Rust Belt Rundown

On this week’s episode, we’re wrapping up the Rundown for 2024! Inspired by Spotify Wrapped, here are some top highlights from this year’s episodes: Most Popular Episode - Episode 81 featuring Frank “Sully” Sullivan of DayGlo Color Corp Best Local Spotlight - Episode 78 featuring Rosemary Mudry of the Cleveland Public Market Corporation   Most Personable Episode - Episode 69 featuring Joe Cimperman of Global Cleveland Most Thought-Provoking Episode - Episode 77 featuring Terrence Southern of Robotopia Most Inspiring Episode - Episode 82 featuring Jeffrey Stern of The O.H.I.O. Fund A sincere thank you to all of our guests who shared their time and stories with us this year. Check out all of 2024’s episodes and more here. Is there a guest that you’d like to hear on the Rundown? Submit a request here. Learn more about the Rundown and sign up for email notifications here.  

Our guest this week is Caleb Townsend, Co-Founder of Factur, an agency that provides marketing and sales services to B2B manufacturers and industrial distributors.  In this episode, Caleb delves into the common challenges industrial companies face with their sales and marketing efforts. He shares Factur's industry-specific approach to lead generation, content strategy, and business development and debunks misconceptions about outsourcing.  Hailing from Carmel, Indiana, Caleb’s restaurant pick is Juniper on Main for Southern Coastal cuisine. Follow Caleb on LinkedIn to learn more about Factor’s unique solutions for the industrial sector.

This week our guest is Dana McCallum, the Vice President of North American Sales and Partnerships at Xact Metal. Dana’s career has always been within the manufacturing industry but she shares how she transitioned from marketing to sales and tells about her current sales role with Xact Metal.  She offers insight into the rapid evolution of 3D printing and the advancements it’s making for manufacturers. She also shares her advice for supporting and mentoring underrepresented groups in manufacturing and her work with Women in 3D Printing.  Her Cleveland restaurant shout-out goes to Alea in Ohio City for a vibrant Mediterranean fusion menu and top-notch drinks. Connect with Dana on LinkedIn for updates on industry trends!

Our guest this week is Joe Manofsky, Co-Founder of One Step Ahead Ohio! In this episode, he shares the inspiration behind One Step Ahead Ohio, the nonprofit he helped to launch in 2021. He offers insight into the varied ways they support the Northeast Ohio community and how OSAO sets itself apart from traditional nonprofits.  Joe joins during Manufacturing Month, so he also elaborates on one of their core initiatives, the Skilled Labor Foundation, which advocates for the benefits of a career in the skilled labor industry for Northeast Ohio youth.  Joe cites Whistle as his favorite spot for pizza in the city.  Connect with Joe Manofsky on LinkedIn.

This week our guest is Ron Bower, Founder and President of InterviewPath.  In this episode, Ron shares his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship and explains how his two talent management ventures, InterviewPath and Brickpath Group, complement each other.  He offers his seasoned take on all things talent—from overcoming common recruiting challenges to refining your interview process, and most importantly, how leaders can stay ahead of the curve regarding generational workforce shifts.  His Cleveland area restaurant picks include Strip Steakhouse in Avon, Lakewood Truck Park, and the West Side Market.  Connect with Ron Bower on LinkedIn.

Our guest this week is Jim Vinoksi, the Host of Manufacturing Talks! In this episode, Jim offers us insight into his career journey and how he became a prominent thought leader in the manufacturing industry.  He shares how his contributions to Forbes inspired his podcast, Manufacturing Talks. Jim and Paul also discuss current manufacturing trends as they relate to the upcoming election, reshoring, workforce development month, and more. As a Michigan native, Jim shouts out Rush Creek Bistro as his favorite restaurant.  Connect with Jim Vinoski on LinkedIn for more manufacturing insights.

This week our guest is Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund.  Jeffrey joins us to discuss his latest venture, The O.H.I.O. Fund, a unique investment fund focused on driving Ohio’s economic future. He explains the concept of the industrial renaissance that Ohio is undergoing and emphasizes how strategic investments in manufacturing and technology position our state for long-term growth.  He also hosts Lay of the Land, a podcast focused on telling entrepreneurial stories in Northeast Ohio. He shares how he found his entrepreneurial path, guided by what he learned from our community of entrepreneurs.  Jeffrey’s top food picks are Mitchell’s for ice cream and Il Rione for pizza! Follow Jeffrey on LinkedIn for updates on The O.H.I.O. Fund.

Our guest this week is Frank “Sully” Sullivan, President of DayGlo Color Corp. In this episode, Sully walks us through the colorful history of DayGlo and its impact on various industries, from safety to fashion.  Since being named President in 2023, he shares how he’s worked to navigate an iconic brand through a competitive market. He also shares how they prioritize a culture of transparency and offers a perspective on how they hope to keep innovating. His top restaurant picks include Cabin Club, Veranda, Il Venetian, and Li Wah. Connect with Sully on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all things fun & fluorescent!

This week our guest is Torino Fitzgerald, Vice President of Talent and Cultural Transformation, at Process Technology. Headquartered in Willoughby, Ohio, Process Technology is a global manufacturer of thermal and power supply products. Torino joined their team in 2023 and has played a pivotal role in transforming and scaling their company culture initiatives.  In this episode, Torino offers his expert perspective on cultural transformation and unlocking people's potential. This episode is a must-listen for any leader! Torino’s restaurant recommendations include El Taco Macho and Young’s Sushi. Connect with Torino Fitzgerald on LinkedIn.

Our guest this week is Hector Hernandez, Inside Sales Specialist at Xaloy! Xaloy is a global leader in screw, barrel, and front-end component manufacturing. Headquartered in Austintown, Ohio, they have been a long-time partner of Rust Belt Recruiting. (Listen to Episode 71 featuring Trudy Cheney of Xaloy) Hector was recently placed in his new role with Xaloy through Rust Belt Recruiting. We are thrilled to have him join us to share more about his candidate experience and his career in the manufacturing industry. In this energetic conversation, Paul and Hector discuss Hector’s foray into podcasting, how he uses positive thinking to motivate himself, and how he has utilized that perspective in his past management roles. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with a career in manufacturing. Hector’s food recommendations are TownHall and Sol. Connect with Hector on LinkedIn.

This week our guest is Rosemary Mudry, Executive Director of the Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC), a non-profit focused on Cleveland’s iconic West Side Market.  In this episode, we learn about the roots of the West Side Market, what makes it so unique, and how CPMC is working to preserve that.  Rosemary offers us insight into why the shift to a non-profit happened and how it allows CPMC to be more nimble in approaching challenges and opportunities. She also shares with us the long-term vision of the market and the efforts they are taking to implement new programs.  Residing on the East Side, Rosemary’s restaurant recommendations include L'Albatros for drinks on the patio and Tommy’s for a family-friendly option. Connect with Rosemary on LinkedIn to stay up to date with CPMC’s efforts and check out westsidemarket.org for more information on the market. 

Our guest this week is Terrence Southern, Founder & CEO of Robotopia, an Advanced Automation Systems Integrator and Workforce Development company.  Terrence is a nationally recognized thought leader, strategist, and consultant in the manufacturing automation industry and we are thrilled to have him on the podcast!  In this episode, Terrence shares his career journey, his dedication to making STEM education accessible and exciting for the next generation of our workforce, and what the future looks like for his various endeavors.  Connect with Terrence on LinkedIn to stay up to date with all things robotics! Other Links: Visit his website at terrencesouthern.com Learn more about Robotopia here Check out his podcast, Blerd Out

This week our guest is Jason Therrien, the President & CEO of thunder::tech, an integrated marketing agency.  In this episode, Jason shares how thunder::tech has expanded over the past 25 years, including how he’s evolved as an entrepreneur and leader.  He shares his expert insight into the dynamic world of modern marketing with us, focusing on employer branding. He offers actionable advice for small to mid-size manufacturers on developing and leveraging a strong employer brand.  Jason’s restaurant recommendations include Momocho, a modern Mexican spot in Ohio City, and Mendoza’s in Port Clinton, a hole in the wall with unbeatable burritos. Follow Jason on LinkedIn to stay up to date on marketing trends.Check out thunder::tech and their employer branding resources here.

Our guest this week is Lindsay Fleuriet, the Creative Director of Postindustrial Media. We are thrilled to have our second guest from Postindustrial Media join us to give an update on all things Postindustrial. (Listen to Episode 64 featuring Carmen Gentile of Postindustrial Media)  In this episode, Lindsay offers us insight into her role as Creative Director and how she helps to shape the artistic direction of the publication’s narrative and their other efforts. We also learn about her childhood growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, and how her family’s background lends itself to helping tell stories about postindustrial communities, the throughline of them being optimism about reclamation, shown through art.  Lindsay’s restaurant picks are in Youngstown where you can find the best Italian food in Ohio! Avalon, Wedgewood and Elmton are her top picks for pizza. Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn and learn more about Postindustrial Media at postindustrial.com.

In celebration of National Skilled Trades Day (May 1st, 2024), we are joined by Neftali “Nef” Sanchez of Martindale Electric Co.! Nef was placed by Rust Belt Recruiting at Martindale in 2019. He shares with us how that opportunity came to be and what his experience working with Rust Belt was like. He has found great success in his time at Martindale and he shares with us the positive relationship he has maintained with his employer and the opportunities that a career in the skilled trades has afforded him such as a college degree and his journeyman title. 

This week we are joined by Scott Paul, the President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM).  AAM is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership formed in 2007 by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers. Scott shares with us how the AAM was formed and what they are currently doing to advance their mission of strengthening American manufacturing.  Scott and Paul discuss the renaissance of skilled trades and other manufacturing trends such as reshoring and electric vehicles. Scott provides insight into the stories he helps to tell on AAM’s podcast, The Manufacturing Report. He also shares with us the experience of making AAM’s first documentary, Relighting the Flame, which tells the story of how a new generation of workers at Cleveland-Cliffs facilities are defying enormous odds to rebuild and grow America’s steel industry, right in the Industrial Heartland. Scott is a Penn State grad so he cites The Tavern in State College, Pennsylvania as his favorite restaurant. (“For the nostalgia more so than the food!”) Connect with Scott Paul on LinkedIn or follow him on X, @ScottPaulAAM.

Our guest this week is Bob Businger, the Chief Financial Officer of Ramco Specialites Inc.!  In this episode, Bob shares what Ramco does and how they have grown in recent years, aided in part by their partnership with Rust Belt Recruiting.  He gives us insight into how he operates as their CFO and we get his take on AI in the finance industry, along with other manufacturing trends such as investing in automation and reshoring. His favorite restaurant picks are Barrio, Kasai Sushi in Wadsworth, and Angelo’s Pizza in Lakewood. Connect with Bob Businger on LinkedIn.

This week we are joined by Trudy Cheney, the Vice President of Global Human Resources at Xaloy. In this episode, we hear from Trudy about her career journey and how she ended up in HR, specifically HR for industrial businesses. Trudy and Paul discuss all things HR - what HR really is, how to strategically work with partners to achieve your HR goals, HR trends, and more.  We also hear about Trudy’s involvement with the Mahoning Valley Manufacturer’s Coalition (MVMC) and her upcoming involvement with Ashland University’s Women In Leadership Program. Trudy’s restaurant recommendations in the Youngstown area include YOSTERIA and The Elmton.  Connect with Trudy Cheney on LinkedIn. 

Our guest this week is Brendan Anderson, the Founding and Managing Partner of ScaleCo Capital. ScaleCo Capital is a Cleveland-based lower middle market private equity firm that focuses on control-oriented leveraged buyout and growth equity investments in fast-growing companies based primarily in the Great Lakes region. In this episode, we heard from Brendan about how he got his start in private equity, lessons in entrepreneurship through acquisition, and his personal and professional journey with EOS. Brendan’s Cleveland restaurant recommendation is Pizazz Pizza in Shaker Heights for its family-friendly vibe. Connect with Brendan Anderson on LinkedIn or click here to learn more about ScaleCo.

We are thrilled to kick off our 2024 episodes with such a fantastic guest! For this episode, we are joined by Joe Cimperman, President of Global Cleveland.  We hear from Joe about growing up on the East Side of Cleveland as the son of immigrant parents and how it shaped his dedication to and appreciation of Cleveland. He and Paul discuss the ideals of America, civic engagement, and lessons in gratitude. We also hear from Joe about the mission of Global Cleveland and what they have in store for 2024.  Of course, Joe is the expert on global cuisine in Cleveland and he was quick to list his favorites: Marie’s Restaurant (Eastern European), Banana Blossom (Thai), Nate’s Deli (Mediterranean), LJ Shanghai (Chinese), La Plaza (Mexican), and Half Moon Bakery (Latin-inspired).   Connect with Joe Cimperman on LinkedIn or visit globalcleveland.org for more information.