Episodes

  • Ep. 54 (11/21/24): New North, Inc. CEO Barb LaMue

    Ep. 54 (11/21/24): New North, Inc. CEO Barb LaMue
    Nov 21 2024
    Barb LaMue, the president and CEO of New North, Inc., joins co-hosts Kate Bruns of Insight on Manufacturing magazine and Ann Franz of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance on this week's episode. Listen in as Barb reflects on the organization's nearly 20 years of success chartering economic development in the 18-county region, including its talent and business attraction achievements and the potential impact of the upcoming 2025 NFL draft.

    This week's episode is sponsored by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, which is launching its new Lean Alliance Dec. 3: https://events.nwtc.edu/corporate-training/event/detail/lean-alliance-9c7e60

    We will not be releasing a new episode next week. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at NEW Manufacturing Insights!
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    33 mins
  • Ep. 53 (11/14/24): Keeping things moving with Nercon's Jim Eckes

    Ep. 53 (11/14/24): Keeping things moving with Nercon's Jim Eckes
    Nov 14 2024
    Jim Eckes, fabrication manager at Nercon Conveyor Systems, joins co-hosts Kate and Ann on this week's episode to talk about the company's investment in the community of Oconto, which has included a partnership with Oconto High School, educational programs with NEWMA, and a burgeoning youth apprenticeship program Jim calls one of the "favorite programs I've ever been involved with."

    You can also hear Jim describe the conveyor belts, or "transportation systems," Nercon creates for the food and consumer products industries and the jobs the company provides in both Neenah and Oconto.

    This week's episode is sponsored by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, which is launching its new Lean Alliance Dec. 3: https://events.nwtc.edu/corporate-training/event/detail/lean-alliance-9c7e60
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    17 mins
  • Ep. 52 (11/7/24): Manufacturing First recap

    Ep. 52 (11/7/24): Manufacturing First recap
    Nov 7 2024
    This week's podcast takes a look back at Manufacturing First 2024, which was held last week at the Resch Expo in Green Bay. Hear reflections from co-hosts Ann and Kate, as well as interviews recorded live at the event with participants who shared their #MfgFirst insights during the day.

    Thank you to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College for sponsoring this episode, and thank you to everyone who attended the 14th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference!
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    24 mins
  • Ep. 51 (10/24/24): Career EXCELerate

    Ep. 51 (10/24/24): Career EXCELerate
    Oct 24 2024
    This week Kayla Countney of Goodwill NCW and Nancy Bleck of Rawhide Youth Services join co-hosts Ann Franz and Kate Bruns to talk about the innovative Career EXCELerate program -- a collaboration between Goodwill NCW, Rawhide Youth Services and Fox Valley Technical College that provides free job training coupled with high-level mental and emotional support. The program was launched about three years ago with the support of a Wisconsin Workforce Innovation Grant, and it's still going strong today and eyeing growth opportunities, Countney tells the co-hosts. Its initial goal was to serve 460 Wisconsinites, she adds, and it has already reached 420.

    Learn more about Career EXCELerate online: https://offer.goodwillncw.org/career-excelerate-wisconsin

    Thank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring the podcast all throughout the month of October. We will be off next week for Manufacturing First (register now at www.manufacturingfirst.com) but will return with a recap episode Nov. 7. See you Oct. 30 at Resch Expo for #MfgFirst!
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    14 mins
  • Ep. 50 (10/17/24): Eagle Performance Plastics

    Ep. 50 (10/17/24): Eagle Performance Plastics
    Oct 17 2024
    We're celebrating our 50th episode this week! This episode features a conversation with Jason Bailin and Jordy Krall of Appleton's Eagle Performance Plastics, which was recently named one of Wisconsin's Best Places to Work in Manufacturing and was featured in the September issue of Insight on Manufacturing. Bailin, sales manager, and Krall, sustainability specialist, talk about Eagle's recent growth as well as a fascinating new partnership they have forged with a New North vendor that is helping divert 200 tons of plastic waste from landfills every year.

    Read more about Eagle in IOM: https://www.insightonbusiness.com/insightonmanufacturing/articles/plantnews/soaring-success/article_85323094-713a-11ef-ace6-5be18cb0f9ce.html

    Learn more about Wisconsin's Best Places to Work in Manufacturing 2024: https://www.insightonbusiness.com/insightevents/best_places_to_work_in_manufacturing_wisconsin/

    Thank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring the podcast all throughout the month of October.
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    11 mins
  • Ep. 49 (10/10/24): Greg Linnemanstons on the quest for new customers

    Ep. 49 (10/10/24): Greg Linnemanstons on the quest for new customers
    Oct 10 2024
    We're back to talking marketing on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights -- this time with Greg Linnemanstons, the 23-year president of the Appleton-based inbound marketing firm Weidert Group. Greg tells Kate and Ann about his firm's B2B services as well as previews his forthcoming Manufacturing First breakout session, "The Top Industrial Sales & Marketing Plays Your Lead Gen Strategy Needs Now," scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 30 at the expo. Learn more and register for Manufacturing First at www.manufacturingfirst.com.

    Listen in as Greg shares his wisdom on the topic of lead generation, how marketing and sales teams can work together within organizations, and how to implement technology into your marketing mix without losing the personal touch that has helped close business for generations. He also, of course, shares his best leadership insight to close the show.

    Thank you to Werner Electric Supply for sponsoring the podcast all throughout the month of October.
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    21 mins
  • Ep. 48 (10/3/24): LIVE at Werner Electric Supply on our One-Year Anniversary!

    Ep. 48 (10/3/24): LIVE at Werner Electric Supply on our One-Year Anniversary!
    Oct 3 2024
    Werner Electric Supply President Craig Wiedemeier joins Kate and Ann live from Werner Electric's headquarters in Appleton as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of NEW Manufacturing Insights at a special Manufacturing Month kickoff event.

    Craig tells the co-hosts the 75-year-long story of Werner Electric and shares how the business has evolved to become a partner with manufacturers in learning IT and OT, adopting new programs and tools that help improve productivity, and keeping pace with technology.

    Craig will be speaking Oct. 30 at the Manufacturing First Expo & Conference, and it's not too late to register for Wisconsin's largest manufacturing event. Head to www.manufacturingfirst.com to learn more.

    Thank you to our listeners, sponsors, and partners for helping keep the podcast going for one year! We're excited to keep it going in 2025!
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    18 mins
  • Ep. 47 (9/26/24): ark data centers CEO Brett Lindsey

    Ep. 47 (9/26/24): ark data centers CEO Brett Lindsey
    Sep 26 2024
    Brett Lindsey is the newest CEO of Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based ark data centers, which recently rebranded from Involta and is creating in the New North region its largest data center in the country. ark data centers will create a 20-megawatt campus on 24.5 acres in the village of Harrison, with easy access to major markets such as Chicago and Minneapolis. On this week's episode, Lindsey tells co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about why the company is excited to set up shop in Wisconsin using the company's "Gen 6 design" model.

    Lindsey also dives into cybersecurity, AI and other tech topics that are affecting ark's large enterprise customers and suggests some moves manufacturers should consider making now to build new products and offer better service to customers in the age of AI.

    Thank you to Wisconsin Paper Group for sponsoring the podcast all throughout the month of September.
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    21 mins