9 MAG 2024 · Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO Sachin Shivaram started down a path to becoming a lawyer, but he fell in love with metals manufacturing and hasn't looked back. Today, he leads Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc, where he has helped expand the firm through acquisitions, expansions and product development. In fact, Shivaram shares on this week's episode that WAF is currently in the process of acquiring a restaurant to showcase some of its consumer goods and technologies. The New North, Inc. co-chair is a thought leader on a variety of critical issues, including child care, workforce, higher education and technology, for the region, and he shares his successes, challenges and insights with Kate and Ann on this week's episode, which is sponsored by Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A.

2 MAG 2024 · This week Appleton International Airport announced that it logged its busiest month ever in March 2024, welcoming 100,800 total passengers (enplaned and deplaned). Business development manager Jesse Funk joins the podcast this week to talk about milestones and momentum, the airport's current expansion project, and the history and vision of a high-quality, community-minded airport as it strives to make air travel accessible to all.  Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

25 APR 2024 · One of the largest, most heavy-duty companies in Northeast Wisconsin is also one of its most sustainable. In celebration of Earth Week, Waupaca Foundry Corporate Sustainability Manager Bryant Esch joins the podcast to talk about three decades of green innovation at the foundry. His work has led the American Foundry Society to call Bryant "the leading voice for green manufacturing," and he shares what he's learned over the years on this week's episode, including key insights that cut across industries. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

18 APR 2024 · Dr. Bryan Schwebke, founder and CEO of Paramount Performance Physical Therapy in Suamico, joins Kate Bruns and Ann Franz on this week's episode to talk about his work in the Northeast Wisconsin manufacturing community. Bryan shares how he has used his athletics training background to help train "industrial athletes" in the workplace -- focusing on early intervention, building a supportive team and developing a healthy workplace culture that includes top-down buy-in for health and safety initiatives. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

11 APR 2024 · Menasha Corporation, which was recently honored as Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year, is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2024. Christopher Drees, who became Menasha Corporation's CEO last year after previously leading Mercury Marine, joins co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz on this week's episode to talk about the history and future of the storied company. Despite its deep roots and a longevity that rivals our state itself, Menasha Corporation was also recognized this year as one of the New North's Fastest Growing Companies by Insight. Drees talks about expansions and technology investments happening at the company's Hartford and Neenah facilities, as well as a recent facility acquisition in Texas. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

4 APR 2024 · Bill Ritcey of Farm to Plate and Jim Dobinski of StellarBlue.ai are part of a dedicated group of Web 3.0 evangelists working to push the New North region forward in the adoption of technologies like A.I. and blockchain, the latter of which is the subject of the latest technology feature in IOM, "Building Blocks," which can be read here: https://www.insightonbusiness.com/insightonmanufacturing/articles/technology/building-blocks/article_8e7e74ca-e14b-11ee-928d-fb0ff174abf6.html On this episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, Ritcey and Dobinski sat down with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz to talk more about the article, why they meet every Wednesday to talk tech, and why they're worried about the vast distance our region still needs to travel in the realm of Web 3.0 adoption. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

28 MAR 2024 · Learn more about the NEW Manufacturing Alliance's newest and very popular task force, which is focused on safety, with co-chairs Mark Callow and Mike Winkler of Samuel Pressure Vessel Systems in Marinette. This week's podcast dives deeper into the March "back office" feature of IOM magazine, "Priority One," which can be read online at https://www.insightonbusiness.com/insightonmanufacturing/articles/backoffice/priority-one/article_049234b4-e14f-11ee-8c83-d721f5e652f5.html Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

21 MAR 2024 · March Madness has arrived, and so has the March issue of Insight on Manufacturing magazine. Dive deeper into this month's cover story with author Amelia Compton-Wolff and with Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward Wisconsin, who recently led the successful bid to designate Wisconsin as a Biohealth Tech Hub through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. The history, future and impact of this designation are outlined in Amelia's latest story for IOM, "The Next Frontier," which can be read here: https://www.insightonbusiness.com/insightonmanufacturing/articles/coverstory/the-next-frontier/article_442192e6-e145-11ee-adfb-d370ff711b1d.html The March issue of IOM is available in its entirety as a digital magazine here: https://www.insightonbusiness.com/eedition/page-01/page_849ebf56-2da4-5c8e-8a40-371d82dee167.html Also on this episode: The 2024 NEWMA All-Stars will be honored on the field Saturday night when the Green Bay Blizzard host Iowa at the Resch Center. Add some indoor football to your weekend hoops-watching plans with the Alliance and help us cheer on this year's All-Stars. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

14 MAR 2024 · Adam Rupp, CEO of Wisconsin Lighting Lab in Fond du Lac, joins Kate and Ann this week to talk about the important intersection of manufacturing and technology -- in ways that both can and can't be seen by the customer. WiLL also boasts one of the New North region's youngest workforces, and Rupp talks about some of the values that help make his company an employer of choice for young talent. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.

7 MAR 2024 · Kate and Ann welcome Neveah Krueger, a welder with Walker Forge's youth apprenticeship program in Clintonville, along with her mentor, Troy Miller. Neveah and Troy discuss why hands-on learning has been the best option for the high-school student and how to make sure youth apprenticeship students can be successful in the workplace. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. for sponsoring the podcast all month long.