EP 1 - Manufacturing 2020: How Challenges Became Opportunity

“We think that this podcast as well as just sharing these (manufacturing) stories is just an invaluable way for WMC, Baker Tilly and Michael Best again, give back to the community.” – David Krutz | Firm Managing Partner | Michael Best

In the first episode of "Wisconsin Made. The Podcast." which is brought to you by Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year (MOTY) Awards program, host Nick Novak is joined by the MOTY program partners Baker Tilly, Michael Best and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) to discuss why we started this podcast and what you can expect in future episodes as we highlight Wisconsin manufacturers ability to navigate their business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Our guests joining us today are Greg Sofra, Partner of Baker Tilly who specializes in providing assurance services for manufacturing and distribution clients. David Krutz, Firm Managing Partner of Michael Best who works closely with clients, lawyers, and staff to determine and implement Michael Best’s strategic growth and development plan. And finally, Kurt Bauer, President & CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce who leads combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association – which aims to make Wisconsin the most competitive state in the nation to do business. 

In this episode we answer: 

Who is Baker Tilly, Michael Best & Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce? (1:51)

Why did we want to start this podcast and tell the stories of Wisconsin manufacturers? (6:05)

What are you hearing from your clients/members on how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic? (7:48) (13:49)

Where do you see manufacturing going moving forward? (11:35) (15:30)

What is your view of what manufactures did in 2020 and how would you explain really the resiliency they had throughout the year? (19:10)

In future episodes, we are going to be talking with CEOs and different executives from the manufacturing companies in Wisconsin about their personal stories and what 2020 was like for them. How they navigated through all the challenges, changed their business models and even found success and opportunities moving forward. Please join us next week as we hear our first manufacturing story from Nicolet Plastics out of Jackson as we learn about how they shifted their processes and protocols and really stepped up to help manufacturing critical PPE for our communities and our country. 

If you found value in this episode or want to hear the stories from Wisconsin manufacturers, please hit that subscribe button and share it with your peers. We really want to showcase all the good news stories of how manufacturing was critical in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.