Made in America with Ari Santiago

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Episodes

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Each week Ari interviews a thriving manufacturing leader and discovers the secrets to their success. He uncovers each guests' 'manufacturing story' - their path into and through the industry, Ari digs into successes and best practices of each company and leader, as well as challenges and discoveries, to help listeners and guests learn from each other. Discover the strategies these great leaders have used to start, develop, and grow their business - workforce development, leadership, sales/marketing, investments, technology, mergers, workplace culture and so much more! Ari Santiago is the CEO of CompassMSP a Technology Managed Service Provider with offices up and down the eastern seaboard and into the Midwest. He has a passion for the manufacturing industry and the incredible impact it makes on our economy. Do you know someone who would be a great guest or have a topic you'd really like to learn about? Let us know! Reach out to our podcast producer at contactus@compassmsp.com

Episodes

Air Handling Systems/NHMA - Learning from each other is the key to growth

There is not much we don't cover in this interview with Jamison Scott, VP of Air Handling Systems and Executive Director of the New Haven Manufacturer's Association. Jamie talks about Air Handling Systems as a family business - where they came from and where they're going. He talks about some of the great things they've done with their technology and marketing, the importance they place on customer service, and how they retain a younger workforce. Jamie has so much respect and belief in the incr...

Oct 15, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Phoenix Manufacturing - The importance of working together as a company and a community

This incredible interview covers so much manufacturing ground! Glenn Ford, President of Phoenix Manufacturing has an incredible background in and knowledge of the aerospace industry. Ari and Glenn talk about the history of precision machining, the capabilities of CT's aerospace valley, and the importance of globalization to small aerospace. Then they move on to ways to improve your company, from uncovering your core values, to developing company culture, to recruiting and training talent. Ari an...

Oct 08, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Willington Nameplate - Reframe your External Branding/Redefine Your Internal Mindset

Willington Nameplate has done incredible work changing with the times to keep their business in the forefront of manufacturing. In this episode, Brett Greene, President of Willington Nameplate, talks to Ari about their successful efforts to rebrand the company and modernize its marketing. They also discuss the company's search for continuous growth in areas like recruitment, employee growth, and communication. Brett discusses his own unique career development and how he began to focus on working...

Oct 01, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast

OPM Biomedical - Scratching the Surface on Innovative Manufacturing Technologies

Severine Zygmont, President of OPM Biomedical, has the passion, curiosity and patience required to be a great leader. In today's episode of Made in America with Ari Santiago, Severine dives into her own background, the history of Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), and the innovations that have brought OPM to the forefront of medical manufacturing technology. On top of that, Severine shares her clear excitement and passion for the technology and manufacturing communities in CT. She talks to Ari ...

Sep 24, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Har-Conn - Handling the ups and downs of the aerospace industry and staying strong

Har-Conn is in the enviable position of being at the top of their game in the aerospace industry in CT! But it hasn't always been that way. Tim Backus, President/CEO of Har-Conn, talks about how they have developed, changed, and continued to not only rise, but thrive, over the years. Har-Conn has seen tremendous growth in workload that also necessitates tremendous growth in workforce. Tim talks about hiring and retention strategies; leadership development programs; the open book policy that help...

Sep 17, 2019•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Lynn Welding - How to Create an Employee-Centric Company

Darius Kania, VP of Lynn Welding, has amazing clarity of purpose in everything he does. This episode is chock full of great ideas that he has successfully implemented in his own company. From Marketing to Sales to employee growth and development, Darius talks about so many lessons he's learned and improvements he's made. Learn about the risks his family has taken and the rewards they have achieved. As an immigrant, Darius still truly believes we live in the land of opportunity. His focus is to c...

Sep 10, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Stanley Black and Decker - Building an Advanced Manufacturing Epicenter in Hartford

This is an inspiring podcast episode that you don't want to miss! On this episode of the Made in America podcast, we've got Marty Guay, Vice President of Business Development at Stanley Black & Decker. Marty talks about Stanley's vision of Hartford as a world epicenter of advanced manufacturing. Stanley's Manufactory 4.0 recently opened in Hartford is meant to be a hub of manufacturing technology innovation - Industry 4.0 - as well as the location of their Techstars startup accelerator. Marty an...

Sep 03, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Atlas Stamping and Manufacturing - How passion, learning and improving can drive business success

Lynda Prigodich, CEO of Atlas Stamping and Manufacturing Co, loves her work and her industry and it shows in everything she does. In this interview, Lynda shares some of the lessons she has learned while discovering how to lead her company through the ups and downs of the aerospace industry. Lynda and Ari discuss a wide range of topics from women in manufacturing to robots to recruitment and retention. Discover the programs that helped guide her, the decisions that helped shape Atlas and the pri...

Aug 27, 2019•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Collins and Jewell Company - How to Continue Growth in a 3rd Gen Business

According to the Harvard Business Review, only about 10% of all family businesses survive to the 3rd generation. So how did Chris Jewell, CFO and Principal of Collins and Jewell beat the statistic to not only survive but thrive? Listen to Chris's story of the growth and development of Collins and Jewell from a small boiler company in 1946 to today's 35,000 sq. ft facility for custom steel fabricating and industrial installations providing services for the likes of Electric Boat. Chris talks to A...

Aug 20, 2019•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Okay Industries - It's All About the Customer Relationship

You're going to learn a lot from this incredible interview! This episode's guest, Jason Howey, CEO of Okay Industries, explains how everything they do is really focused on the relationship with their customers. He describes the "Okay Way", a set of pillars that help define the values, behavior, mission and vision of Okay industries. This approach to workplace culture, as well as building a "blameless culture" permeates every action and decision. In addition, Jason and Ari discuss research and de...

Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Carey Manufacturing: How Reshoring Provides Tremendous Value to your Customers

On this podcast, Ari's guest is Paul Lavoie from Carey Manufacturing. Ari and Paul talk about so many topics including: Paul's incredible journey to manufacturing Reshoring from China Manufacturer's recruitment secrets Growth in the "Amazon era" And so much more! You can watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/itdirect151/ Follow the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast/ Carey Manufacturing: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carey-man...

Aug 06, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast

American Cladding Technologies: How to Build a Manufacturing Business by Solving Problems

On the first episode of Made in America, Ari welcomes manufacturing leader, Jeff Whittaker, President of American Cladding Technologies (ACT) in East Granby, CT. Jeff talks to Ari about his leadership journey, his love of solving problems and how ACT has worked past its initial growing pains to develop and grow after spinning off from their parent company. You can watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/itdirect151/ Follow the podcast on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/...

Jul 30, 2019•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Welcome to the Made in America Podcast

We are so excited to introduce the Made in America podcast - the only podcast for manufacturers in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Join Ari Santiago every week as he speaks to manufacturing leaders that are thriving in their industry. Learn the secrets of their success in video or audio format! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/itdirect151/ Ari Santiago is the President/CEO of IT Direct - www.gettingyouconnected.com Podcast produced by Miceli Producti...

Jul 24, 2019•43 sec•Transcript available on Metacast