I always love it here on Manufacturing Talks when I get to explore a business that's tied to one of my personal interests. As a lifelong bicyclist, then, it was an absolute pleasure getting to chat with Shane Cooper, President and Chief Sockologist of DeFeet International, producer high-quality American-made cycling socks and other apparel. Shane had so much to share - about establishing a business to solve a real problem, about catching the attention of the pro cycling world, and about coming back from setbacks that could have destroyed lots of entrepreneurs. He has a great story. Tune in and catch the whole thing! And and always, please like, share, and subscribe!

Where do I even start when it comes to Ashleigh Walters? Some years ago she had left her engineering career in corporate America to be a stay-at-home mom. But then her father-in-law came calling; he needed her to sort out the finances at his company, Onex, Inc., in Erie, Pennsylvania which is both a product and service outfit for refractory materials and systems for the steel industry and others. Unfortunately, things were a mess, but Ashleigh buckled down and enlisted the frontline workers to help right the ship. She felt so good about the new direction, when the opportunity came along, she and her husband bought the company. Then they decided that it was only right that all those workers share more fully in Onex's success. So Ashleigh did some studying and set things up to convert the company to employee ownership. Then she took a long rest. Nah. just kidding! Actually, she set out to write a book to share her experiences in saving the firm and having her good folks get a part in its ownership. *Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey of Organizational Culture Change* came out in 2020. Tune in and hear all about all of the above!

Titan Abrasive Systems started nearly 70 years ago, originally based in the founder's backyard shed, focused on equipment for sandblasting, surface preparation, and surface finishing. For our 20th episode, their President, Brandon Acker, joined me to tell how the company, based just north of Philadelphia, continues today to make high-quality blast room equipment, blast cabinets, dust collectors, and portable blast systems. Plus he educated me about the latest blast media and new applications for blast equipment, along with his own new manufacturing technologies that continue to make Titan one of the highest-quality providers out there. Tune in for a great learning experience on a piece of the manufacturing world we all take way too much for granted! And as always, like, share, and subscribe!

When the American flag they'd received as a wedding present quickly became worn and tattered, Katie and Wes Lyon went looking for something much better, and preferably made in the USA. They couldn't find it, though, so instead they teamed up with their friend Max Berry and founded Allegiance Flag Supply to make their own. After some fits and starts, they found the business model that works, and they not only survived but thrived through the pandemic. Katie visits the "Wall of Metal" to tell us how they did it. Tune in for the whole thing, and like it and subscribe to hear more great manufacturing stories!

My pals all over the manufacturing world do amazing things. But let's face it: a lot of us were never educated in running a business. So I took advantage of the opportunity to have my friend Chris Panagiotu on the show to give us all some education. Chris is the owner of CAPitalize Your Finances, LLC. He's a wealth adviser and a certified financial planner. He hosts his own podcast, aptly named the CAPitalize Your Finances Podcast, and he also has a book coming out soon! And he's a heckuva great guy, too. He delivered some really great advice on a few key things those of us in manufacturing should be thinking about and doing. Listen to the whole thing - it's well worth your time! And as always, like, share, and subscribe!

Way up in Houghton, Michigan, there's a little company that's making nearby Michigan Tech University a new destination for space technology. Brad King, who helped found Orbion Space Technologies, picked the location because of the exceptional technical talent the school generates. (And the staggering natural beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula doesn't hurt either.) Tune in and listen to the whole story! As always, if you like it, please like, share, and subscribe!

A lot of you probably know about KA-BAR because of their iconic US Marine Corps fighting knife. But the company's history goes a lot farther back than WWII. It's a fascinating story, and today KA-BAR is making some outstanding products (do check out the tactical spork!) CEO John Stitt and Director of Sales and Marketing Joe Bradley joined me to tell me all about it. They're a couple of great guys, and we had a fabulous chat. Do check out the whole thing, and as always, like, share, and subscribe!

Dianna Huff is one of my favorite industrial advocates out there, since we share a passion for American manufacturing (though I will say she beats me big time on actually buying American!) She's had some great experiences in writing about manufacturing and helping producers market their goods in today's digital world. And along the way she's found ways to buy almost everything she uses only if it's made the USA. She recently launched a blog about that, so she's also Publisher of Keep It Made USA, where she helps consumers follow her lead. Tune and get the whole story straight from Dianna! If you like this, please share, like, and subscribe!

Eric Girouard grew up doing blue-collar work, went to college and learned about business, then worked in the fashion world. But his hometown friends who went into the trades begged him to launch a workwear company to get them the gear they needed. So he did. His friends were right about there being a big market for that. It's been going gangbusters ever since with BRUNT's boots, coveralls, and more. Tune in and hear all about it. And subscribe to hear more cool stories like Eric's!