Made in America with Ari Santiago

This week we are welcoming Robert Friedland, President and CEO of Columbia Manufacturing onto the Made in America podcast!    Robert joins Ari for a full episode focusing on his aerospace journey, rebranding efforts for Columbia Manufacturing, and leadership and communication strategies.   Robert discusses their strong partnerships with technical training schools in the state and how revamping their website helped steer their business in a positive direction. He believes in transparency and teamwork in order to solve problems and making things better for tomorrow!   Robert Friedland, President and CEO, Columbia Manufacturing Columbia Manufacturing's Website: https://columbiamanufacturing.net/ Columbia Manufacturing's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMI.Aviation Columbia Manufacturing's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/columbia-manufacturing-inc-/ Robert's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertfriedlandct/   Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company F

Exciting news!!! We are welcoming CT's Newest Chief Manufacturing Officer, Paul Lavoie, onto the Made in America podcast.  Paul joins Ari for a 2nd time and discusses strengthening the supply chain, the future of CT manufacturing, and 5 strategic initiatives he plans to implement. Paul describes his background with Carey Manufacturing, how the stars aligned with his new role, and how he plans on engaging and supporting manufacturers of all shapes and sizes.  We wish Paul the best of luck and can't wait to see what he does for manufacturing at the state level! Paul Lavoie, Chief Manufacturing Officer, State of Connecticut  State of Connecticut's Website: https://portal.ct.gov/ State of Connecticut's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofconnecticut/ Paul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulslavoie/ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/made-i

Next up on the Made in America podcast is Gio Tomasi, CEO and CTO of RSL Fiber Systems! Gio and Ari's friendship has blossomed into a conversation focused on mentorship, community involvement, the development of fiber optic lighting for the U.S. Navy, and beyond. Gio talks to Ari about the importance of sharing knowledge with others to help solve problems and finding creative people to get the job done. In order to be successful in the manufacturing space, you have to be willing to learn, adapt, and think outside of the box! Gio Tomasi, CEO and CTO, RSL Fiber Systems  RSL Fiber Systems's Website: https://www.rslfibersystems.com/ RSL Fiber Systems's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rsl-fiber-systems/ Gio's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovanni-tomasi-088628b/ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/made-in-america-podcast-with-ari Company YouT

On this week of the Made in America podcast, we welcome Melissa Grosso, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service! Melissa talks to Ari about their involvement in the community, how the U.S. Commercial Service brings value to manufacturers, and the common misconceptions of exporting. Melissa describes how they engage with businesses, provide educational opportunities focused on trade finance, and listen to the feedback their clients provide. Their work with local partners and businesses around the world helps drive their success! Melissa Grosso, Director, U.S. Commercial Service  U.S. Commercial Service's Website: https://www.trade.gov/us-commercial-service U.S. Commercial Service's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uscommercialservice/ Melissa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-grosso-b214b27/ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/made-in-

On this week of the Made in America podcast, we are welcoming Petron Automation's VP of Business Development, Paul Thornberg! Paul talks to Ari about career development, being patient when doing business, and understanding customers' needs. He expresses the importance of listening to the industry and wearing multiple hats to get the job done. Paul explains how his current role at Petron Automation has been the right fit for him from a personal and cultural standpoint. He believes a culture full of open ideas helps the company stay connected and motivated!  Paul Thornberg, VP of Business Development, Petron Automation  Petron Automation's Website: https://petronautomation.com/ Petron Automation's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/petron-automation-inc/ Petron Automation's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Petron-Automation-548908661887645 Paul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-thornberg-91918314/ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: ht

On this week's Made in America episode, we welcome Mike Larson, Co-Founder of Alvarium Beer, into the podcast spotlight!  Mike talks to Ari about how his aerospace career transitioned into a passion for craft beer, their go to market strategy, and creating products that tell a story. Mike discusses the focus on branding and driving their messaging on social media. He details the story behind their location in New Britain and how fun manufacturing can be when you come and work for a brewery! Mike Larson, Co-Founder, Alvarium Beer Co.  Alvarium's Website: https://alvariumbeer.com/ Alvarium's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alvarium-beer-company/ Alvarium's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlvariumBeer Alvarium's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX8IrNCrOkgAN4Rpx7s5l3g Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/made-in-america-podcast-with-ari C

This week we are welcoming Mark Auletta, COO of Bauer, Inc., onto the Made in America podcast! Mark talks to Ari about what critical components they manufacture, their continuous partnership with the University of Hartford, and how they drive culture in the organization. Mark discusses how their team is focused on serving customers and how tough times can impact these interactions. He is passionate about employee engagement, making interns feel supported in the family business, and finding great talent in the community! Mark Auletta, COO, Bauer, Inc. Bauer's Website: https://www.bauerct.com/ Bauer's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauer-inc./ Bauer's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bauer%20Inc/376943542381747/ Bauer's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC653c09j9twMQyXqE1LJnaA Mark's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-auletta-ab3b6015/ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast Com

We are excited to welcome, Don Allan, President and CFO of Stanley Black and Decker to the Made in America podcast! Don talks with Ari about the 'why behind' SB&D, how they effectively integrate iconic brands like DeWALT and CRAFTSMAN, and what their product strategy efforts look like. Don discusses important topics like innovation, Industry 4.0, and changing the perception of manufacturing across the state. Through industry partnerships, Don believes that manufacturers alike can learn from one another and continue to prosper. This is an episode you won't want to miss! Don Allan, President and CFO, Stanley Black and Decker SB&D's Website: https://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com/ SB&D's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stanley-black-decker-inc/ SB&D's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stanleyblackanddecker SB&D's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/StanleyBlackDecker Don Allan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-allan-jr-330732112/ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Com

This week we are welcoming Clive Cunliffe, President of Pietro Rosa - North America, onto the Made in America podcast! Clive talks to Ari about how they've been able to turnaround a CT business, incorporate Italian heritage into their company, and stay connected during tough times. Clive discusses corporate culture and how they creatively inspire their engineers. By moving Pietro Rosa into CT, they have been able to engage in the community, access strong talent, and promote manufacturing to younger generations! Clive Cunliffe, President, Pietro Rosa - North America Pietro Rosa's Website: https://www.pietrorosatbm.it/ Pietro Rosa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-england-airfoil-products-inc.-pietro-rosa-tbm-company/ Pietro Rosa's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newenglandairfoilproductsinc Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://www.gettingyouconnected.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itdtech/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-direct-llc

Join us for Part 2 of our 'home alone' episode of the Made in America podcast with our very own podcast host, Ari Santiago! In this 2021 wrap up and 2022 kick-off episode, Ari talks about the broader embrace of manufacturing in 2021 and what we should be focusing on in the new year. Ari reflects on the past year and details the challenges manufacturers face including workforce development and supply chain disruptions. He then discusses how we can take advantage of opportunities such as finding better ways to get people together, upskilling our workforce, focusing on cybersecurity and new technologies, and so much more! As we lean into the new year, it is important for us to continue to embrace manufacturing in the state of CT and band together to make the future a bright one. 2022 will be a year of change and growth! Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://www.gettingyouconnected.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itdtech/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/292205

In honor of the holiday season, we are releasing a special Made in America episode highlighting some of our previous podcast guests. With a theme focused on 'giving back to the community and helping others,' our guests detail what they have done in and around their communities and businesses to make a greater impact in the manufacturing space. Whether it's from a state or local level, manufacturers are doing great things for our school systems, workforce, general public, and beyond. These leaders are taking an active role in creating and building a strong future workforce for generations to come. Their continuous efforts will allow manufacturing to prosper and grow in CT. We wish you a happy and safe holiday season and look forward to all the new and exciting updates and stories we can share in the new year. We hope you enjoy this episode! Featured Guests: • Richard Rubenstein - Plymouth Spring • Matt Fleury - Connecticut Science Center • Norman Needleman - Tower Labs • Mark Auletta - Bauer, Inc. • Cyndi Zold

Special guests: · Robert Friedland: President & CEO - Columbia Manufacturing · Dr. Karen Wosczyna-Birch: Director of College of Technology - Asnuntuck Community College · Mark Lloyd: President - A-1 Machining This week we are releasing the final part of our compilation episodes created from live recordings at the ACM Aerospace Alley Tradeshow. This episode particularly focuses on turbines and engines, marketing, supply chain, diversity, and CT's apprenticeship program. Robert Friedland details the products they make, how they are marketing to clients with current supply chain issues, and the importance of getting involvement in your local community. Karen Birch-Wosczyna offers a different perspective through her work with Asnuntuck and discusses the stackable credentials available to students as well as how we can move CT manufacturing forward. Mark Lloyd wraps up the episode explaining the gas turbine parts they produce, what his experience with the apprenticeship program was like and how COVID impacted

This week we are welcoming Alex Smith, General Manager of Swift Textile Metalizing, onto the Made in America podcast! Alex talks to Ari about how to remain relevant as a small business, the success of an employee referral program to find talent, and how to efficiently focus on customers' needs. Alex details their shifts in ownership and how a private equity approach has helped build the business. He also discusses what it's like to work at STM and how teammates can see the impact of what they are doing! Alex Smith, General Manager, Swift Textile Metalizing STM's Website: http://www.swift-textile.com/index.html STM's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swift-textile-metalizing-llc/ STM's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swifttextilemfg Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-smith-b41868107/?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABsAcmEB4ASK2Wi3pGK56kBZlQoQGGPPuyQ Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://www.gettingyouconnected.com/ Company Facebook: https://

Special guests: • Mark Auletta - COO, Bauer, Inc. • Susan Kasa - CO and President, Boulevard Machine & Gear • Nick Zandonella - General Manager, Leggett & Platt This week we are releasing Part 2 of our compilation episodes created from live recordings at the ACM Aerospace Alley Tradeshow. This episode particularly focuses on three strong companies that create products for the space, military, and aerospace industries. Mark Auletta details the sectors they serve, their international capabilities, and how they are effectively recruiting talent from universities and colleges across CT. Susan Kasa describes her experience working her way up in the company, how critical their business is to the space sector, and why it's important to engage with parents. Nick Zandonella explains their tubing manufacturing processes, how they focus on attitude over aptitude when hiring young talent, and the importance of ACM events. Enjoy this ACM compilation episode! Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://

Special guests: • Glenn Ford - President of Phoenix Manufacturing and President of the ACM • Colin Cooper - CT's Chief Manufacturing Officer, State of Connecticut We are kicking off the first of three episodes created from live recordings at the ACM Aerospace Alley Tradeshow, with 2 close friends and former podcast guests. This episode particularly focuses on the impact of the ACM tradeshow on students, schools, and communities. Glenn details what his ACM presidency through COVID was like and how communication has been key. He talks with Ari about linking what the state is doing for manufacturing to the schools and building up the workforce. Colin then talks through the history of the ACM, how it has helped grow some member companies, and the benefits of getting students into manufacturing careers. He discusses the abundance of aerospace companies in the state and what his plans are after his position ends. Enjoy our valuable ACM compilation episodes! Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://ww

This week, we are kicking off the holiday season with a special episode featuring a few of the 'what do you make and why do you make it' stories told by former Made in America podcast guests. We are grateful to live in a state with so much variety in manufacturing such as aerospace, defense, space, tooling and machining, medical, commercial, automation and beyond. We are thankful to all our guests for all they do for our state, their hard work and dedication, and for going on this podcast journey with us. The Made in America podcast team wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://www.gettingyouconnected.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itdtech/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-direct-llc Company YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/itdirect151 Ari's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asantiago104/ Podcast produced by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

On this week's episode of the Made in America podcast, we are featuring Richard Lott, CEO of North Sails Group! Richard talks to Ari about his passion for sailing, how he's navigated leadership strategies for a global company, and the importance of innovation and having the right investor. Richard shares the value behind their partnership with CCAT and how they've been able to improve their processes. He also explains the lessons he's learned in business and private equity and how innovation is all about having passionate people on your team. There is so much to learn from an entrepreneurial and manufacturing standpoint in this episode, so don't miss out! Richard Lott, CEO, North Sails Group North Sails Group's Website: https://www.northsails.com/ North Sails Group's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/north-sails/ North Sails Group's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthSailsWorldwide North Sails Group's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthSailsGlobal Richard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin

In this week's Made in America episode we are welcoming two guests, Vikram Butani, Founder and CEO, and Preeti Butani, Founder, from Kubtec! In the first segment, Vikram talks about the importance of Kubtec's X-ray in a box, how their products help hospitals be more efficient, and how they fought back after getting knocked down. He is passionate about what they make and believes in the power of technology and marketing! His wife, Preeti, then joins Ari to discuss how they think about building culture for younger generations, how to attract talent, and what they can do to make everyone feel welcome. She is very appreciative for their team and makes sure they are taken care of. You don't want to miss out on this husband and wife duo! Vikram and Preeti Butani, Kubtec Kubtec's Website: https://kubtec.com/ Kubtec's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kubtec Kubtec's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3T5Cwv_9bCH2oy2Yy14vvw Kubtec's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kubtec/ Vikram's LinkedIn: htt

This week we welcome Mark Hill, CEO of Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), onto the Made in America podcast! Mark talks to Ari about EWIB's passion for helping people, the success of their manufacturing pipeline initiative, and how collaboration and partnership helps drive their program efforts. Mark shares the challenges and opportunities they see from a workforce development standpoint and how they plan on expanding manufacturing across the state. He believes it is important to engage with students, parents, and employers, and to get involved in great industry associations like EAMA. Mark Hill, CEO, EWIB EWIB's Website: https://www.ewib.org/ EWIB's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EasternCTWIB EWIB's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCudkpadeAhw-9LqkKM4NLhw Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://www.gettingyouconnected.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itdtech/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-direct-llc Company YouTube: https://www.you

Joining us this week on the Made in America podcast is Ed Planeta, VP of Sales and Owner of Acme Wire Products Co., Inc.! Ed talks to Ari about the importance of figuring out what you are good at, making business videos to engage with customers, and how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. He details what his transition was like from the restaurant industry to their family business and how well they work together. Ed also shares what Acme Wire Products sees from a workforce perspective and how quickly they get qualified people in the doors to start working. He expresses how they are always making sure the people they employ and the customers they serve are a good fit! Ed Planeta, VP of Sales and Owner, Acme Wire Products Acme Wire Products's Website: https://acmewire.com/ Acme Wire Products's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcmeWireProductsCoInc Acme Wire Products's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjOQVTi9h99xNRm9x66Qt8g Acme Wire Products's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a