The Manufacturing Employer

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

Balancing cost and care in healthcare benefits, with Matt Temple and Doug Simms of Sonus Benefits

July 8, 2025
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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Celebrating a culture of safety, with Luke Wittenbraker of Mactech On-Site

June 24, 2025
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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A flexible workforce solution, with Todd Warner of MyWorkChoice

June 10, 2025
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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An episode about professional development, with Peyton Warren of Gorilla 76

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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“Tell Me” the role of curiosity in workplace culture, with Fred Reggie of Fred Reggie Coaching

May 13, 2025 • 44 mins
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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Top-notch culture in a remote world, with Alice Warnier of Curri

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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Modernizing communication on the shop floor, with Chris Chuang of Relay

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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Bridging the gap between Gen Z and manufacturing, with Nush Ahmed of Next Gen MFG

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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Work smarter, not harder, with Ryan McMartin of Parsec Automation

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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Empowering your people to build brighter financial futures, with Chad Hufford of Veritas Wealth Management

March 4, 2025 • 33 mins
Chad Hufford of Veritas Wealth Management joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss strategies for empowering employees through financial education.
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Culture examined, with Jason Woodard of the Geislinger Corporation

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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Empowering second chances in manufacturing, Ellen Sauter and Cara Klyn of Cara Collective

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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Success in recruitment through lives impacted, with Ben Talbert of Better Than Found

January 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Ben Talbert of Better Than Found joins The Manufacturing Employer to talk about his very unique approach to recruitment and how he measures success in placement.
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HR done right, with Mikaela Gitto, SPHR, of Sentry Equipment

January 7, 2025 • 39 mins
Mikaela Gitto, SPHR, of Sentry Equipment joins The Manufacturing Employer to talk about the company's approach to people and culture.
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The shortest episode of the year, with host Jon Franko

December 31, 2024 • 5 mins
A sincere thanks and some housekeeping is all that's on the agenda for this episode of The Manufacturing Employer.
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Gen Z in the workforce, with Nolan Beilstein of "Gen Z in Manufacturing"

December 24, 2024 • 27 mins
Nolan Beilstein, host of the "Gen Z in Manufacturing" podcast series, joins The Manufacturing Employer to talk about the newest generation to enter the workforce.
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Lead like a pilot, with Craig Coyle of Operation Lead

December 17, 2024 • 26 mins
Craig Coyle of Operation Lead joins The Manufacturing Employer to share the leadership lessons he learned while in the military and how they apply to modern manufacturing.
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Insights from an industry advocate, with Gen Z industry leader Jacob Sanchez

December 10, 2024 • 30 mins
Gen Z industry leader Jacob Sanchez joins The Manufacturing Employer to share his journey from a reluctant high school student to a leader in manufacturing, and what he learned along the way.
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Championing manufacturing culture and leadership, with The Manufacturing Connector Jim Mayer

December 3, 2024 • 34 mins
The Manufacturing Connector Jim Mayer joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the evolving landscape of manufacturing culture and the role leadership has in it all.
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The future of skilled trades in manufacturing, with Tim Raglin of Skillwork

November 26, 2024 • 31 mins
Tim Raglin of Skillwork joins The Manufacturing Employer to talk about the future of skilled trades in manufacturing and why the golden age could be right around the corner.
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