Podcasts

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Lisa Nemer, Vice President of Finance & Operations at Shipping Solutions

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Lisa Nemer, the Vice President of Finance & Operations at Shipping Solutions, discuss the documents required to ship internationally. Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

In this episode, Lisa Nemer helps us to understand the requirements and preparation of documents required to ship internationally and to comply with the export regulations of the United States. This is not a trivial task and requires skill, training, and software to assist in fulfilling all of the requirements for exporting from the U.S. and importing into other countries.

While we spend a lot of time talking about big ideas and strategies in global supply chains, we must also consider how we actually execute and document shipments.

Be sure to listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Shipping Solutions contact https://www.shippingsolutions.com or Lisa Nemer lisa.nemer@intermart-inc.com and Rosemary Coates at
rcoates@ReshoringInstitute.org

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Kaitlyn Glancy, Vice President, North America at Flexport

Innovation in Global Logistics and Trade Management at Flexport

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Kaitlyn Glancy Vice President, North America at Flexport, discuss innovation and current issues in global logistics. Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

In this episode, Kaitlyn Glancy describes how Flexport provides innovation in the global logistics world through full visibility to freight movement worldwide, new supporting technologies, and an all-cloud- based platform. Kaitlyn sees supply chain people now taking on inventory management, and cost/margin management, in addition to the more traditional tasks of freight movement and trade compliance. Supply chain roles have also broadened to include geopolitics in selecting where to source and manufacture and how to optimally manage distribution.

Be sure to listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Flexport contact https://www.flexport.com/ or Kaitlyn Glancy kaitlyn@flexport.com or on LinkedIn, and Rosemary Coates at rcoates@ReshoringInstitute.org

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Jennifer Bisceglie, CEO of Interos

In this episode, Jennifer Bisceglie explains how the Interos platform helps the world’s companies reduce risk, avoid disruptions, and achieve dramatically superior resilience. Working with both physical and digital supply chains, Interos maps and monitors 350 million business entities globally through publically available information, subscribing to data providers, and customer input, and then providing unique insights across all of those. Tracking tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 suppliers for early warning signals of adverse events through the use of artificial intelligence is the key to Interos software. Interos highlights exception management- where the impact is coming from across all nodes in your supply chain. Once you understand where that risk is coming from, you can take action. This fast-growing private company is led by CEO Jennifer Bisceglie and supported by investors Venrock and Kleiner Perkins.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – “Forever Chemicals” in Your Supply Chain and Your Home

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Cally Edgren Director of Sustainability at Assent, discuss polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our everyday personal use as well as the thousands of industrial uses. Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – The Very Beginning of Supply Chains – Rare Earth Elements Mining at Sheep Creek, Montana

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Rachel Winn, Director of Operations at U.S. Critical Materials, discuss the search for and mining of rare earth elements and the development of the Sheep Creek Mine in Montana.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Apparel Production and Logistics in Central America

Annie Paredes, Director of Customer Service and Business
Development at CBX Global
FRICTIONLESS Videocast recorded on November 23, 2022

Apparel Production and Logistics in Central America

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Annie Paredes, Director of Customer Service at CBX Global Central America discuss apparel industry operations in Honduras. We discuss manufacturing in the Central American region and why so many apparel companies are opening new facilities there.  Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

As companies leave China, the search for new low-cost regions should include Central America, with its proximity to U.S. markets and strong logistics services. CBX Global has operated in the Caribbean and Central America for years and provides freight forwarding, brokerage, warehousing, and other logistics services between the U.S. and Central America. Annie Paredes speaks to us from Honduras where she lives with her family.

To learn more about CBX Global, contact Annie Paredes at
AParedes@CBXGlobal.com and Rosemary Coates at
rcoates@ReshoringInstitute.org

Be sure to listen on Google Podcasts, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Optimizing Port and Terminal Operations

Kim Kuesel, Vice President and General Manager for the Americas at
Navis software
FRICTIONLESS Videocast recorded on November 21, 2022

Optimizing Port and Terminal Operations

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Kim Keusel VP & General Manager of the Americas at Navis software, the market leader in supply chain terminal operating software. We discuss ocean port operations, and rail yard operations that are optimized with Navis software.  Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

The backup at West Coast ports during the pandemic exposed issues and
opportunities for improvement in port operations. Because of the complexity of port operations software is critical to run the operations including loading and unloading containers, keeping track of containers inside the terminal, and then making them available for the railhead or the drayage company.

Worldwide marine terminals, carriers, and rail operators utilize Navis software to optimize operations, improve efficiency, and increase profits.

To learn more about Navis, contact Kim Kuesel on LinkedIn and Rosemary Coates at rcoates@ReshoringInstitute.org

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Global Contract Manufacturing

Hannah Kain, Founder and CEO of ALOM
FRICTIONLESS Videocast recorded on October 31, 2022

Outsourcing Your Supply Chain

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Hannah Kain Founder, and CEO of ALOM, discuss oursourcing and managing your global supply chains.  Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

Over the past 25 years, many companies have outsourced their manufacturing and supply chain operations to take advantage of outside expertise and optimize costs, while they focus on their core business. In 1997, Hannah Kain saw an opportunity to provide outsourced services better than the marketplace was offering. She came to America from Denmark and started ALOM in Silicon Valley.

Today, ALOM operates out of 19 countries and provides high-quality, technology- driven solutions to support supply chains in Fortune 500 customers in the technology, automotive, medical, financial, and energy sectors. Listen to Hannah Kain tell us about her journey and her commitment to quality, sustainability, and human resources.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Using Artificial Intelligence to Manage Risk in Your Global Supply Chain

BINDIYA VAKIL, Founder and CEO of Resilinc Software
FRICTIONLESS Videocast recorded on October 5, 2022

Using Artificial Intelligence to Manage Risk in Your Global Supply Chain

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Bindiya Vakil, Founder, and CEO of Resilinc, discuss the use of artificial intelligence to map and manage your global supply chains. Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.
In the wake of hurricane IAN, supply chain professionals are again reminded of risks and vulnerabilities in their supply chains. Beyond hurricanes and typhoons, the pandemic, floods, and fires, many other events can expose points of weakness and risk if mapped in your supply chain. Resilinc software uses artificial intelligence to scan the press, social media, and other sources worldwide to alert companies about potential problems in their supply chain’s mapped suppliers. Resilinc was able to alert customers about suppliers in Wuhan, China at risk, weeks before the world knew we had a pandemic. Resilinc also runs hurricane simulations to help customers in developing supply chain strategies and addressing supplier risk.

Be sure to listen on Google Podcasts, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts.

And, to learn more about Resilinc, contact Bindiya@resilinc.com and Rosemary Coates at
rcoates@ReshoringInstitute.org

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Human Rights, Forced Labor, and Sustainability in Global Supply Chains

Sarah Carpenter, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Assent, supply chain sustainability management solutions for complex manufacturers, FRICTIONLESS Videocast recorded on June 9, 2022

Human Rights, Forced Labor, and Sustainability in Global Supply Chains

Listen in as Rosemary Coates and Sarah Carpenter, Director at Assent, discuss human rights, forced labor, and sustainability in global supply chains.  Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, hosts this episode of The Frictionless Supply Chain.

In this episode, we discuss how supply chain professionals must take responsibility for forced labor, human trafficking, and sustainability in their global supply chains. The world of global sourcing and manufacturing has gotten far more complex over the last 25 years. There is more risk, complexity, and troubling practices to worry about. We discuss what supply chain people can do to avoid supporting global criminals and address global warming issues.

And, to learn more about Assent, contact
sarah.carpenter@assent.com and
Rosemary Coates at
rcoates@ReshoringInstitute.org

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Rethinking Procurement in a Prototype Business

In this Episode, Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, and Bernadine Henderson, Director of Strategic Sourcing and Global Procurement at Protolabs discuss procurement in a prototyping and small-lot environment. With more than 84% of U.S. companies indicating that they are now reshoring or considering it, Protolabs is positioned for growth. So many manufacturers have a need to prototype a new design or change a product and Protolabs provides this kind of service in Minnesota and throughout the U.S. Protolabs’ digital services include machining, 3D printing, and plastic injection molding. Ms. Henderson has reorganized Protolabs’ procurement function to support these operations worldwide.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Sustainability in Your Supply Chain

In this Episode, Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, (www.ReshoringInstitute.org) and Cyndy Andela, CEO of Andela Products (www.AndelaProducts.com) and Ruby Lake Glass discuss creative ways of thinking about sustainability in your supply chains. Sustainability concerns are a growing challenge for supply chain professionals with mandates from boards of directors, executive management, and consumers.

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Global Counterfeiting Risk in Your Supply Chain

With Rosemary Coates of the Reshoring Institute and Kari Kimmel of the A-CAPP Center at Michigan State University

Frictionless Supply Chain Podcast – Uyghur Forced Labor Act

Are you ready for the Uyghur Forced Labor Act? It goes into effect on June 21, 2022 and will be a major disruption in supply chains.

Frictionless Podcast – Rosemary Coates & Jennifer Clement – discuss Shanghai Covid Lockdown MAY 2022

Learn about what’s happening with the Shanghai Covid Lockdown and the likely effects when things start to open up again.

Quality Inspection, Audits, and Standards in Manufacturing with Shirley Dewi

While quality inspection, audits, and standards in manufacturing may not be the highest items on your list of priorities, they are the backbone of a good manufacturing environment. Joining us for an important conversation on this topic is Shirley Dewi, Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance and Client Services at IAPMO, a one-stop shop for conformity assessments. Tuning in, you’ll hear about IAPMO, its history, and the services the company provides. You’ll also gain an understanding of how, despite being considered a cost and a burden, conformity assessments can add a lot of value to your company. You’ll discover more about IAPMO’s global footprint, where Shirley is witnessing the development of manufacturing locations outside of China, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on manufacturers and supply chains internationally. To hear real-life examples of how the right conformity assessments can make or break your manufacturing business, tune in today!

Watch the Podcast >>

Intelligence, Resources, and Data for the Manufacturing Industry with Cathy Ma

Today’s guest believes that manufacturing plays a vital role in creating new technologies to build a better world. Cathy Ma is the VP of Platform Growth and Engagement at ThomasNet, now owned by Xometry. She is passionate about using information, research, and knowledge to help all manufacturers, big or small, to thrive. Tuning in, you’ll hear about how Thomas, as a leading source for industrial resourcing, is an asset to the manufacturing industry. Cathy explains that apart from helping manufacturers get suppliers in a fast and reliable way, Thomas also collects audience intelligence and disseminates helpful information, resources, and data to free members. You’ll hear about the research that Thomas is currently conducting, and some of the trends that they have identified. You’ll also learn how Thomas is supporting American manufacturers, how their technology can help you overcome labor shortages, and how it can help you find alternate suppliers in the face of supply chain challenges. To find out how Thomas is democratizing manufacturing capacity for all, what’s next for the company, and how to become part of the Thomas community to benefit from its initiatives, tune in today!

Watch more on Women & Manufacturing >>

Sourcing and Manufacturing in China with Jennifer Clement

Today’s guest is Jennifer Clement, and she joins us to speak about sourcing and manufacturing in China. Jennifer is the President of Complete Holdings and the US Partner of Complete Manufacturing and Distribution, also known as CMD in China. CMD provides boots-on-the-ground support for clients who manufacture in China when it comes to working with a factory network, managing quality control and diversifying a supply base. Jennifer begins by laying out her experience in the manufacturing industry and describing her most recent role with CMD, for which she has been based in Shanghai since 2015. From there, we talk about how CMD works with clients to develop a business case for sourcing a manufacturing location, where they consider variables such as labor, availability of natural resources, and tariffs. In our conversation, we also speak about the different regions in China and the goods they specialize in manufacturing when it makes sense to manufacture in other parts of the globe. We also discuss how CMD is assisting clients in an environment defined by major challenges around material availability, quality control, and supply chain functioning. For all this and more, tune in today.

Watch more on Women & Manufacturing >>

Moving the World of Supply Chain Forward with Lora Cecere

Some of the biggest challenges through the last two years have been closely connected to issues in the supply chain. The playing field has definitely changed and here to help us better understand this, and share some insight into how we can build better systems, more suited to the current landscape is Lora Cecere. Lora is the Founder of Supply Chain Insights, through which she helps leaders take their supply chain teams to the next level! She is also the brains behind the blog ‘Supply Chain Shaman’, a thought-leader, strategist, and researcher. In our conversation with Lora today, we get some context and history from her, and how she worked her way up to founding her firm. She talks about her studies and the array of different companies she worked with before starting Supply Chain Insights. From there, Lora shares her thoughts on the important lessons we can learn from the recent instability and issues, and weighs in on how we can re-mold our new systems to better suit the needs of the industry. We discuss bringing AI and ML into the conversation around data, and why bidirectional orchestration can make such a big difference to how we interact with complex systems. To hear all this and more from a true expert in the field of supply chain, be sure to join us on Women and Manufacturing!

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Leading a 100% Woman-Owned Manufacturing Business with Jill Cavano

In today’s episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks with Jill Cavano, the President and Owner of Scranton Associates. Founded in 1919, Scranton Associates is a family business that has been manufacturing private label water treatment chemicals in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, for over 100 years. In 2016, Jill bought all of the family members out, making her the sole owner and making Scranton Associates a 100 percent woman-owned manufacturing business. Jill has been a custom chemical blender, predominately for the water treatment industry, for the past 22 years. She is a long-time member and sponsor of The Association of Water Technologies (AWT), a member of the AWT Young Professionals Group and the AWT Business Resources Committee, and an active member of the Cleveland Chemical Association (CCA). She is also an active member of the Rising Tide Mastermind Group, which is a peer-to-peer mentoring group for executives in the water treatment industry. In this episode, she shares some practical tips for women in business, outlines some of the challenges she has encountered on her journey to becoming a business owner and explains how she overcame them. You’ll also find out how Scranton Associates addressed supply chain issues as a result of COVID-19, why Jill believes in making her employees feel like they’re all in it together, the value of having an exit strategy, as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with other business owners. For all this and so much more, tune in today!

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Your Guide to Decoding Silicon Valley with Michelle Lane Messina

Do you want to learn about Silicon Valley best practices for growing and scaling companies, the Valley’s unique vantage point for evaluating startups, and what rules can and should be broken in the course of building a global business? Well, this is the episode for you! Today, Rosemary Coates speaks with Michelle Lane Messina, CEO of Explora International, about the best practices of Silicon Valley and how you can apply them to your business. Michelle is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and workshop leader, a member of the Startup Chile Board, and the co-author of the bestselling book, Decoding Silicon Valley: The Insider’s Guide. Tuning in, you’ll discover how to create a valuable feedback loop with your market, find ways to collaborate, and ask the right questions to filter through the ‘happy talk’, plus so much more. Make sure not to miss this conversation for colorful stories, surprising anecdotes, and telling insights about what really happens in Silicon Valley!

Watch more on Women & Manufacturing >>

Transforming Experts into Leaders with Susan Schwartz

No matter how advanced technology becomes, people will always be at the heart of every business. Yet, soft skills, are commonly overlooked because hard skills and technical expertise are deemed to be more valuable. Through her work, Susan Schwartz, our guest today, looks to tackle this issue. She is the President of Birch River Group, a consultancy that transforms industry experts into emotionally intelligent leaders. As an experienced consultant, Susan has worked in highly technical sectors, where she saw the need for those who had graduated from experts to leaders to hone their leadership skills. Although many people are innate leaders, Susan believes that it is a competency the overwhelming majority can master. In this episode, we talk about what it means to be an emotionally intelligent leader, along with the value of being vulnerable when leading a team. You will never know all the answers, which is why it is vital to understand how to bring out the strengths of those around you. Our conversation also touches on the challenges of transitioning from an expert to a leader, some of the techniques and methods Susan uses with her clients, and the value of those who do not want to be leaders. Tune in to hear it all!

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Driving Change in the Engineering Field with Cheryl Texin

When working on mission-critical assets, quality and reliability are imperative, but how do you leverage a client’s experience and respect the integrity of the system while also introducing valuable new technology and ideas? In today’s episode of Women and Manufacturing, Rosemary Coates speaks to Cheryl Texin, an award-winning Principal Systems R&D Engineer for the Aerospace, Defense, and Government Business Unit at NI and the President of the Austin Section for the Society of Women Engineers. Cheryl shares her perspective on being a catalyst for change, not only creating value by implementing new technology within government systems but also by maintaining a strong voice as a woman in a male-populated industry like engineering, particularly in the military space. We touch on the benefit of building a network of support, how the SWE drives change in the engineering industry through awards and speaking opportunities, and how Cheryl is thinking about leadership and development in the future. Plus, she shares her advice for other women engineers: don’t be afraid to communicate what you want! Tune in today to learn more!

Listen to more on Women & Manufacturing >>

Guiding Manufacturers Through Change with Cindy Oehmigen

Today, Rosemary Coates speaks with Cindy Oehmigen, the Director of Energy and Corporate Services at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, which is also known as MACNY. Cindy has worked with numerous manufacturing companies during her 30-year career, guiding them through change, creating team environments, reducing costs, and developing staff potential. In this episode, she emphasizes the importance of building a strong network and the benefits that the MACNY apprenticeship program offers aspiring manufacturers. We discuss how MACNY has assisted manufacturers through the unpredictability of COVID-19 and both disseminates and gathers important information about community health and vaccinations, and Cindy shares her perspective on the essential place that women occupy in manufacturing. She also leaves us with some pertinent advice for young women in the industry: don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and think laterally to get ahead! For all this and so much more, make sure to tune in today.

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The Evolution of the Textile and Garment Industry with Eileen Small

Since Eileen Small entered the textile and garment industries in the 1980’s, a lot has changed. When she started out, close to 90% of garment manufacturing took place in the USA and today this number has dropped to less than 10%. Furthermore, technology has made the world a much smaller place, and a more entrepreneurial one, and sustainability and transparency have become vital to staying relevant. In today’s episode, Eileen gives us an inside look at what it was like sourcing piece goods (commonly known as fabrics) from all over the world in her twenties, and the nuances that exist within the textile and garment industries. As a trade show veteran, Eileen also has valuable advice to share about how to get the most out of these events, and what you can expect from some of the upcoming ones that are going to be held in the near future. The textile and apparel industries have some of the most responsive and attentive supply chains of all manufacturing sectors, and you will have a greater appreciation for the apparel that clothes you after listening to this episode!

Listen to more on Women & Manufacturing >>

The Foundations of a Strong Family Business with Bridget Jaeger

Today we get to have an amazing conversation with the Chief Operating Officer of CH Technologies, Bridget Jaeger! The company is dedicated to equipping its clients with a responsive source for cutting-edge inhalation and particle exposure systems, which can be custom-tailored to specific needs. In our chat today, we hear from Bridget about the work that the company has been occupied with since the advent of the pandemic, how COVID-19 has impacted their market, some thoughts on masks and air filtration, and a lot more about their specific products! Bridget also sheds some light on the ins and out of the company, touching on its foundation as a family-run business, and how she likes to keep this ethos alive as COO. She talks about the legacy of her father’s leadership style and emphasis on giving and also shares her reflections on how her mother’s attitude influenced her mentality as a woman in a male-dominated space. So for all this and more from a wonderful guest, listen in!

Listen to more on Women & Manufacturing >>

The Power of Workplace Adaptation and Employee Advocacy, with Eileen Guarino

In this episode, WAM host Rosemary Coates sits down with Eileen P. Guarino, the CEO of Greno Industries Inc. — a machine shop based in upstate New York that has evolved to become a trusted manufacturer of machine parts, which serve a wide range of industries, including several Fortune 500 companies.

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Building to Sell with Michelle Seiler Tucker

Michelle Seiler Tucker has personally sold over 500 companies, with the tally reaching over a thousand with her Mergers and Acquisitions Firm. She has spoken all over the United States and Canada, and written three books on the subject, and considers entrepreneurship to be her passion, and her mission in life. In today’s episode, she tells us about her background as an entrepreneur, and how she responded to the low national success rate of business sales by building a firm that buys, sells, fixes, and grows companies.

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Using Your Unique Skillset to Excel at Project Management with Daisie Hobson

The role of a project manager in any kind of business is absolutely essential. Today’s guest, Daisie Hobson, is a structural and process engineering but, unlike most engineers, she is a huge people person. She has found a niche for herself working as an independent consultant in a customer support role with new products as a project manager. On today’s episode, she tells us how she entered into the field of project management while working in the Peace Corps in Mexico.

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American Manufacturing, Entrepreneurship and Sand Scarcity with Cynthia Andela

In today’s episode of the Women and Manufacturing Podcast, host Rosemary Coates speaks with Cynthia Andela, an engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of two companies Andela Products and Ruby Lake Glass. In our conversation, we talk with Cynthia about striking out on her own to become an entrepreneur and leaving the comfort of her corporate career. We discuss Cynthia’s companies and how she was able to find a specific niche in glass recycling and processing.

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Drones, Composites, and Leadership – A Conversation with Dr. Tulinda Larsen

After working as an economist in the aerospace industry for 40+ years, Dr. Tulinda Deegan Larsen transitioned to a startup that helped commercial airlines improve on their time performance through use of a cloud database. From there, she was recruited to join her current company, Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), where she sits as Executive Director.

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Connection, Flexibility, and Software with Stephanie Richelieu Stagger

In today’s episode, we speak with Stephanie Richelieu Stagger, Chief Revenue Officer for 3Gtms. Stephanie shares how her international upbringing and global experience have aided her career in supply chain management. In our discussion, we talk about how she fell in love with software and supply chain management, why her work is never boring, and how the pandemic has informed the public’s understanding of supply chains.

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Going About Finding Funding the Smart Way with Christine Howard

The world of startup funding is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming arena to enter. Here on the WAM podcast today, Rosemary Coates interviews Christine Howard, who is the founder and CEO of E.B. Howard Consulting as well as StartupFundHub.com! In her work, Christine helps startups find and apply for non-dilutive funding and she gives a helpful explanation of dilutive funding, how it works, and why they steer away from it.

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Enhancing Gender Equality in the Workplace with Tanushree Ghosh

Our guest on today’s show is a woman in manufacturing with a PhD in material science and a passion for gender related issues, so much so that she has written two books on the subject. Tanushree moved to the United States to study because she wanted to have freedom of choice that she didn’t feel she had as a woman in her home country, India. She ended up in the manufacturing world completely by accident but she is very glad that she did, for reasons that she shares with us today.

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Sales Negotiation and Consulting with Carrie Welles

In the world of negotiators, people either seem to think they are really good at it or that they stink, but there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground. Some people stick to instinct and luck when it comes to business negotiations, but our guest today works with well thought-out strategies, important concepts, and an organized blueprint. Carrie Welles is a Partner at Think! Inc., a negotiation training and consulting firm.

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Manufacturing Professional, Plus-Size Clothing with Danielle Malconian of Vikki Vi

Too many women blame themselves for the scarcity of well-made, professional, plus-size clothing, but today’s guest is on a mission to help women feel better about themselves (and help them look fabulous in the process)! In today’s episode, Rosemary Coates interviews Danielle Malconian, President and CEO of Plus by Design and the brand, Vikki Vi.

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Bridging the Gap Between Policy Makers and Manufacturers with Rachel Jones

In today’s episode, host Rosemary Coates welcomes Rachel Jones, who is the Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, or what we call the NAM. She oversees the NAM’s energy and environmental policy and she has expertise on issues ranging from energy production and use to air and water quality, climate change, energy efficiency, and environmental regulations. Rachel is also an attorney and has been council to the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a key voice for manufacturing on Capitol Hill, at federal agencies, and across all forms of media.

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Putting the “Pro” in Procurement with Mary Ann Brennan of 9thWonder

From marketing to real estate, procurement officers need to be jacks-of-all-trades, saddled with the huge responsibility of dealing with the many third-parties needed to run an organization. Today, host Rosemary Coates interviews the COO of 9thWonder, Mary Ann Brennan, about why procurement is so vital to modern companies.

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Education for Supply Chain and Global Manufacturing with Cindy Mebruer

A lot of people, to this day, are only now learning about what supply chain is because of toilet paper. The pandemic has opened up opportunities for supply chain educators, as people are becoming aware of professions in supply chain. However, there is still a lack of education in various spaces such as in grade schools! Today on the Women and Manufacturing podcast we welcome Cindy Mebruer, Director of the Center for Supply Chain Excellence at Saint Louis University. Cindy is well-known throughout the US for running an outstanding supply chain center that supplies both the university and the community of greater Saint Louis. In this episode, we will be discussing an important topic — education for people who are learning about or entering into the profession of supply chain and greater global manufacturing. So stay tuned to find out more!

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Shaping Successful Global Trade Compliance with Beth Pride of BPE Global

Today on the WAM podcast, host Rosemary Coates interview Beth Pride, the founder and president of BPE Global, a woman-run and led consulting and training firm that facilitates global trade and strategy. Bringing years of valuable and hard-won experience to the table, Beth speaks about how she unexpectedly grew into loving global trade compliance. Beginning initially truck driving, and then through her time at Hewlett Packard, and then transitioning into a small software firm. she discusses the importance of diversifying your experience and learning the ins-and-outs of a business to gain a full, overall understanding of what makes a successful business.

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Addressing Global Supply Chain Risk Through Software Solutions with Bindiya Vakil

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed just how interconnected, yet fragile the global supply chain truly is. One company, Resilinc, has been addressing risk in the global supply chain through a clear vision and innovative software, and its CEO Bindiya Vakil, joins us today. Having come from the world of sourcing and procurement in high-tech, Bindiya felt the industry was very reactive and always at the mercy of suppliers and events. In this episode, we learn more about what Resilinc is doing to increase visibility and understand supply chain interdependencies.

Listen to more at Women & Manufacturing >>

Who is Winning the Tech Race? With Rebecca Fannin, Founder of Silicon Dragon Ventures

Relations between the US and China are at a low-point right now, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic among other things, but how is that affecting global innovation? Today’s guest on the WAM podcast is an innovation expert, author, public speaker, and media entrepreneur, Rebecca Fannin, who is the founder and leader of Silicon Dragon Ventures.

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Medical Device Contract Manufacturing with Noreen King

This week, host Rosemary Coates welcomes Noreen King of Evolve Manufacturing Technologies to the WAM podcast. Contract manufacturing is different from other types of manufacturing in that products are designed elsewhere, and then the contract manufacturers get the blueprints to assemble the goods. They have to source the parts and work with various partners to ensure compliance. Manufacturing medical devices is an even more stringent manufacturing process, and Noreen King, Evolve’s CEO is here to talk with us today on this topic.

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Why The Key to Innovation is Failure with Kimberly Wiefling

Today on The WAM Podcast, host Rosemary Coates welcomes Kimberly Wiefling of Wiefling Consulting. Kimberly is known throughout Silicon Valley as the Guru of Innovation. She is a physicist by training, a techno-nerd, and an extraordinary networker and today, we discover how she has come to be one of the most respected business owners by her manufacturing clients worldwide. We can all agree that innovation and creativity are essential to the evolution of any business. But what type of mindset and environment fosters innovation and creativity most effectively?

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How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes with Sarah Rathke

In this episode, host Rosemary Coates discusses supply chains and the law along with our guest, Sarah Rathke. Sarah is a Partner at the international law firm of Squire Patton Boggs and coauthor, along with Rosemary, of the book Legal Blacksmith: How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes. Sarah possesses some really outstanding legal skills along with an in-depth and unique understanding of supply chain issues, which is very rare in attorneys.

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Being a Woman in a Man’s World with Colleen Gray, President and CEO of Consensus Orthopedics

Today on the WAM podcast, we welcome Colleen Gray, president, and CEO of Consensus Orthopedics Inc. Colleen started her career in accounting, but never quite felt at home. She then gravitated to cost accounting because she felt it really gave her an inside view of manufacturing. Her career trajectory has led her on an incredible path, starting out in high tech companies in Arizona and then relocating to California, still remaining in the high tech sphere. Colleen is also the co-founder of one of the first cloud-based storage companies, called Storage Way.

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