In this episode, Lisa Ryan interviews Gareth Evans, the CEO and founder of VECKTA, a platform and team of experts that accelerates and simplifies the deployment of on-site energy solutions for businesses globally. With 20 years of experience in the energy and resources sectors, Gareth shares valuable insights into the energy transition, clean energy alternatives, and the future of sustainable energy solutions in this captivating discussion.

**Key Themes and Takeaways**

1. Gareth’s Unique Journey: Gareth shares his unexpected and diverse journey, from aspiring to be a fast jet pilot in the Air Force to becoming an expert in the energy and resources sectors.

2. The Birth of VECKTA: Inspired by his experience supporting ExxonMobil and others after the 2nd Gulf War, Gareth’s mission was to provide clean, reliable, and affordable power, leading to the establishment of VECKTA in 2019.

3. What VECKTA Stands For: Gareth breaks down the meaning of VECKTA, derived from the word “vector.” VECKTA symbolizes providing magnitude, direction, and scale to the energy transition, focusing on creating sustainable solutions.

4. Energy Transition and Business Impact: Gareth explains that businesses must produce more products, more reliably, at lower costs, and in a cleaner way to win or retain contracts despite increasing energy costs and decreasing reliability in the aging power grid.

5. Role of Government Policies: Gareth discusses the impact of government policies and regulations, highlighting incentives and mechanisms that support businesses in transitioning to distributed on-site energy assets.

6. Digital Technologies and Data: The rise of digital technologies, data, and analytics transforms how businesses manage and optimize their energy use, enabling businesses to make informed decisions to reduce energy costs.

7. Energy Efficiency Priorities: Gareth emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency, ranging from behavioral changes to technological solutions, and highlights opportunities for businesses to reduce energy consumption and costs through various strategies.

8. Clean Energy and The Role of Gas: Gareth dispels common misconceptions about clean energy, emphasizing the importance of tailoring energy solutions to a business’s specific needs, even if that includes transitional fuel solutions such as gas, which can be cleaner and more cost-effective.

9. Lessons Learned and Opportunities: The episode concludes with a powerful message from Gareth, encouraging businesses to embrace the energy transition as a massive opportunity to differentiate themselves, drive operational and cost efficiencies, and contribute to sustainability.

**Lessons Learned**

- Business leaders are being expected to produce more products reliably, cost-effectively, and sustainably, necessitating a shift towards cheaper, more reliable, and sustainable energy outcomes.

- Embracing energy transition presents a unique opportunity for businesses to stand out by optimizing energy solutions, reducing costs, increasing resilience, and proactively meeting sustainability goals.

**Fun Facts**

- Gareth shares how solar systems are being deployed even in unexpected regions with low sunlight, highlighting the surprising potential for solar energy generation.

- Businesses can take advantage of energy as a service contract, where an entity will finance, build, operate, and maintain energy solutions, offering a hassle-free pathway to securing sustainable energy at a fixed cost.

To learn more about VECTA and energy transformation, visit [www.veckta.com](www.veckta.com) and the Renewable Rides podcast for more exciting information about sustainable energy solutions.

Tap into Gareth Evans’ expertise and stay connected on LinkedIn for the latest...

In this episode, Lisa Ryan is joined by Andrew Lane and Abby Wurzbach to discuss the creation and mission of the Young Manufacturers Network. Abby shares how the network was established and its goals in providing a space for young professionals to connect, develop skills, and adapt to new technologies in the manufacturing industry. Andrew emphasizes the importance of encouraging collaboration and preparing young manufacturers for future challenges.

- Abby's career transition from education to business and her impactful experience at ManTec led to the founding of the Young Manufacturers Network. The network seeks to help small and medium-sized manufacturers grow and stay competitive through resources and networking opportunities. It offers a platform for sharing innovative ideas, professional development, mentorship, and community building.

- The hosts delve into the importance of OSHA and safety training, mentorship, and communication between different generations in the manufacturing industry. They highlight the development of a mentoring program to pair younger manufacturers with industry veterans for knowledge transfer and address the communication gap between digital native younger employees and legacy employees with technological knowledge.

**Fun Facts**

- Abby Wurzbach transitioned from education to joining her father's manufacturing company as a sales and marketing intern, eventually founding the Young Manufacturers Network.

- Andrew Lane transitioned from working as a correction officer to the staffing industry, focusing on office professional and manufacturing positions, before joining ManTech to support small and medium-sized manufacturers.

**Lessons Learned**

Building the Young Manufacturers Network involved gathering feedback from industry veterans, friends, and young people and shaping the network's direction through a focus group.

- Valuable elements from existing associations were identified and adapted to groom and grow young manufacturers within the network.

**Key Themes**

- The Young Manufacturers Network aims to provide a sense of belonging and a networking platform for professionals aged 21 to 40.

- Mentorship, skill development, communication across generations, time management, and community building are vital components of the network's offerings.

- Collaboration with local Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) and the encouragement of buy-in from organizations play pivotal roles in the network's success and the thriving of the manufacturing industry.

Lisa Ryan is joined by Glenn Akramoff, CEO of Akramoff LLC, who brings over 30 years of industry expertise. Glenn shares transformative strategies for revolutionizing human-centered manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal and organizational goals. He delves into building winning teams, fostering a positive workplace culture, and developing strategies to keep employees motivated and valued.

From his extensive municipal government background, Glenn provides practical approaches to creating cohesive teams and addressing generational opportunities. Discover how purpose-driven leadership shapes successful manufacturing environments and how veteran workers can pass their legacy to younger generations through mentorship. Glenn and Lisa explore actionable steps for adapting to evolving workforce expectations while balancing generational diversity.

• Purpose-Driven Leadership: Align organizational goals to inspire employees.
• Team Building: Foster collaboration across generational divides.
• Employee Motivation: Empower your workforce to ensure they feel valued.
• Workplace Culture: Develop a supportive environment that encourages growth.

Tune in to hear Glenn and Lisa offer valuable insights for enhancing manufacturing success and maximizing employee engagement.

Lessons Learned:

1. Accountability, fairness, and consistency are essential elements of a positive workplace culture.

2. Leaders must actively assess and improve workplace culture, structure, and processes to create a cohesive and motivated team.

3. Recognizing the impact of generational diversity in the workplace is crucial for adapting leadership and motivation strategies.

4. Purpose-driven leadership and human-centered cultures positively influence decision-making, product quality, customer experience, and overall organizational success.

5. Recognizing signs of a dysfunctional environment, such as high turnover and communication issues, is crucial for addressing workplace culture and building strong relationships in the organization.

Key Themes:

- Creating a human-centered workplace culture

- Strategies for fostering a winning team

- Generational diversity in the workplace

- Purpose-driven leadership

- Importance of personal growth and support for leaders

- Recognizing signs of a dysfunctional environment

In this episode of the Manufacturers' Network Podcast, Tom Geraghty shares his journey from a diverse background in technology, healthcare, aviation, and government to becoming a passionate advocate for creating high-performing teams through psychological safety.

- The concept of psychological safety is about creating an environment where individuals feel safe to speak up, share concerns, and make mistakes without fear of retribution.

- Tom emphasizes the universal applicability of psychological safety across different domains, such as aviation, healthcare, tech, and manufacturing, highlighting the fundamental human dynamics underlying it.

Lesson Learned:

- The importance of creating conditions in which people and teams can thrive, recognizing that high-performing teams require a foundation of psychological safety.

- The impact of disruptive events such as the Tenerife air disaster and the Challenger disaster on the development and implementation of safety programs, promoting the critical role of psychological safety in safety-critical domains.

Fun Facts:

- Tom shares examples of how organizations use creative approaches such as "failure walls" and "f-up Fridays" to normalize failure, encourage candid discussions, and promote a culture of psychological safety.

- Reframing work as experiments and learning opportunities, rather than merely delivering a product, highlights the process-oriented nature of work and the potential for continuous improvement through psychological safety.

Key Takeaways:

- The need for leaders to model the behavior of psychological safety, prioritize learning from failures, and create mechanisms for open communication and feedback.

- The potential for psychological safety to drive improvements not only in safety and quality but also in employee retention, inclusivity, and diversity.

- The reassurance that there is no limit to psychological safety, and it is essential to address underlying problematic beliefs or attitudes that may surface in a safe environment.

Overall, the episode provides a compelling perspective on the transformative power of psychological safety and its potential to foster safe and innovative work environments in manufacturing and other industries.

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network podcast, host Lisa Ryan interviews Scott Mackenzie, managing partner and founder of Industrial Talk Media. Scott is a passionate industry educator who shares his journey into the industrial sector and discusses his role in shaping the future of manufacturing and construction industries through technological advancements.

Scott Mackenzie is the founder of a successful maintenance company, but he realized that he needed to find new opportunities to open doors for his business. After brainstorming and noodling on ideas, he recognized that maintenance wasn't a high passion topic for people. However, during a drive back from a client, he was listening to a podcast and had a lightbulb moment. This led him to pivot his business focus and pursue new opportunities and pathways for growth.

Key Themes and Lessons Learned:

- Scott's background in maintenance and the realization that nobody wanted to talk about maintenance led him to the idea of starting a podcast.

- He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning to keep up with the rapidly changing industrial landscape and adapt to technological advancements.

- The significance of partnerships and collaboration in navigating the fast-paced changes in industry, and the pivotal role of people in driving future innovations and solutions.

- The critical need for industrial leaders to step out of their comfort zones and embrace marketing and storytelling to attract younger generations and showcase the value of working in the industry.

- Scott's memorable podcast conversations with industry professionals who have pioneered terms like "use case," "digital twin," and innovations in augmented reality, offering a deeper understanding of technological advancements in the industrial sector.

Fun Facts and Actionable Ideas:

- Scott shares his discovery channel dream of sharing knowledge and expertise with the industrial community through his learning management system, offering practical courses on topics like Google Ads and marketing strategies.

- He encourages industry professionals to embrace digital transformation and online learning portals to stay informed about latest industry trends and advancements.

- Scott's practical approach resonates with his personal experience and learning, making his marketing superpower a valuable resource for manufacturers as they navigate through the evolving landscape of industry marketing and sales.

These show notes capture Scott Mackenzie's insights on technological advancements, future challenges, and the importance of continuous learning and collaboration within the industrial sector, providing actionable ideas for industry professionals to embrace and adapt to changes in the industry landscape.

Key words: industrial talk, industrial media, manufacturing, construction, industry educator, technology, innovation, automation, maintenance, podcast, trailblazers, out of the box thinkers, future of manufacturing, digital twin, augmented reality, learning management system, marketing, sales, education, collaboration, innovation, leadership, maintenance company, supply chain management, human element, industrial workforce, leadership, digital transformation, industrial processes, industrial sector

Connect with Eknauth Persaud:

Phone: 817-210 4042

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eknauth/

Website: ayokasystems.com/

Welcome to the Manufacturers Network Podcast! In this episode, our host, Lisa Ryan, is joined by Eknauth Persaud, the CEO of Ioka Systems, a renowned expert in utilizing AI for manufacturing. Eknauth offers valuable insights into the potential of AI to revolutionize decision-making in the manufacturing industry, emphasizing its role in preserving best practices and guiding newer employees. He shares real-life examples of AI's impact on processes and discusses the careful considerations and potential risks of integrating AI into manufacturing operations. The episode delves into the benefits of AI in improving quality, consistency, and employee satisfaction while also addressing the need for data protection and intellectual property security. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation about the power of AI in manufacturing and the strategic use of technology to drive efficiency and innovation.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

1. AI as a Decision-Making Tool: Eknauth highlighted the missed opportunity for manufacturers to leverage AI to fill the middle ground of decision-making, emphasizing its potential to emulate the decision-making of experienced employees and offer guidance for consistent decision-making.

2. Preserving Expertise: He discussed the opportunity for manufacturers to incorporate the legacy and expertise of long-time employees into AI, guiding newer employees and preserving best practices. Eknauth shared a real-life example of using software to capture procedures and processes, guide newer employees, and evaluate performance relative to forecasts.

3. Ethical Considerations: Eknauth discussed the importance of data protection and caution when utilizing AI for generating code, underscoring the importance of preserving intellectual property and safeguarding data.

4. Sustainable Manufacturing: Host Lisa Ryan highlighted the importance of sustainability in manufacturing and the need to attract younger generations while raising concerns about misunderstandings of digital transformation among manufacturing leaders.

5. Protecting Intellectual Property: Eknauth emphasized the need to keep AI systems within the company's network to protect data and intellectual property, contrasting publicly available AI models with internally-driven AI models used in manufacturing.

The episode comprehensively explored the potential benefits and pitfalls of integrating AI into manufacturing processes. Eknauth's expert insights shed light on the transformative power of AI in guiding decision-making and optimizing processes.

If you want to explore the possibilities of AI in manufacturing or have questions, feel free to reach out to Eknauth Persaud. You can connect with him at 817-210 4042. He expressed his willingness to share his thoughts and help others navigate the integration of AI within manufacturing processes.

Contact Joe Ricci: jricci@trsa.org

LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-ricci-trsa/

TRSA.org

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan sits down with Joe Ricci, President and CEO of the Textile Rental Services Association of America. Joe shares insights into North America's $50 billion textile services industry, touching on its economic impact, sustainability efforts, and future trends. From the importance of cleanliness and sustainability to the challenges and opportunities within the industry, Joe provides an in-depth look at the textile services landscape and sheds light on its vital role in everyday life. Tune in to learn more about the industry's commitment to sustainability, technological advancements, and the efforts to attract and retain a skilled workforce.

Key takeaways from the episode:

1. Sustainable Practices: The textile industry is focused on sustainability, from reducing water and chemical usage to embracing the circular economy and recycling textiles back into raw fabrics.

2. Safety and Innovation: Embracing technology has transformed the industry, improving safety, productivity, and reduced turnover while also addressing challenges such as PFAS and microplastics.

3. Workforce Development: Industry members are implementing creative strategies to attract, train, and retain talent, demonstrating a commitment to the workforce and addressing the ongoing labor shortage.

Listen to the full episode for in-depth insights on the important role played by the textile services industry in healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, as well as its impact on sustainability and the economy.

#ManufacturersNetwork #Podcast #TextileIndustry #Sustainability #Innovation #WorkforceDevelopment

Connect with Roger Atkins: ratkins@ntma.org

In this episode, our guest, Roger Atkins, President of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), shares invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of the manufacturing industry. Roger's lifelong involvement in manufacturing, shaped by his family's influence and experience in the field, has fueled his dedication to sustaining and enhancing the industry. Throughout the episode, he delves into many critical topics, ranging from the impact of government regulations on small and medium-sized manufacturers to the essential role of automation and modernization in staying competitive globally. He underscores the significance of reshoring operations and the pressing need to attract and train a skilled workforce, particularly drawing younger individuals into the manufacturing sector. By the end of this episode, you will gain a deeper understanding of the driving forces shaping the industry's future and the crucial initiatives led by NTMA.

Throughout the episode, Roger Atkins, the guest, discusses key points:

- How younger individuals are entering careers in manufacturing without college debt due to financing from those who need it.

- The harmful impact of government regulations on small to medium-sized manufacturers, such as taxes and regulatory restrictions.

- The uncertainty of elections affecting the manufacturing industry and reshoring becoming a trend due to the challenges faced during the pandemic.

- Manufacturers must reduce costs and adopt automation and robotics to stay competitive globally.

- The introduction of an exclusive tooling program by the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) to help members reduce costs without affecting prices, protect their profits, and help them stay in business.

Throughout the discussion, Roger Atkins shares his insights and expertise based on his extensive experience as the president of NTMA. By highlighting the hardships and opportunities within the manufacturing sector, he underscores the importance of sustaining and enhancing the industry's vitality.

The Importance of Mentorship in Business: "My dad went to his grave telling would tell anybody that it was his intimate friends and colleagues that taught him how to run a business."

— Roger Atkins [00:04:22 → 00:04:29]

The Power of Unity in Manufacturing: "When those little shops bind together, all of a sudden, we find out we're not the little guy in the game, that we play a huge role of of US manufacturing."

— Roger Atkins [00:09:11 → 00:10:01]

The Importance of Manufacturing in Space Exploration: "Nothing you touch, anything you touch, there was a manufacturer involved at some point in the process. Regardless of what it is."

— Roger Atkins [00:12:22 → 00:12:30]

The Importance of Manufacturing Careers: "But that one of the big challenges is that the other thing that really we fight against all the time are government regulations that really harms small to medium-sized factors."

— Roger Atkins [00:16:27 → 00:16:36]

The Impact of Regulations on Small Businesses: "And it stopped a couple of years ago, and they've used this as a political football where both sides agree it's great and small business needs it, But we're gonna use it as a political football to get something else we need."

— Roger Atkins [00:17:04 → 00:17:16]

The impact of presidential election years on small to medium-sized manufacturers: "Being our customers, they maybe we're going to have administration change. We don't. All that so everybody's in limbo in an election year, and I think that does affect small, medium, Small to medium-sized manufacturers until a decision's made as to what direction we're going to go as a nation politically."

— Roger Atkins [00:18:06 → 00:18:22]

Reshoring Opportunities in Manufacturing: "I think you're going to see a continued reshowing...