The Manufacturing Employer
The Manufacturing Employer is a podcast built for the hiring managers, HR pros and culture builders at industrial companies. It’s hosted by Gorilla 76 Co-Founder Jon Franko. You’ll hear from those designing great workplaces. Employee engagement, benefits, onboarding - we’ll be talking about the working experience from top to bottom.
Episodes
Scott Gates, President of Awake Window & Door Co., joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his innovative hiring model that employs formerly incarcerated individuals. Scott shares how this approach has grown Awake into a $30 million business while providing second chances and rebuilding lives. The conversation also explores the competitive advantages of this hiring strategy, including access to untapped talent ...
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Matt Granados, founder and CEO of LifePulse Inc., joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how organizations can fix people problems by addressing underlying system issues. Matt challenges conventional approaches to workplace culture, arguing that sustainable solutions come from equipping individuals to solve their own problems rather than implementing quick fixes. The conversation explores how manufacturing lea...
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September 30, 2025
Mark Reich, author of Managing on Purpose and senior lean coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how lean thinking can improve customer value, quality and employee development across various industries. Mark also talks about his new book, "Managing on Purpose," which offers practical guidance on implementing Hoshin Kanri for strategic alignment and execution. The convers...
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Chris Luecke, host of Manufacturing Hour, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the evolving landscape of manufacturing. He shares how automation and AI are reshaping the industry, debunking fears of job loss and highlighting new opportunities. Chris emphasizes the importance of storytelling in manufacturing, both for external marketing and internal culture-building. He details the transformation of manufactu...
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Myles Rickerd and Trevor O'Malley, founders of Hire MFG Leaders, join The Manufacturing Employer to share their targeted approach to recruiting in the manufacturing space. They discuss how deep industry focus helps them align talent with company culture, while also addressing compensation, work-life balance and the evolving benefits landscape. Trevor and Miles emphasize genuine care in the recruiting process and hi...
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Dave Garrison, co-founder of Garrison Growth, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack the “buy-in crisis” driving employee disengagement. He explores root causes like shifting post-pandemic priorities and generational changes, and he explains why perks and bonuses no longer cut it. Drawing from his book "The Buy-In Advantage," Dave shares practical strategies for building trust, fostering purpose and creating a ...
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Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of Better Culture, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how manufacturers can build stronger workplaces through employee-led culture. He introduces the 20 Tenets of Culture—simple, behavior-driven principles like being coachable and celebrating coworkers—that drive performance and retention. Brett explains how to spot toxic behaviors early, measure cultural progress and empower fron...
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Matt Meltzer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Meltzer Hellrung, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the role of immigration law in supporting a strong manufacturing workforce. Matt shares practical insights on navigating visa options for skilled workers, staying compliant amid shifting policies and building a sense of security for foreign-born employees. He explores the value immigrant workers bring to t...
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Matt Temple and Doug Simms, executives at Sonus Benefits, join The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how manufacturers can make healthcare plans a competitive advantage. They explore strategies and creative solutions to rising pharmacy costs—all aimed at improving culture, retention and employee well-being.
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Luke Wittenbraker, Sales & Marketing Director at Mactech On-Site, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the importance of celebrating safety and building a culture that supports it. With more than 1,210 days without a recordable incident, Luke shares insights on fostering a culture of safety in high-risk environments emphasizing the role of leadership, consistent communication and employee empowerment in crea...
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Todd Warner, President of MyWorkChoice, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the importance of flexibility in helping manufacturers solve challenges in recruitment, retention and absenteeism. With more than 35 years of experience in staffing, Todd shares insights on addressing high turnover rates and worker dissatisfaction, particularly in entry-level manufacturing roles.
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May 27, 2025 • 46 mins
Peyton Warren, Marketing Director at Gorilla 76, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss professional development, the role it's played in her growth and why events like the Industrial Marketing Summit are key for manufacturers to consider. Peyton shares the value of self-driven development, the power of community in professional events and the impact of supportive employers.
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Fred Reggie, entrepreneur and leadership expert, returns to The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his upcoming book "Tell Me: How to Initiate and Nurture Meaningful Conversations with Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime." He explores the power of curiosity and genuine interest in fostering meaningful connections. Fred shares anecdotes illustrating how this approach has led to remarkable experiences and connections, emphasizi...
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April 29, 2025 • 32 mins
Alice Warnier, Marketing Director at Curri, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss building a strong remote work culture. She highlights Curri's focus on employee recognition, transparency and company values, offering insights into maintaining a vibrant remote culture.
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April 15, 2025 • 35 mins
Chris Chuang, co-founder and CEO of Relay, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his thoughts on the critical role of communication in manufacturing environments. He shares how outdated methods like walkie-talkies and paper forms lead to inefficiencies and safety concerns, as well as increasing language barriers.
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April 1, 2025 • 28 mins
Nush Ahmed of the Next Gen MFG podcast joins The Manufacturing Employer to talk about her enthusiasm for the trades. She shares her unique journey, starting from an unexpected entry into manufacturing through automotive school where she discovered the power of machining. She also discusses the role of self-directed learning, utilizing resources like Google and ChatGPT to get to where she is today.
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March 18, 2025 • 25 mins
Ryan McMartin of Parsec Automation joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the future of manufacturing technology and its impact on the workforce.
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Chad Hufford of Veritas Wealth Management joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss strategies for empowering employees through financial education.
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February 19, 2025 • 31 mins
Jason Woodard of the Geislinger Corporation joins The Manufacturing Employer to share what makes his company's culture tick.
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February 4, 2025 • 37 mins
Ellen Sauter and Cara Klyn from Cara Collective discuss their approach to workforce development on The Manufacturing Employer. They highlight Cara's success in placing over 15,000 individuals in jobs and share strategies for building strong employer partnerships and fostering inclusive hiring practices.
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