and why Jim has grown this company to th...
Nov 15, 2024•27 min•Ep. 103
This episode is a special one – content from a recent CSIA members-only presentation – a Virtual Keynote Address by Alex Chaukosky, who is director of analytics and consulting for the Bundy Group. But that title really does not give you the full picture because he is also a super whiz when it comes to taking economic and labor data and making it understandable, non-partisan, fact based – and more importantly, actionable. The catch is that this is only a portion of his full presentation and only ...
Oct 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, Kacie Chitwood, an account executive at Miller Resource Group, shares her insights into the job market for controls engineers. Some tidbits: The surprising salary jumps controls engineers can expect in their first five years Creative perks companies are using to attract top talent beyond just salary Why the "skills gap" is a major challenge and how companies are addressing it Tips for candidates on standing out in the job market and negotiating o...
Sep 15, 2024•48 min•Ep. 101
Andrew Harris shares his journey from participating in a high school robotics program to leading business development and engineering initiatives at ACS. You'll also hear about ACS's evolution from a spinoff architectural firm to a leader in industrial automation across various industries, as well as the company's holistic approach to project integration, the importance of customer satisfaction, and the challenges and trends in the automation industry.
Aug 15, 2024•16 min•Ep. 100
The airwaves are blowing up with the potential of AI in industrial automation -- but is it all talk? Not at all, says Bryan DeBois, DIrector of AI at RoviSys, a system integration founded in 1989. In fact, Autonomous AI is solving unsolvable problems right now -- including the brain drain and labor shortage -- that are plaquing manufacturing throughout the US. FInd out how in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.
Jul 15, 2024•41 min•Ep. 99
From an entry-level job at a sewage plant (spoiler, it's as bad as you think) to writing a science fiction novel to earning four degrees+, Jeromy Peterson has accumulated an unusual mix of experiences over the course of his 25-year career. Hear all about it -- including the 17 years he's spent as CEO and president of Ripple Industries, an automation and control systems integration company -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.
Jun 15, 2024•50 min•Ep. 98
After 30 years of experience in industrial solution leadership -- ranging from greenfield design and engineering to custom specialized solutions -- Alex Pool launched Masked Owl Technologies. As President of this SI startup, he uses his decades of experience in a diverse technology and automation landscape -- from the destruction of WWII-era chemical weapons to sequencing paper into NYC’s local print shops – to inform this latest venture. Alex’s true passion is in problem-solving and building in...
May 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 97
Can we be solving hard problems that make the economy work better? That make the world a more efficient place? Those are the questions that inspired Adam Gluck to leave his engineering job at Uber and found Copia Automation, which brings modern DevOps tooling to industrial automation, standardizing processes to drive quality, efficency, and uptime at scale. Hear all about the past, present and future of this up and coming start up -- as well as its founder -- in this episode of Talking Industria...
Apr 02, 2024•44 min•Ep. 96
It's not often that an industrial autlomation podcast features a rockstar as a guest -- but it's happening today. Sandy Gennaro -- former drummer for bands as diverse as The Monkees to Joan Jett to Cyndi Lauper -- is here to tell you about his lessons learned from life on the road and other musings. Full disclosure: He is also a keynote speaker for the upcoming CSIA Conference, where he will parlay his experience as a drummer in rock band to leading successful teams. You also migh be surprised w...
Mar 15, 2024•38 min
Meet Ken Hackett, who is Director of Business Development for General Control Systems. In this role, he uses his 30 years of expertise in engineering design, sales, service, and installation of process controls, instrumentation, and electrical systems to partner with clients in the life sciences, industrial, and food beverage sectors. In addition, for the past three years, he has served as President of the ISA Eastern Chapter. Finally, full disclosure, Ken will be a speaker at the upcoming CSIA ...
Feb 15, 2024•41 min•Ep. 94
We are doing something a little different with this episode of Talking Industrial Automation because TIA host Lisa Richter was invited to be a guest on the Rivergate Marketing Podcast, produced by Rivergate Marketing, a full-service digital marketing company and CSIA member. This episode touches on a little bit about a lot of things – from marketing to the CSIA Conference to the upcoming CSIA Makreting workshop. Even if you don’t plan to attend the conference, this crossover episode still offers...
Jan 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 93
Over the course of three decades, Dave Bader, who is Vice President of Business Development at Eurotech, has been involved in several automation revolutions including the evangelism of artificial intelligence at the edge, industrial IoT, and autonomous mobile robotics for industrial and warehouse applications. Serving as the Head of Sales, National Business Develop Manager, National Sales Manager, and Global Channel Manager for a variety of automation and robotics companies, Dave brings a unique...
Jan 16, 2024•36 min•Ep. 92
Finding a role that allowed her to advance her technical skills while also progessing her career was exactly what Karen Griffin was looking for when she landed at Hargrove Controls and Automations. She went on to serve in various automation roles over the next 10 years such as engineering leader, main automation contractor program sponsor, senior program manager and controls and automation engineer for the refining, oil and gas, chemicals and pulp and paper industry. Today, Karen is vice-preside...
Dec 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 91
With more than 18 years of experience in industrial automation with a focus on Open Control, IIoT Industry 4.0, Networking and Cybersecurity, Ira Sharp, director of product marketing automation at Phoenix Contact USA, has seen a few things. Based on this experience -- and his active digital presence as a LinkedIn Content creator focused on automation -- Ira share's his thoughhts on where the industry is headed and how system integrators and others can make the most of it in this episode of Talki...
Nov 15, 2023•25 min•Ep. 90
Joining the company just one year after inception, Ben Durbin has climbed through the Cybertrol Engineering ranks to the top spot: CEO. Along the way he's gained on-the-job experience in every corner of the business -- from programming to sales. Hear about his career journey -- and his advice for newer folks -- in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.
Oct 13, 2023•16 min
After decades of living in the same ecosystem, WIN-911 and SyTech merged to form SmartSights, blending the best of both and triggering a fresh look, brand and approach. Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation from SmartSights CEO Greg Jackson. Greg also reveals what he has learned from his experience as a strategic leader with a unique blend of 30 plus years’ experience and achievements in international sales, business development, operations and product solution devel...
Sep 15, 2023•31 min•Ep. 88
Frustrated with the lack of tools to reliably communicate among different process areas, Andrew Thomas decided to do something about it. So in 1995, he and a partner developed real-time communication software that resulted in a program called Cogent Real Time Systems. Over the following two-plus decades, he continued to reiterate eventually resulting in what is now called Skkynet -- a platform that enables real-time data connectivity for industrial, embedded, and financial systems, with no progr...
Aug 15, 2023•38 min•Ep. 87
For many CSIA members, the Best Practices Manual is THE reason they joined the association -- and for good reason. The BP Manual Best Practices Manual is the most comprehensive collection of best practices within a system integrators industry. This crowdsourced, comprehensive document -- written by integrators for integrators -- represented hundreds of hours of collective wisdom going back to the early 1990s. The latest version -- 6.0 -- was released just last month. The BP Committee Chair, Tony...
Jul 15, 2023•22 min•Ep. 86
"People are like an unstable PID loop," jokes Keith Mandachit of Huffman Engineering in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. Hear what else he and his fellow panelists Andrew Palmberg (Technical Systems Inc) and Becca Johnson (Gray Solutions) share about growing into a leadership role during the encore presentation. (This content originally appeared on the www.controlsys.org website as part if CSIA's Emerging Leaders SIG.)
Jun 15, 2023•41 min•Ep. 85
Dino Busalachi is CTO and Co-Founder of Velta Technology, a company that provides digital safety as a service. Dino has close to 4 decades of global experience across information technology, engineering, and industrial control systems with multiple globally-recognized brands including Rockwell Automation, Anheuser-Busch, American Standard, and General Motors.
May 05, 2023•44 min
Drawing on her experience as a certified speaking professional and best selling author, Lisa Ryan offers some advice for companies that want to retain talent and build a company culture that makes employees want to stay. Along the way, she also gives some tips on public speaking, networking and navigating social awkwardness. If you want to hear more from Lisa, she will be one of the CSIA Executive Conference’s keynote speakers.
Apr 15, 2023•35 min•Ep. 83
Since April 2019, Stratus has completely revamped its partner ecosystem and the programs that support it, providing greater benefits to the partners while driving double digit growth for Stratus reports Mike Bradshaw, Senior Director - Global Channels and Partner Ecosystem. He explains why in this episode as well as revealing why his kids think he is a spy!
Mar 15, 2023•34 min•Ep. 82
