The Manufacturing Employer

Hosted by Jon Franko, Gorilla 76

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

111

Latest episode

Oct 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

October 13, 2026Episode 11131 min

Transforming recruitment and training through VR 2.0, with Eric Margheim of BeThere Immersive

Eric Margheim, founder and CEO of BeThere Immersive, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how immersive technology is transforming recruitment, onboarding and training for manufacturers. Drawing on his experience pioneering VR 2.0, Eric discusses the “experience gap” that often leads to mismatched hires and high turnover. He shares how realistic, accessible virtual reality experiences—capturing the actual sights and sounds of the shop floor—help boost retention and accelerate learning.

September 29, 2026Episode 11032 min

The gold is in the problems, with Glenn Bostock of SnapCab

Glenn Bostock, Founder and CEO of SnapCab, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss why continuous improvement starts with people, not just processes. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience building SnapCab from a small cabinet shop to an international manufacturer, Glenn shares how caring, kindness, and psychological safety drive performance and innovation. He shares how surfacing mistakes is rewarded at SnapCab, why radical caring forms the foundation for growth and how businesses thrive by focusing on usefulness over profit.

September 15, 2026Episode 10937 min

Building lives through mentorship and skilled trades, with Dave Hataj of Edgerton Gear, Inc.

Dave Hataj, owner and president of Edgerton Gear, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how mentorship and character-building can transform lives through the skilled trades. Drawing on his experience and his work founding the "Craftsman with Character" program, Dave shares why manufacturing is about much more than technical skills—it’s about instilling responsibility, dignity and purpose in the next generation. The conversation explores overcoming negative perceptions of blue-collar work, the critical role of mentorship, and how manufacturers can build a sustainable talent pipeline by investing in both character and community.

September 1, 2026Episode 10840 min

Boosting manufacturing outcomes by understanding human energy, with Georgina Woodley of Custology Insights

Georgina Woodley, Chief Insight Officer at Custology Insights and creator of the Human Energy Intelligence framework, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore the power of invisible human factors in manufacturing workplaces. Georgina shares why traditional engagement efforts often miss the mark, and how leaders can better recognize and respond to hidden stress, declining energy and emotional dynamics before they impact productivity or retention. She shares practical strategies for measuring team energy, fostering joy and creating conditions where people consistently bring their best. Find more information on Joy-O-Meter here: https://www.custology-insights.com/joy-o-meter Access Joy Lift: 7 Pathways to Unleash More Joy here: https://www.the-transformation-initiative.com/joy-lift

August 18, 2026Episode 10737 min

Leading AI change by having a people-first policy, with Grace Wright of Gorilla 76

Grace Wright, VP of Innovation at Gorilla 76, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss leading teams through AI-driven change with a focus on people and process. Drawing from her own career journey, Grace discusses the importance of adapting to uncertainty, building trust around new technology and keeping human expertise at the core of transformation. She shares the thinking behind Gorilla’s "People Policy", her approach to scaling AI adoption across teams and why the winning companies will be those that prioritize learning, transparency and empowering employees to drive innovation.

August 4, 2026Episode 10631 min

Rethinking manufacturing process training, with Amanda Aschinger of Solstice Productions

Amanda Aschinger, co-founder and CEO of Solstice Productions, joins The Manufacturing Employer to discuss how manufacturers can revamp process documentation to improve onboarding, training and retention. Amanda discusses why traditional, text-heavy manuals fall short and how modular, video-based systems offer a more accessible and engaging approach. The conversation explores practical steps for getting started, keeping documentation up-to-date and embedding company culture into training for long-term success.

July 21, 2026Episode 10531 min

Equipping your workforce for AI transformation, with Ben Tasker

Ben Tasker, a nationally recognized leader in AI education and workforce transformation, discusses how manufacturers can move from anxiety about AI to measurable impact. Ben shares strategies for building AI fluency, rethinking upskilling and taking a systems-based approach rather than chasing tools. The conversation covers practical use cases for AI on the manufacturing floor, why responsible change management is critical and how human skills remain invaluable in this new era.

July 7, 2026Episode 104

The business case for employer-supported childcare, with Nicole Riehl of EPIC

Nicole Riehl, President and CEO of Executive Partnerships to Invest in Children (EPIC), joins The Manufacturing Employer to reframe childcare as a critical workforce infrastructure issue, not just an employee perk. She discusses the hidden costs of childcare challenges, and how manufacturers can address absenteeism and turnover linked to them. She shares actionable strategies including flexible scheduling, stipends and community resources, and explains how even incremental changes can yield strong ROI in recruitment, retention and productivity.

June 23, 2026Episode 103

Uncovering the hidden costs of your 401(k), with forensic 401(k) consultant Paul Sippil

Paul Sippil, a forensic 401k consultant, joins The Manufacturing Employer to reveal the hidden costs and pitfalls lurking in many manufacturers’ retirement plans. Drawing on decades of auditing and advisory experience, Paul explains how excessive and undisclosed fees quietly erode employee savings and trust. He breaks down common misconceptions, the risks of undetected conflicts of interest, and why transparency and detailed invoicing are essential for both owners and employees.

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.