Manufacturing
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From Short Runs to Smart Robots: Kinetic Technologies on the Future of Welding Automation
In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, host Leisa Fox sits down with Mark Barglof, founder and CEO of Kinetic Technologies, to explore how robotic welding and advanced automation are transforming manufacturing. Mark shares how technology has evolved to handle shorter production runs and more complex applications—opening the door for small and mid-sized manufacturers…
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Beyond the Bonus: Rewarding What Works
In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, we sit down with Tanya Fish, who leads the Employee Experience Line at ITA Group. With years of expertise helping organizations engage both internal teams and external channels, Tanya shares how incentives, recognition, and relationship-building can transform business outcomes. ITA Group doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Whether…
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Stop Wasting Marketing Dollars: A Data-Driven Approach
This week on the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, we tackle one of the biggest pain points facing modern manufacturers: wasted marketing spend. Leisa Fox sits down with August and Alex Severn, the brothers behind Capitol Data Analytics (CDS), to discuss how smart data, strategic targeting, and cross-functional communication can radically transform customer acquisition. CDS works with…
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Search Generative Experiences: A New Reality for Industrial Marketing
In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, host Leisa Fox sits down with Amanda Phillips of Anthologic, a Des Moines-based agency that’s reimagining how manufacturers approach marketing. Anthologic isn’t your typical marketing firm. Instead of offering rigid service packages or pushing a one-size-fits-all approach, they embed themselves into the fabric of your company—working alongside…
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Fueling Athletes with Frozen Gains: A New Face in Iowa Manufacturing
When Grant Veenstra wanted to gain muscle in high school to support his basketball dreams, he choked down one terrible protein shake after another. It didn’t take long before he asked a simple but powerful question: Why isn’t there a better-tasting way to fuel performance with protein? That question became the spark for Frozen Gains,…
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Adapt or Fade: Why AI Is Now a Manufacturing Mandate
In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, Paul Gormley of CIRAS (Center for Industrial Research and Service) at Iowa State University joins us to break down the real-world impact and opportunity of artificial intelligence in Iowa manufacturing. Paul offers a clear, actionable framework for companies ready to explore AI: What do you never want…
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More Than Golf: A Blueprint for Corporate Impact in Iowa
Big impact, major lessons for Iowa’s business community! The 2024 Principal Charity Classic just hit a record: $8.6 million raised for Iowa children. But this isn’t just a golf story—it’s a blueprint for how corporate Iowa, including manufacturers, can drive deep and lasting community change. In this episode, host Leisa Fox sits down with Jo…
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Solving Iowa’s Workforce Crisis: Strategies for Manufacturers
In this powerful episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, host Leisa sits down with Dawn Ealy, Workforce Services Director at CIRAS (Center for Industrial Research and Service), to explore how Iowa manufacturers can proactively tackle their most urgent and ongoing challenge: workforce. With Iowa projected to face a shortage of 240,000 workers by 2030, manufacturers…
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Financial Clarity Without the Chaos: A Smarter Way Forward
In this insightful episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, host Leisa interviews Todd Shores, Fractional CFO and Director with Creative Planning Business Services, to explore how a fresh financial lens and a team-based approach can transform operations for Iowa manufacturers. As workforce challenges and financial complexity continue to mount, Todd brings clarity on how outside…
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From Classrooms to Cartels: How Policy, Education & Energy Shape Global Well-Being
This episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, presented by the Central Iowa Business Conference and the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, features two dynamic leaders shaping our future—one in education and the other in global economics. We begin with Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, who shares his journey into leadership and the…