The Manufacturing Employer

Hosted by Jon Franko, Gorilla 76

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

101

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 10229 min

Rethinking manufacturing pathways, with Shalin Jyotishi of New America

Shalin Jyotishi, founder of New America's Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss talent-pipeline challenges in manufacturing. He shares misconceptions about manufacturing careers, the urgent need to modernize work-based learning and the importance of employer investment in workforce development. The conversation explores practical steps for building strong partnerships with educators, the potential of MEPs and youth apprenticeships, and highlights some of the programs making a difference today.

May 26, 2026Episode 101

Prioritizing worker health for retention and safety, with Susan Taah of Work Factor

Susan Taah, occupational health consultant and founder of Work Factor, joins The Manufacturing Employer to examine how things like chronic illnesses, fatigue, mental health and heat stress are impacting today's industrial workforce. Susan shares why traditional wellness programs often fall short and highlights practical, data-driven strategies for embedding health initiatives within operations. The conversation explores the financial impact of chronic disease, the competitive edge of supporting employee well-being, and the pivotal role of frontline supervisors in influencing workplace culture and retention.

May 12, 2026Episode 10025 min

Bridging marketing and HR to build winning teams, with Ray Reader of Gorilla 76

Ray Reader, strategist at Gorilla 76, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss why marketing and HR must collaborate to attract and retain talent. Ray explains how authentic employer branding and employee stories help manufacturers stand out. The conversation offers actionable steps for building a strong employer brand and driving better hiring results.

April 28, 2026Episode 99

Cracking the code of workplace fairness, with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner of Business M.O.

Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, award-winning author and workplace fairness expert, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore what fairness really means in a modern manufacturing plant. Drawing on decades of business law and social psychology experience, Hanna reveals why fairness is so crucial for employee engagement and retention, and how unwritten workplace rules quietly undermine both. She explains the social contract between employers and employees, offers practical ways leaders can identify and address hidden biases, and shares actionable steps for building trust and a truly fair culture on the shop floor. See the article she references in the podcast here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/48-ways-managers-abuse-power-destroy-employee-hanna/

April 14, 2026Episode 9821 min

What workers really want, with Larry Salazar of NestSTEPS

Larry Salazar, President and Co-Founder of NestSTEPS, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss what employees really want from their workplace. With more than 25 years at the intersection of technology, HR benefits and financial services, Larry shares why housing and homeownership have emerged as powerful tools for workforce stability and retention. The conversation explores evolving employee expectations around dignity, progress and financial wellness, revealing how housing benefits not only address financial stress but also foster deeper loyalty and long-term engagement.

March 31, 2026Episode 9726 min

Manufacturing leadership that works, with Jason Woodard of Geislinger Corporation

Jason Woodard, COO at Geislinger Corporation, returns to The Manufacturing Employer to share insights from his new book, "Manufacturing Leadership That Works." Drawing on 35 years of experience, Jason discusses why traditional leadership models fall short, the importance of holistic people-first management and practical tools like one-on-one meetings. He explains how investing in frontline operators and leading with empathy drives lasting change and stronger cultures in manufacturing.

March 17, 2026Episode 9633 min

"Belonging" and the factory floor, with Andrea D. Carter of Andrea Carter Consulting

Andrea D. Carter, organizational scientist and founder of Andrea Carter Consulting, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share how measurable belonging can transform manufacturing culture. Andrea discusses her Belonging First methodology and its five key indicators that drive trust, performance and retention. She explores the real costs of culture gaps, how leaders often miss hidden pockets of disengagement and practical steps for frontline supervisors to build strong teams. This episode shows why belonging is not a perk, but essential infrastructure for operational success.

March 3, 2026Episode 9537 min

Designing out injury with bionomics, with Chris Zdenek of Soma Ergonomics

Chris Zdenek, founder of Soma Ergonomics, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how manufacturers can shift from reactive safety efforts to proactive workforce protection. With more than three decades of experience, Chris breaks down the hidden impact of chronic, repetitive stress injuries and introduces bionomics — a holistic approach to optimizing human performance, cognition and well-being on the shop floor. He shares practical strategies for designing safer workstations that reduce injuries, lower workers’ comp costs and improve employee retention, showing how smart design investments drive long-term returns.

February 17, 2026Episode 9427 min

Bridging generational gaps through empathy and communication, with Laura Hanley of Big Picture Companies

Laura Hanley, licensed therapist and workplace consultant at Big Picture Companies, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack generational diversity on the shop floor. Drawing from her clinical background at the Mayo Clinic and VA, Laura explains why communication and occupational empathy are key skills in today’s manufacturing environment. She breaks down why older and younger workers often talk past each other, how wiring, motivation, and stress responses play into team dynamics, and why leadership rooted in empathy and data-driven insight is essential.

February 3, 2026Episode 9356 min

The importance of putting people first, with ERP leader and Certified Dream Manager Kevin Patrick

Kevin Patrick, ERP leader and Certified Dream Manager, joins The Manufacturing Employer to share hard-won lessons from his career to date. Drawing on his journey from the shop floor to leading more than 120 ERP deployments, Kevin reveals why successful systems aren’t just about technology, but instead how they hinge on human engagement, trust and personal growth. He discusses the consequences of employee disengagement, the transformative power of trust-based leadership and the business impact of connecting personal dreams to organizational success. This episode touches on Kevin’s experiences in recovery, how vulnerability reshapes leadership and explores the Dream Manager philosophy as a path to reducing turnover and fostering lasting employee loyalty.