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The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray

February 8, 2024 by John Ray

Richard Grove, COO, Wall Control, Small Business Consultant, and Host of Organization Conversation

North Fulton Studio

The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray

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The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50^th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray (Organization Conversation, Episode 57)

To celebrate 50 episodes of Organization Conversation, host Richard Grove switched roles to become a guest, while John Ray of Business RadioX stepped in as host. They discussed the journey of Wall Control, influencer marketing, the impact of customer feedback on their product development, and the benefit of having “Made in the USA” as part of their brand. The conversation also touched on navigating cost fluctuations, sustainable business growth, the value of solid industry relationships, the maker community, and why Wall Control started the Organization Conversation podcast. Note that only 1% of podcasts reach 50 episodes. Congratulations to Richard and the Wall Control team on this noteworthy milestone!

Organization Conversation is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Topics Covered in this Episode

00:01 Introduction and Show Opening

00:55 Celebrating 50th Episode of Organization Conversation

02:17 The Role of Social Media in Business

03:41 The Impact of Customer Feedback on Product Development

07:00 Navigating the Challenges of Changing Costs of Goods Sold

09:42 The Importance of Sustainable Business Growth

16:02 Observations on the Maker Community and Ecosystem

19:32 Engaging with Influencers and Customers

22:13 The Process of Selecting Winning Content

24:07 The Intricacies of Business Verticals

28:33 The Challenges and Benefits of “Made in the USA”

33:03 The Power of Podcasts for Branding

37:04 Celebrating 50 Episodes of Organization Conversation

38:09 Closing Remarks and Wall Control Product Highlight

About Organization Conversation

Organization Conversation is hosted by Richard Grove and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Richard Grove, Wall Control

Richard Grove‘s background is in engineering but what he enjoys most is brand building through relationships and creative marketing. Richard began his career with the Department of Defense as an engineer on the C-5 Galaxy Engineering Team based out of Warner Robins. While Richard found this experience both rewarding and fulfilling, he always knew deep down that he wanted to return to the small family business that originally triggered his interest in engineering.

Richard came to work for the family business, Dekalb Tool & Die, in 2008 as a Mechanical Engineer. At the time, Wall Control was little more than a small ‘side hustle’ for Dekalb Tool & Die to try to produce some incremental income. There were no “Wall Control” employees, just a small warehouse with a single tool and die maker that would double as an “order fulfillment associate” on the occasion that the original WallControl.com website, which Richard’s grandmother built, pulled in an order.

In 2008, it became apparent that for the family business to survive they were going to have to produce their own branded product at scale to ensure jobs remained in-house and for the business to continue to move forward. Richard then turned his attention from tool and die to Wall Control to attempt this necessary pivot and his story with Wall Control began. Since that time, Richard has led Wall Control to significant growth while navigating two recessions.

Outside of Richard’s work at Wall Control he enjoys helping other business owners, operators, and entrepreneurs along their own paths to success by offering personal business coaching and advising through his website ConsultantSmallBusiness.com. Richard has developed an expansive and unique skillset growing and scaling Wall Control through a multitude of challenges to the successful brand and company it is today. Richard is happy to share his knowledge and experience with others who are looking to do the same within their own businesses.

Connect with Richard:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Richard’s Website

About Wall Control

The Wall Control story began in 1968 in a small tool & die shop just outside Atlanta, Georgia. The first of three generations began their work in building a family-based US manufacturer with little more than hard work and the American Dream.

Over the past 50+ years, this family business has continued to grow and expand from what was once a small tool & die shop into an award-winning US manufacturer of products ranging from automobile components to satellite panels and now, the best wall-mounted tool storage system available today, Wall Control.

The Wall Control brand launched in 2003 and is a family-owned and operated business that not only produces a high-quality American Made product but sees the entire design, production, and distribution process happen under their own roof in Tucker, Georgia. Under that same roof, three generations of American Manufacturing are still hard at work creating the best tool storage products available today.

Connect with Wall Control:

Company website | Facebook | Instagram

Passion is Not a Plan E143

February 23, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Passion is Not a Plan E143

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Passion is Not a Plan E143

Join us as we welcome Joe Cherluck to Tycoons. Joe shared a ton of knowledge on how to grow your business and what worked for him in the manufacturing industry.

One of Joe’s key takeaways was understanding that the old adage, “if you want something done right, you have to do yourself,” is not always the best advice when trying to grow your business. You cannot grow if you are working in the business; you have to hire the right people.

Joe also talked about how business owners need a balance of one-the-job training and schooling. One of his early misconceptions was thinking he had enough knowledge from working in the business, but he didn’t. It was when he went through business training that he was able to gain a wider perspective of how to effectively manage his business. Tune in to hear more about Joe’s unique journey and learn some valuable tips on how to grow your business.

Best Tool is a full service plastic product manufacturer. It starts with engineering, from product development, tool and fixture designs and automation to final product shipped from our location. Our tool build is tailored to customer specifics.

From low volume 1 to 100 parts, to 1 million and up, we tailor the tool to the needs of the customer. Injection molding capacity to a part weight of 4 pounds covers most needs of the small inventor to high volume automotive, consumer product and medical customers.

The process that sets us apart from the competition is our plastic welding abilities. We have a combined 80 years experience in plastic welding using vibration and hotplate welding techniques. With welding equipment on the floor we can service low volume to high volume needs.

No two projects are the same, but with our decades of experience in plastics, we are well equipped to take any challenge presented to us.

Joseph Cherluck is the President of Best Tool & Engineering Company, Inc. He started in the Tool & Die industry in 1977.

Joseph completed his Tool & Die apprenticeship in 1984. He started in the mold building trade in 1982. Joseph went on to complete his associates degrees in Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering and General Studies while working full time.

He started Best Tool & Engineering Company in September 1991 with the asset purchase of Best Tool & Mold Company. Steady leadership has guided the company through 3 major recessions in 1991, 2000, and 2008 and continues to guide the company forward.

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

About the Show

Tycoons of Small Biz spotlights the true backbone of the American economy, the true tycoons of business in America… the owners, founders and CEO’s of small businesses. Join hosts, Austin L Peterson, Landon Mance and the featured tycoons LIVE every Tuesday at 1 pm, right here on Business RadioX and your favorite podcast platform.

About Your Hosts

Austin Peterson is a Comprehensive Financial Planner and co-founder of Backbone Planning Partners in Scottsdale, AZ. Austin is a registered rep and investment advisor representative with Lincoln Financial Advisors. Prior to joining Lincoln Financial Advisors, Austin worked in a variety of roles in the financial services industry.

He began his career in financial services in the year 2000 as a personal financial advisor with Independent Capital Management in Santa Ana, CA. Austin then joined Pacific Life Insurance Company as an internal wholesaler for their variable annuity and mutual fund products. After Pacific Life, Austin formed his own financial planning company in Southern California that he built and ran for 6 years and eventually sold when he moved his family to Salt Lake City to pursue his MBA.

After he completed his MBA, Austin joined Crump Life Insurance where he filled a couple of different sales roles and eventually a management role throughout the five years he was with Crump. Most recently before joining Lincoln Financial Advisors in February 2015, Austin spent 2 years as a life insurance field wholesaler with Symetra Life Insurance Company. Austin is a Certified Financial Planner Professional and Chartered Life Underwriter. In 2021, Austin became a Certified Business Exit Consultant® (CBEC®) to help entrepreneurs plan to exit their businesses.

Austin and his wife of 23 years, Robin, have two children, AJ (21) and Ella (18) and they reside in Gilbert, Arizona. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in French and of Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management with a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in sales and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Austin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Landon Mance is a Financial Planner and co-founder of Backbone Planning Partners out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He rebranded his practice in 2020 to focus on serving small business owners after operating as Mance Wealth Management since 2015 when Landon broke off from a major bank and started his own “shop.”

Landon comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs and has a passion and excitement for serving the business community. This passion is what brought about the growth of Backbone Planning Partners to help business owners and their families. At Backbone Planning, we believe small business owners’ personal and business goals are intertwined, so we work with our clients to design a financial plan to support all aspects of their lives.

In 2019, Landon obtained the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation through the Exit Planning Institute. With this certification, Backbone Planning Partners assists business owners through an ownership transition while focusing on a positive outcome for their employees and meeting the business owner’s goals. Landon is also a member of the Business Intelligence Institute (BII) which is a collaborative group that shares tools, resources and personnel, and offers advanced level training and technical support to specifically serve business owners. In 2021, Landon became a Certified Business Exit Consultant® (CBEC®) to help entrepreneurs plan to exit their businesses by counseling owners about exit options, estimating the value of the business, preparing the business for exit and tax considerations.

Landon enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, stepson, and new baby twins. He grew up in sunny San Diego and loves visiting his family, playing a round of golf with friends, and many other outdoor activities. Landon tries to make a difference in the lives of children in Las Vegas as a part of the leadership team for a local non-profit. He regularly visits the children that we work with to remind himself of why it’s so important to, “be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Landon received his B.S. from California State University Long Beach in business marketing and gets the rest of his education through the school of hard knocks via his business owner clients.

Connect with Landon on LinkedIn.

Gary Braun is a Founder and co-owner of Pivotal Advisors. In his role at Pivotal, Gary is primarily responsible for business development but, he’ll gladly take on few clients in a consulting role. Gary speaks with and partners with other firms that help drive top-line growth.

Gary, helps organizations define where growth is coming from, helps them hire and/or develop the sales team, identify ideal clients and markets, and leverage true differentiators (even in commodity markets). He also implements sales processes, targets specific KPIs, increases activity, creates and applies sales compensation plans, and develops sales leadership skills.

Pivotal Advisors LLC is dedicated to creating a community of people who strive for excellence in sales and leadership. A Sales Operating System is the model for how to achieve excellence. Leadership is the First Factor of success in any sales organization. Therefore, building and developing leaders responsible for generating revenue is critical for growth.

Follow Pivotal Advisors on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

October 4, 2022 by Karen

Strategic Analysis Using Technology to Stay Adaptable feature

AZ TechCast

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

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Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

In a constantly changing world, businesses must stay adaptable by performing periodic strategic analyses. Through this process, company leaders can review historical data to not only inform their long-term strategy but identify the technology solutions to stay ahead of the curve.

The September 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Julie Gable, CEO and founder of BusinessWhys; Bob Interdonato, general manager at Lumen; and Melati Lee-Parker, founder and CEO of Macroscope Studios. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Bianca Buliga, director of marketing and communications at the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing how to successfully conduct strategic business analysis and prepare for an unpredictable business environment.

Throughout this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts convened at the Phoenix Business RadioX studio at MAC6 in Tempe to define what strategic business analysis looks like and explain why it’s important for companies of all sizes to get familiar with, particularly in today’s day and age. Although they all play a direct role in helping companies determine how to use technology to stay future-proof, each one has a distinct theory of change that set them apart from the others.

Macroscope Studios partners with companies and teams to Host, Facilitate, and Produce business retreats and off-sites, engineered with kindness and focused on value.

Modeled after the Nashville recording studio industry, MacroScope Studios offers their clients access to premium facilitation, IT Product Design and Development consulting, along with a suite of beautifully designed turn-key studios that accommodate teams from 2 – 100.

If you need help planning and running your next (or first) Board Retreat, Strategic Planning Meeting, Product and Sales Strategy Meeting, or Company Meeting, Macroscope Studios will give YOU time back and YOUR TEAM the tools they need to succeed.

Melati Lee-Parker started designing simple tools for herself back in the late 1900s to make her financial and actuarial analyst jobs easier. She then discovered the joy of sharing those tools and coded solutions with her teammates in workshops so they could all go to happy hour at 4pm.

The solutions got more complicated and the workshops got bigger until she moved from building solutions, to building and scaling Product Management organizations, which she most recently did at DaVita, leading Product Management, Product Operations, and Business Analysis teams.

Throughout Melati’s entire career, she found that facilitating collaborative sessions was a force multiplier in getting stuff done, and also her most favorite days at work – which led her to come up with the concept of making every day her favorite day at MacroScope Studios.

When she’s not designing kick-ass sessions for her clients, you can find her learning new 80’s power ballads on the piano or cooking her favorite Indonesian dishes for her family.

Connect with Melati on LinkedIn.

BusinessWhys is a woman-owned consultancy focused on helping their clients solve complex business problems and drive meaningful and sustained traction toward their goals.

All BusinessWhys consultants possess deep expertise as well as broad versatility that comes from working in strategic business and technical roles across industries with start-ups, mid-size, and Fortune 100 companies. They leverage industry-leading frameworks and relentlessly focus on the WHY to drive ROI.

Julie Gable brings over 20 years of IT and business consulting experience to her role as CEO and founder of BusinessWhys.

Passionate about innovative and accountable problem solving, she has a proven track record of helping companies drive meaningful and sustained traction toward their goals. In addition to her BusinessWhys responsibilities, she is a proud mother of two amazing girls and sits on multiple non-profit boards.

Julie is a firm believer that a diverse team is a strong team and is proud to have received awards from two separate publications for her commitment and contributions to recruiting and developing women into technical and leadership positions.

Follow BusinessWhys on LinkedIn.

Lumen is a multinational technology company that enables companies to capitalize on emerging applications and power the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). This revolution is redefining how we live and work, creating an unprecedented need for an advanced application delivery architecture—designed specifically to handle the complex and data-intensive workloads of next-gen technology and businesses.

We integrate network assets, cloud connectivity, security solutions and voice and collaboration tools into one platform that enables businesses to leverage their data and adopt next-generation technologies.

Lumen brings together the talent, experience, infrastructure and capabilities of CenturyLink, Level 3 and 25+ other technology companies to create a new kind of company—one designed specifically to address the dynamic data and application needs of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Personal relationships are very important to me and that is true of my professional life. As Lumen’s General Manager of the Southwestern US region, my passion also includes my customers’ success.

Bob Interdonato works with companies from Arizona to Nevada and New Mexico. These areas are incredibly economically diverse, and Lumen has participated in the region’s massive growth with healthcare providers, major retailers, manufacturing and Nevada’s gaming and hospitality industries.

The recent pandemic has accelerated their evolutions within their business environments and how they serve their customers. My team helps them navigate those challenges and opportunities utilizing the Lumen Platform of Adaptive Networking, Edge Computing, Connected Security and Collaboration Services. Their success is our passion.

Businesses are passionate about what they do and what makes them unique. Our customers do not come to us looking for a specific piece of infrastructure, product, or service anymore. They are reimagining their businesses and want help with both strategy and implementation.

Together we focus on the most important aspects of their business, which is servicing their clients. Helping them envision the possibilities and showing them the roadmap to make it a reality requires sharing their passion.

Bob believes that in today’s ever-changing technology landscape, it is important to be nimble, fast, and agile. The Lumen Edge Platform enables that agility.

Follow Lumen on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bianca Buliga is a trilingual first-generation American of Romanian ethnicity. A marketing professional with experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Bianca currently works as Director, Marketing & Communications for the Arizona Technology Council.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Bianca also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at SEED SPOT, a social impact incubator that educates, accelerates, and invests in impact-driven entrepreneurs creating market-based solutions to social problems. In January of 2020, Bianca was selected as an awardee of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Program and traveled to the African island of Mauritius to run entrepreneurship programming for 15 impact-driven ecopreneurs on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Bianca has also completed comprehensive consulting projects for IBM, ESAN Business School, and the Peruvian government, and interned at the Arizona House of Representatives and U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.

Bianca earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2017. She is an avid reader, yogi, and world traveler always planning her next trip.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Thomas Storteboom, i2e Solutions

December 10, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Thomas Storteboom, i2e Solutions

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Thomas Storteboom, i2e Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 422)

Thomas Storteboom, CEO of i2e Solutions, joined host John Ray to discuss the innovation and product development consulting he does for a variety of companies. Thomas and John talked about how i2e Solutions helps companies take their ideas to fruition, avoid stagnation, identify roadblocks and bottlenecks, assess the costs involved, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

i2e Solutions

i2e Solutions can help you clarify opportunities that impact your future.

Utilizing a holistic team approach, i2e Solutions helps explore, solve, and implement solutions to your most intriguing ideas and opportunities, from Idea to Execution.

Do you have limited resources looking for new ideas and bringing them to life? i2e Solutions has the expertise to help.

Company Website | LinkedIn

Thomas Storteboom, Founder and CEO, i2e Solutions

i2e Solutions was founded by Thomas Storteboom to help companies discover answers to questions they do not know how to solve.

Thomas brings decades of leadership experience at industry-leading companies to i2e Solutions. He built a career leading cross-functional teams that designed the future for their customers and team members.

Thomas has managed global R&D and product development teams, created innovation programs from the ground up, and re-designed nationwide processes. His experiences can help you solve your most complex issues.

Questions and Topics Discussed in this Episode

What is i2e and what do you do?
What is your background?
How do you manage risk?
How do you assist owners with the business challenges of innovation?
Spending a little to learn a lot
Success Stories

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray, and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16

October 20, 2021 by Karen

Exploring-Manufacturing-in-Arizona-feature

Phoenix Business Radio

Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16

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Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16

In this episode of STEM Unplugged, we have Eric Miller on the show. Eric is the Principal & Co-Founder of PADT. We will get the explanation of what PADT is able to support in the manufacturing industry. Also on the show is Earl Wiggins, the VP of Manufacturing and Operations from EnPower, Inc.

Claire Conway of SciTech Institute joined the conversation with the focus on Manufacturing Month and the role of the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Coalition project for sharing opportunities in STEM around Arizona.

Tune in to listen and appreciate the opportunity to explore Manufacturing in Arizona and beyond. The discussion covers some of the misconceptions about manufacturing careers, materials, the technology and product lines created in our communities. We also discuss the supply chain and examples of career opportunities in advancing a manufacturing process of a product.

Guests shared ways to encourage the workforce to learn a trade skill and be users of technology in a productive manner for a career. We discussed the skills necessary to be successful, not only in manufacturing, but in the advancing work environment today.

We also learned about the difference between semiconductor and battery manufacturing. Arizona continues to grow and advance, so consider a career pathway in the manufacturing industry!

PADT is the Southwest’s leading provider of products and services for simulation, product development, and digital manufacturing. They are in the business of helping those who make things, make them better.

Based in Tempe, Arizona with offices across the southeast, their 95 employees have been helping customers make innovation work since 1994.

Eric Miller is a co-owner of Tempe-based PADT, which provides tools and services to companies that design and manufacture physical products. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.

As co-founder of PADT in 1994, Eric pursued his interests in simulation, 3D printing, small business management.

Eric often writes and speaks on simulation, design, and 3D printing along with startups and the high-tech sector.

In addition, he is a startup mentor and angel investor, sits on the board of several tech-related organizations, and is Chair of the Arizona Technology Council Board.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.

EnPower, Inc. is a lithium-ion battery company building cells that solve the trade-off between energy and power. EnPower’s patented multilayer electrodes enable high energy density cells to repeatedly fast charge without causing degradation or capacity fade in the batteries, a critical challenge for the mass adoption of electric vehicles.

The technology has been validated by an automotive OEM and the company is currently sampling pouch cells to prospective customers in the automotive, defense, and specialty vehicle markets.

EnPower is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, where a 240-kWh R&D line enables rapid prototyping and customer sampling. The company’s first commercial cells will be qualified in mid-2022 and its manufacturing capacity will ramp to 800 MWh of production by the end of 2023.

Earl Wiggins joined EnPower in June 2021 as Vice President of Operations and Manufacturing. In this role, Earl provides strategic and managerial leadership across product development, commercialization, and supply chain and procurement processes.

Earl spent the last two years with Tesla Motors as part of the team bringing up the new battery manufacturing facility focusing predominantly on electrode manufacturing after Tesla acquired Maxwell Technologies.

Earl had spent 13 years before the Tesla acquisition scaling the Maxwell Technologies supercapacitor manufacturing capability, increasing volume by three orders of magnitude. During his time at Maxwell, Earl brought on line three new manufacturing facilities in Asia and the U.S., including the electrode & module manufacturing plant in Peoria, Arizona.

Before Maxwell, Earl spent 21 years in the data storage industry with Quantum Corporation and Maxtor in engineering and operations senior management roles. He is a graduate of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

Earl lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, two dogs, and a small herd of horses.

Follow EnPower on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Claire Conway is the STEM Ecosystem Programs Manager at SciTech Institute.

Connect with Claire on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

After grow up in rural New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

She also enlisted in the United States Army and after graduating from training, Kelly traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, she fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air. During this deployment, she had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching. From 6th grade Math to 7th grade STEM, Kelly used her enthusiastic nature combined with her strong classroom management to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process!

Now, as the Chief Operating Officer at SciTech Institute, Kelly is excited to serve the communities in Arizona and beyond to share their interest in STEM!

How 2020 Changed the World and Optimism for the Future E10

February 4, 2021 by Karen

AZ TechCast

How 2020 Changed the World and Optimism for the Future E10

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How 2020 Changed the World and Optimism for the Future E10

When the world celebrated the dawn of a new decade with a blaze of fireworks, parties and revelry on January 1, 2020, few could have imagined what the year had in store. It was a year that changed the world like no other for at least a generation, possibly since World War II. Businesses folded. Schools and colleges shut. Live sport was cancelled. Commercial airline travel contracted. Shops, clubs, bars and restaurants closed. Social inequities were exposed. And human interaction went virtual.

Moderated by Phoenix Business Radio Owner & President Karen Nowicki, a distinguished panel of technology leaders from KEO Marketing, the University of Advancing Technology and PADT, Inc. had an engaging discussion with Arizona Technology Council CEO Steve Zylstra on how the world can rebuild following such a tumultuous year, the new technology to get us there, and the innovative Arizona companies that helped pull us through and gave us optimism for the future.

Visit www.aztechcouncil.org/techcast to view the blog and listen to the replay.

KEO Marketing, a leading B2B marketing agency in Phoenix, is committed to developing marketing strategies and plans that help clients succeed. Some of the world’s largest brands depend on KEO Marketing for marketing programs that deliver tangible and substantial results.

Led by business growth and B2B marketing expert, Sheila Kloefkorn, KEO Marketing Inc. specializes in innovative marketing strategies that deliver results. Some of these solutions include lead generation and nurturing, integrated marketing, marketing automation, inbound marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization, search marketing, email marketing, creative, video marketing, website design and development, app development, online and traditional advertising, local and mobile marketing and much more.

Visit https://keomarketing.com to elevate your marketing strategies and drive growth for your business.

Sheila Kloefkorn is CEO and President of KEO Marketing, a full service B2B marketing agency. The company specializes in marketing strategy, messaging, digital infrastructure, execution and analytics. KEO Marketing grows Fortune 1000 companies and mid-market businesses.

Kloefkorn was recently named one of the “Top 10 Business Leaders of the Year” and “Top 25 Dynamic Women in Business” by the Phoenix Business Journal and one of 15 Arizonans to Watch by the Arizona Republic.

In addition, she is past President of the Phoenix Chapter of the Business Marketing Association and the American Marketing Association. She is a frequent national and local speaker on a wide range of marketing and business topics.

Follow KEO Marketing on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is a private and family-owned university that merges the values of the traditional academy with the modern technology campus, a fusion that enhances its ability to fulfill the mission of educating students in the fields of advancing technology who innovate for the future.

At the heart of UAT’s curricula is a technology-infused campus in Tempe, Arizona. This fusion of the traditional academy with the technology-focused curricula creates a distinct, non-exclusionary university in which students learn to value their own uniqueness and the power of technology in education.

Visit https://www.uat.edu to learn more.

Provost Bolman has focused his career upon the profound need for a substantial and diverse workforce within Arizona and the nation.

As its long-standing provost, Dr. Bolman has built the University of Advancing Technology (UAT) into a unique, all-STEM institution that marries the best of a traditional, small, private college with the genetics of innovation that come with agile technology organizations.

As an educator, he has focused on cultivating a base of technology students and future inventors. As a technologist, he has worked to create a university where the culture of innovation and creation is so regular and celebrated that the goal for each student is to graduate having worked on numerous teams and built complete solutions again and again.

Dr. Bolman has researched, written and spoken on the nature of technology and how to successfully lead innovation. He is an alumni of Valley Leadership and currently serves as its past board chair. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Technology Council and the AZPBS community board.

Follow UAT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PADT, Inc. is a globally recognized engineering product and services company that focuses on helping customers who develop physical products by providing numerical simulation, product development and 3D printing solutions.

PADT’s worldwide reputation for technical excellence and experienced staff is based on its proven record of building long-term win-win partnerships with vendors and customers. Since its establishment in 1994, companies have relied on PADT because “We Make Innovation Work.”

With over 90 employees, PADT services customers from its headquarters at the Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Ariz., and from offices in Torrance, California, Littleton, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Austin, Texas, and Murray, Utah, as well as through staff members located around the country.

More information on PADT can be found at www.PADTINC.com.

Eric Miller is a co-owner of Tempe based PADT, Inc., which provides tools and services to companies who design and manufacture physical products. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and has lived in Arizona since 1986. He started his career focusing on the application of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate turbine engine components. Over the years he became recognized as an expert user of the ANSYS software tools, solid modeling, and the development of custom software to automate the product simulation and design process.

As a co-founder of PADT in 1994, Eric was able to also pursue his interests in IT, graphic design, 3D Printing, database programming, and small business management. As both PADT and the use of advanced engineering tools grew, Eric became exposed to dozens of different industries and developed his broad understanding of the application of technology for product development and manufacturing.

After over three decades in the industry, Eric is often called upon to write and speak on simulation, design, and 3D printing as well as on startups and the high-tech sector. His outside commitments include the Chairman of the Arizona Technology Council Board of Directors, the BioAccel Advisory Council and Board of Directors, an Entrepreneur in Residence with the Arizona Commerce Authority, and the screening committee of Arizona Technology Investors. He also contributes regularly to the Phoenix Business Journal blog and hosts the All Things ANSYS podcast.

In his spare time Eric enjoys traveling, writing, history, cooking, and learning about new things.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn and follow PADT on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Show

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

About Your Hosts

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Exploring Community Partnerships E3

March 12, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Exploring Community Partnerships E3

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Exploring Community Partnerships E3

Eric, Leann and Caillou shared personal experiences about why mentors make a difference in the opportunities one feels confident to take in deciding a career. They are open and honest about the growing need for experience and exposure to Advanced Manufacturing careers.

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider of aftermarket support. As America’s biggest manufacturing exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries.

Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.

As a Community Investor for The Boeing Company, Leann Shaffer leads social responsibility and corporate citizenship activities in Arizona and New Mexico. In this role, she implements Boeing’s strategic philanthropy through charitable investments, volunteer programs, employee drives and other integrated programs.

Prior to this role and coming to The Boeing Company, Shaffer began her career as a software engineer and has held several dynamic roles in tech which included leadership development training, leading recruiting and internship programs and developing and implementing workforce pipeline strategies.

Leann’s passion for STEM is rooted in her own journey and background in IT, and it’s why she believes every student should have a role model and access to STEM opportunities.

Follow Boeing on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PADT is the Southwest’s leading provider of products and services for mechanical engineering. Established in 1994, their 85 employees focus on numerical simulation, product development, and 3D Printing. Although based in Tempe, Arizona, they have offices in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and California.

Eric Miller is a co-owner of Tempe based PADT, which provides tools and services to companies who design and manufacture physical products. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.

As co-founder of PADT in 1994, Eric was able to pursue his interests in simulation, 3D printing, operations, and small business management. Eric is often called upon to write and speak on simulation, design, and 3D Printing as well as on startups and the high-tech sector.

In addition, he is a board member for several tech-related organizations and Chair of the Arizona Technology Council Board of Directors.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.

Recently named an 18 Under 18 recipient by Junior Achievement and Arizona Republic, Caillou Peña is proud to represent the importance of empowering today’s youth to tackle tomorrow’s biggest challenges.

With previous experience in constitutional law, entrepreneurship and as a Chief Science Officer, currently, he is a member of the Institute for Policy and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University where he is studying International Relations and Politics with hopes of using this knowledge to expand educational opportunities for all.

Impassioned with a vision to stimulate positive change in communities worldwide, Caillou, is thrilled to be working at the SciTech Institute where he has witnessed first hand that he can do just that.

Connect with Caillou on LinkedIn.

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your Host

After graduating from Bolivar-Richburg High School in rural western New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and played shortstop on the Tiger softball team while earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

After graduating from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, she traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, Kelly fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air and had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching 6th grade Math.

After being selected as a Westside Impact Teacher of the Year and having her Fiesta Bowl Charities Wish Granted for a morning news studio, she was asked to begin a new class on campus – 7th grade STEM! Using her enthusiastic nature and combined with her strong classroom management she was able to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process to have her 7th graders complete a new project every 2 weeks!

She is excited to serve as the Director of Student Success for the rapidly expanding Chief Science Officers Program. Her goal is to push students just a bit outside of their comfort zone so they can see for themselves the power of their own ideas.

About Your Co-Host

Chief Science Officer (CSO) Shalae Clemens is a member of the International Leadership Council and the current CSO of the Year.

She is a freshman at McClintock High School and a 3rd year CSO.

Shalae has a passion for STEM and is using her leadership skills to prepare the STEM workforce of tomorrow.

Connect with Shalae on Instagram.

David Maradiaga, Maradiaga Media, and John Mitchell and Randy Hasslinger, Slingshot Product Development Group

March 12, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

David Maradiaga, Maradiaga Media, and John Mitchell and Randy Hasslinger, Slingshot Product Development Group

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**John Ray, David Maradiaga, John Mitchell, and Randy Hasslinger**

David Maradiaga, Maradiaga Media

David Maradiaga is the CEO of Maradiaga Media. Maradiaga Media is a video production and marketing agency that helps business owners express their passion and mission, all while reaching more clients. From wedding videos to television commercials, Maradiaga Media has the experience and expertise to deliver your story to the masses. Visit MaradiagaMedia.com for more information.

John Mitchell and Randy Hasslinger, Slingshot Product Development Group

**Randy Hasslinger and John Mitchell, Slingshot Product Development Group**

John Mitchell is Chairman of the Board and Randy Hasslinger is Vice President, Business Development with Slingshot Product Development Group. Slingshot Product Development Group, founded in 2001, develops new products for customers in consumer, medical, military/security, and industrial markets. It is driven by the knowledge that new products are the life blood of companies, large or small, and that clients will lead their markets with innovative solutions that meet their customer’s needs. From napkin sketch to manufacturing, Slingshot applies a comprehensive and seasoned set of skills for impactful results through each phase of development. For further information, go to http://www.slingshotpdg.com/.

TIFFANY KRUMINS SHOW: Roadblocks and Pitfalls to Getting Your Product Out There

December 1, 2017 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

TIFFANY KRUMINS SHOW: Roadblocks and Pitfalls to Getting Your Product Out There

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Steven Julian, Noah McNeely, Tiffany Krumins

Noah McNeely/Product QuickStart

Product QuickStart was created out of a passion to meet the product development, prototyping, and manufacturing needs of entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small companies. In their careers, they’ve met way too many inventors and would-be product entrepreneurs that have been taken advantage of in this industry, so they decided to do something about it. There is no shortage of engineers, marketing people, and “submission companies” that will gladly take your money and get you nowhere. That’s not Product QuickStart. Their goal is to be honest operators, and do everything they can to help clients understand what they are getting into and their odds of success.

The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray

The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50^th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray (Organization Conversation, Episode 57)

Topics Covered in this Episode

About Organization Conversation

Richard Grove, Wall Control

About Wall Control

Passion is Not a Plan E143

Passion is Not a Plan E143

About the Show

About Your Hosts

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

About AZ TechCast

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Thomas Storteboom, i2e Solutions

Thomas Storteboom, i2e Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 422)

i2e Solutions

Thomas Storteboom, Founder and CEO, i2e Solutions

Questions and Topics Discussed in this Episode

Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16

Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16

About Our Sponsor

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

How 2020 Changed the World and Optimism for the Future E10

How 2020 Changed the World and Optimism for the Future E10

About the Show

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Exploring Community Partnerships E3

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

About Your Host

About Your Co-Host

TIFFANY KRUMINS SHOW: Roadblocks and Pitfalls to Getting Your Product Out There

Our Mission

Sponsor a Show

Partner With Us

Connect with us

The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray (Organization Conversation, Episode 57)

Topics Covered in this Episode

About Organization Conversation

Richard Grove, Wall Control

About Wall Control

Passion is Not a Plan E143

About the Show

About Your Hosts

Strategic Analysis: Using Technology to Stay Adaptable E30

About AZ TechCast

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

Thomas Storteboom, i2e Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 422)

i2e Solutions

Thomas Storteboom, Founder and CEO, i2e Solutions

Questions and Topics Discussed in this Episode

Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16

About Our Sponsor

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

How 2020 Changed the World and Optimism for the Future E10

About the Show

About Your Hosts

About Our Sponsor

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

About Your Host

About Your Co-Host

Our Mission

Sponsor a Show

Partner With Us

Connect with us

The Top 1% of Podcasts: 50^th Episode Milestone Celebration for Organization Conversation with Richard Grove and John Ray (Organization Conversation, Episode 57)