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© 2025 The Manufacturing Employer Jon Franko, Gorilla 76
Description
The Manufacturing Employer is a podcast built for the hiring managers, HR pros and culture builders at industrial companies. It’s hosted by Gorilla 76 Co-Founder Jon Franko.
You’ll hear from those designing great workplaces. Employee engagement, benefits, onboarding - we’ll be talking about the working experience from top to bottom.
87 Episodes
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Celeste Warren, renowned DEI expert and author of "The Truth About Equity," joins The Manufacturing Employer to demystify equity in the workplace and explain why it’s essential for manufacturing organizations today. Celeste shares actionable frameworks like the "rocks and fence" analogy, addresses misconceptions about meritocracy and discusses how equity improves team performance and business outcomes.
Dr. Gretchen Gagle, executive consultant and advocate for women in industry, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share lessons from her 40-year career in manufacturing, engineering, construction and energy. She explores the importance of inclusivity in driving growth and unpacks the “concrete ceiling” that women face in male-dominated fields. Gretchen highlights strategies for grounded self-leadership, building strong relationships, and fostering psychological safety for innovation. She also introduces her book, "Building Women: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction," offering guidance for both men and women navigating industrial careers.
Scott Gates, President of Awake Window & Door Co., joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his innovative hiring model that employs formerly incarcerated individuals. Scott shares how this approach has grown Awake into a $30 million business while providing second chances and rebuilding lives. The conversation also explores the competitive advantages of this hiring strategy, including access to untapped talent and high employee retention.
Matt Granados, founder and CEO of LifePulse Inc., joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how organizations can fix people problems by addressing underlying system issues. Matt challenges conventional approaches to workplace culture, arguing that sustainable solutions come from equipping individuals to solve their own problems rather than implementing quick fixes. The conversation explores how manufacturing leaders can create more effective, fulfilling work environments by focusing on root causes rather than symptoms. Matt emphasizes the importance of personal accountability and continuous growth in building high-performing teams.
Mark Reich, author of Managing on Purpose and senior lean coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how lean thinking can improve customer value, quality and employee development across various industries. Mark also talks about his new book, "Managing on Purpose," which offers practical guidance on implementing Hoshin Kanri for strategic alignment and execution. The conversation touches on the challenges of balancing profit, cost and quality, while emphasizing the critical role of HR in fostering organizational capability and employee engagement.
Chris Luecke, host of Manufacturing Hour, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the evolving landscape of manufacturing. He shares how automation and AI are reshaping the industry, debunking fears of job loss and highlighting new opportunities. Chris emphasizes the importance of storytelling in manufacturing, both for external marketing and internal culture-building. He details the transformation of manufacturing facilities from "dull, dirty and dangerous" to clean, safe and inclusive environments.
Myles Rickerd and Trevor O'Malley, founders of Hire MFG Leaders, join The Manufacturing Employer to share their targeted approach to recruiting in the manufacturing space. They discuss how deep industry focus helps them align talent with company culture, while also addressing compensation, work-life balance and the evolving benefits landscape. Trevor and Miles emphasize genuine care in the recruiting process and highlight how continuous learning keeps them, and their candidates, one step ahead.
Dave Garrison, co-founder of Garrison Growth, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack the “buy-in crisis” driving employee disengagement. He explores root causes like shifting post-pandemic priorities and generational changes, and he explains why perks and bonuses no longer cut it. Drawing from his book "The Buy-In Advantage," Dave shares practical strategies for building trust, fostering purpose and creating a culture where people feel truly involved.
Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of Better Culture, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how manufacturers can build stronger workplaces through employee-led culture. He introduces the 20 Tenets of Culture—simple, behavior-driven principles like being coachable and celebrating coworkers—that drive performance and retention. Brett explains how to spot toxic behaviors early, measure cultural progress and empower frontline workers to lead from the ground up with a practical, systematic approach.
Matt Meltzer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Meltzer Hellrung, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the role of immigration law in supporting a strong manufacturing workforce. Matt shares practical insights on navigating visa options for skilled workers, staying compliant amid shifting policies and building a sense of security for foreign-born employees. He explores the value immigrant workers bring to the industry, the risks of missteps in documentation, and how employers can prepare for audits and site visits. Through it all, Matt emphasizes the human impact behind the policies and why supporting immigrant employees is both a moral and strategic imperative.
Matt Temple and Doug Simms, executives at Sonus Benefits, join The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how manufacturers can make healthcare plans a competitive advantage. They explore strategies and creative solutions to rising pharmacy costs—all aimed at improving culture, retention and employee well-being.
Luke Wittenbraker, Sales & Marketing Director at Mactech On-Site, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the importance of celebrating safety and building a culture that supports it. With more than 1,210 days without a recordable incident, Luke shares insights on fostering a culture of safety in high-risk environments emphasizing the role of leadership, consistent communication and employee empowerment in creating a workplace where safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Todd Warner, President of MyWorkChoice, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the importance of flexibility in helping manufacturers solve challenges in recruitment, retention and absenteeism. With more than 35 years of experience in staffing, Todd shares insights on addressing high turnover rates and worker dissatisfaction, particularly in entry-level manufacturing roles.
Peyton Warren, Marketing Director at Gorilla 76, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss professional development, the role it's played in her growth and why events like the Industrial Marketing Summit are key for manufacturers to consider. Peyton shares the value of self-driven development, the power of community in professional events and the impact of supportive employers.
Fred Reggie, entrepreneur and leadership expert, returns to The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his upcoming book "Tell Me: How to Initiate and Nurture Meaningful Conversations with Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime." He explores the power of curiosity and genuine interest in fostering meaningful connections. Fred shares anecdotes illustrating how this approach has led to remarkable experiences and connections, emphasizing its potential to improve workplace culture, especially in engaging younger generations in manufacturing environments.
Alice Warnier, Marketing Director at Curri, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss building a strong remote work culture. She highlights Curri's focus on employee recognition, transparency and company values, offering insights into maintaining a vibrant remote culture.
Chris Chuang, co-founder and CEO of Relay, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss his thoughts on the critical role of communication in manufacturing environments. He shares how outdated methods like walkie-talkies and paper forms lead to inefficiencies and safety concerns, as well as increasing language barriers.
Nush Ahmed of the Next Gen MFG podcast joins The Manufacturing Employer to talk about her enthusiasm for the trades. She shares her unique journey, starting from an unexpected entry into manufacturing through automotive school where she discovered the power of machining. She also discusses the role of self-directed learning, utilizing resources like Google and ChatGPT to get to where she is today.
Ryan McMartin of Parsec Automation joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss the future of manufacturing technology and its impact on the workforce.
Chad Hufford of Veritas Wealth Management joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss strategies for empowering employees through financial education.
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