#216: TJ Dembinski (Eagle Electronics) — Onshoring America's Critical Technologies (TOF Report)

TJ Dembinski is the co-founder and CEO of Eagle Electronics, dedicated to on-shoring America’s critical technology supply chain, starting with the IoT and automotive-grade cellular modules!

This journey traces a fascinating arc — one that begins with the macro and geopolitical forces shaping global commerce and lands in a Northeast Ohio advanced micro-electronic manufacturing floor where Eagle Electronics is domestically building one of the most critical pieces of our digital infrastructure: the cellular module.

TJ's story, and the founding of Eagle, is deeply embedded in these broader structural shifts — from the decoupling of U.S. global supply chains to the bipartisan momentum around domestic manufacturing and deindustrialization, to the evolving national security concerns that now govern the production of connected technologies.

We also talk about the nuances of reshoring, what onshoring looks like in practice, what cellular modules are, and why Ohio — of all places — is emerging as the epicenter of America’s next industrial chapter. From partnerships to cutting-edge automation, from regulatory and security considerations to hard-earned insights about what it actually takes to build something physical at scale — TJ brings an insightful clarity to one of the most exciting, complex, and important entrepreneurial movements underway today and how Eagle Electronics is positioned to lead within it.

00:00:00 - Reviving Domestic Manufacturing  
00:05:09 - The Evolution of Eagle Electronics  
00:08:11 - Understanding Cellular Modules and Their Importance  
00:10:56 - Navigating Regulatory Challenges  
00:14:02 - The Role of Trust and Security in Technology  
00:16:53 - Building a Skilled Workforce in Ohio  
00:20:00 - Funding and Capital Landscape in Ohio  
00:23:04 - The Future of Onshoring and Manufacturing  
00:26:02 - Lessons Learned as a Founder  
00:29:04 - The Importance of Nuance in Global Supply Chains  
00:37:00 - Requirements for Success
00:46:50 - Hidden Gem

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LINKS:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-dembinski/
https://www.eagleelectronics.com/
https://theohiofund.com/

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Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.

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