Iowa Business Podcast
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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…
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NFC, SEO & Digital Real Estate: Growth Strategies with Sachin Sehgal
In this insightful episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, digital marketing strategist Sachin Sehgal delves into the parallels between SEO and real estate, emphasizing the importance of owning and optimizing your digital “property” to drive sustainable growth. He discusses NFC’s acquisition of Bond Branding, highlighting how strategic branding and digital presence are pivotal in today’s…
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Harnessing AI to Control Health Insurance Cost
In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, we sit down with Allen Patton, with Patton Benefits, to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing health insurance for manufacturers. Allen shares how his team developed an AI-driven quoting tool that’s helping companies save 20–30% on employee health insurance—without sacrificing quality or coverage. You’ll hear how the…
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Healthy Growth: The Entrepreneurial Story Behind Fresh Fit Meals
On this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, host Leisa welcomes Aaron Anderson, founder and owner of Fresh Fit Meals, a fast-growing Iowa-based meal preparation company. Aaron’s story is a powerful example of recognizing opportunity, taking calculated risks, and leading with vision. He walks us through how he transitioned from running the day-to-day operations to…
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Reindustrialization & Reality: A Candid Look at America’s Industrial Future
In this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Kappen — Associate Professor at Drake University, Founding Partner of Bâton Global, and co-author of Am I Doing This Right? — for a dynamic conversation that spans global strategy, industrial policy, and the future of manufacturing in Iowa and beyond. Jeff brings…
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Hard Market, Hard Questions: Insurance Insights for Iowa Manufacturers
Most people wouldn’t consider a blood center to be a manufacturer… In this insightful episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, Leisa sits down with Josh August, Vice President of Industry Segments, and Mark Campbell, Business Segment Manager at EMC Insurance, for a timely conversation on the complex and evolving world of risk in manufacturing. From…
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Balance, Vouchers & Government Realities: A Grounded Talk with Sen. Trone Garriott
In this timely and thought-provoking episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, Leisa sits down with Iowa State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott to talk candidly about the current dynamics at the Iowa Capitol. Representing a diverse district that includes Waukee and parts of West Des Moines, Trone Garriott brings a balanced perspective to the conversation, touching…