Best Marcus Graham Project Podcasts (2025)

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Industrial DataOps and Rise of AI Agents w/ Aron Semle

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6d ago

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In this conversation, Chief Technology Officer of HighByte, Aron Semle, dives into the concept of Industrial DataOps. He talks about some of the unique challenges with collecting and managing data in manufacturing environments and the importance of contextualizing it all to drive action. Aron also touches on the the rise of AI agents. He explains h…

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Fair Chance Hiring: Transforming Businesses and Lives w/ Marcus Sheanshang

13d ago

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In today's conversation, CEO of JBM Packaging, Marcus Sheanshang, will share how his company's Fair Chance Hiring program – focused on recruiting, hiring and training previously incarcerated individuals – has not only filled critical staffing gaps but created transformational second chances in their lives. From setting up training equipment inside …

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Stronger Relationships, Stronger Manufacturing: The Power of Trust w/ Michael Kornuta

20d ago

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In this episode, founder and CEO of NORAMARK, Michael Kornuta, shares how his experiences in design and fabrication have led him to observe a lack of connectivity among U.S. manufacturers – particularly when compared to the Chinese manufacturing ecosystem. And he'll offer a perspective on why stronger networks that are rooted in trust will be key t…

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Lessons from China: Competing on Innovation, Energy and Agility w/ Drew Allen

27d ago

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Is American manufacturing falling behind? In this episode, Drew Allen, CEO of Grace Technologies, warns that the rise of advanced manufacturing in China is creating urgency. From extensive investments in solar and nuclear power to the expansive rise of dark factories, China’s manufacturing facilities are running faster and smarter. We'll talk about…

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Robot-Lean: Synthesizing Automation and Lean Manufacturing w/ Alex Webster

1M ago

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Alex Webster, Founder and CEO of SDMS Robotics, shares his unconventional journey from film school graduate to CNC machinist and ultimately to robotics entrepreneur. In this conversation, Alex pulls back the curtain on the real-world challenges facing machine shops today, from labor shortages to high operational costs of floor space. He also illust…

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What Manufacturers Truly Need From an MES System w/ Graham Immerman

1M ago

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In this conversation, Chief Revenue Officer at MachineMetrics, Graham Immerman, unpacks the evolution of manufacturing software — from the early challenges of “blind” factory operations to the power and pitfalls of MES systems today. Most importantly, he breaks down what he believes manufacturers TRULY need in their production software – from downt…

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Exit Planning for Manufacturing Leaders and How to Protect Your Legacy w/ Amy Julian and Bryan Graiff 44:02

2M ago44:02

44:02

For so many owners of midsized B2B manufacturing organizations, their companies are like children to them. For years (or often decades) they've nurtured them and watched them grow. And inevitably, the time comes to prepare for an exit from the business. It's an overwhelming prospect with so much to consider. Amy Julian and Bryan Graiff of Armanino …

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Obstacles to Quickly Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Rylan Pyciak 28:36

2M ago28:36

28:36

With the reshoring of American manufacturing all over the headlines during this first half of 2025, the question from inside the industrial sector seems to be, "How are we supposed to make that happen on such an fast timeline?" In today's conversation, Founder and President of Cleveland Automation, Rylan Pyciak, will talk about some of the obstacle…

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Planning For and Managing Successful Projects w/ Clint Padgett 42:09

2M ago42:09

42:09

When you've got five projects on your plate and a sixth one gets added, but it's not due for another year, how worried are you about getting it done? Rhetorical question of course. But my guest today will tell you why we need to change that mindset. In today's episode, Clint Padgett, CEO and President of Project Success, Inc, will talk about how to…

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Defunding of the MEPs and How YOU Can Help Stop It: A Special Episode 37:05

2M ago37:05

37:05

Last week I was approached by some of my manufacturing leader friends about a panel they just recorded on the MakingChips podcast about a critical issue that's likely familiar to many of you by now. And that is: Defunding of the MEPs or Manufacturing Extension Partnerships. In case you're not familiar, the MEPSs are public-private partnerships that…

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Planning For a New Manufacturing Facility w/ Pat Reilly 31:35

3M ago31:35

31:35

Whether you're packing up shop and moving to a new location or you're expanding your manufacturing operation, opening up a new facility is no small deal. From planning the timeline of events to scouting a new geographic location to assuring the on-site requirements meet your needs to mitigating downtime during a move, there's a lot to account for. …

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Resilience Over Four Generations of a Family-Owned Manufacturing Business w/ Melanie White 34:58

3M ago34:58

34:58

From COVID (and the labor and supply chain obstacles that came along with it) to the recent challenges we're now facing with tariffs, the current generation of manufacturing leaders has fought through quite a bit in just a short period of time. My guest today, Melanie White, will talk about the current manufacturing landscape specifically, but in t…

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The Emerging Role of AI Agents in Manufacturing w/ Naresh Ram 28:17

3M ago28:17

28:17

A handful of years ago, we started to see primitive forms of chat bots on company websites. Fast forward to today and not only is this kind of AI technology more advanced, but it's learning how to replicate human behaviors. In this episode, Naresh Ram, Chief Science Officer at AAXIS, will talk about the emerging power of AI "agents". And if that's …

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The Business Impact of 250 Consecutive Weeks of Podcasting w/ Joe Sullivan 11:27

3M ago11:27

11:27

For 250 consecutive Tuesdays, I've published a new episode of this podcast. In this short-and-sweet retrospective – episode #251 – I'll talk about six ways this show has helped change the trajectory of our business at Gorilla 76 over roughly the past five years in hopes that you might find some inspiration. They are: 1. Direct and indirect impact o…

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The Power of a Visible Manufacturing Leader w/ Jim Mayer 39:09

3M ago39:09

39:09

Jim Mayer, Founder of The Manufacturing Connector, has coined a term that he calls "The Industrial Brand Death Cycle", which he describes as follows: Weak leadership leads to weak culture, which leads to employee disengagement, which leads to fake branding, which leads to failed marketing, which leads to customer distrust, which leads to the compan…

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Planning for a B2B Manufacturer Website That Drives Results w/ Randall Zaitz and Kevin McClary 48:50

4M ago48:50

48:50

I've often compared building a website to building a house. You can tear it down and rebuild from the ground up. You can gut it to the studs, putting in all new plumbing, electric and HVAC. You can renovate a few rooms. Or you can simply put on a fresh coat of paint. But how you do which approach makes sense for your website? What are the signals t…

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From Bottleneck to Advantage: Rethinking Manufacturing Testing Strategies w/ Garrett Partridge and Dan Wyatt 30:25

4M ago30:25

30:25

As Garrett Partridge and Dan Wyatt of ARC Technology Solutions will tell you, everyone wants the perfect product, but very few companies invest in testing that product throughout the manufacturing process to make perfection a reality. In this conversation, we'll explore why testing needs to be approached not as a compliance checkbox at the end of y…

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Tariffs, Interest Rates, Inflation and a 2025 Manufacturing Outlook w/ Daniel Doderer 32:47

4M ago32:47

32:47

Daniel Doderer of Flack Global Metals is an economist living inside of the steel industry. And he'll tell you that here in the first quarter of 2025, less than two months after the Trump administration has taken back the reins, the industrial sector landscape is nothing short of dynamic. In our conversation, we'll dive into the potential impact of …

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Demystifying the Buying and Selling of a Manufacturing Business w/ Mike Payne 38:18

4M ago38:18

38:18

Mike Payne, Owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, will tell you that somewhere between 60 and 75% of machinists want to own their own businesses some day. But owning a business can sound scary. He'll also tell you that on the flip side, so many small manufacturing business owners don't necessarily understand their options when the time comes t…

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Quality, Resilience and Open-Mindedness: Winning the Long Game w/ Paul Lordan and John Lordan 38:51

5M ago38:51

38:51

Paul and John Lordan are brothers and co-business owners of Steele Canvas Basket — a manufacturing organization that's been around for more than 100 years. Now here's what's interesting... While the business environment has changed dramatically over the course of a whole century, their core product has remained largely the same. So how's that possi…

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Why Reshoring Matters: For Our Economy and Our National Security w/ Harry Moser 36:55

5M ago36:55

36:55

Reshoring is a word you probably hear often if you work in the manufacturing sector. And Harry Moser, founder of The Reshoring Initiative, is one of the individuals leading that charge. In this conversation, Harry will not only talk about the benefits for US manufacturing organizations of bringing production back to the US, but also what's at risk …

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Smarter Manufacturing in an Evolving Ecosystem w/ Chris Lupfer 37:23

5M ago37:23

37:23

From from reshoring to digital twins to evaluating new automation technologies to optimizing production workflows, today's manufacturing leaders have a LOT to think about. In this conversation, Chris Lupfer of Bosch Rexroth lean into his 25+ years of manufacturing and automation experience to unpack what he believes are some of the most important c…

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Using Robots in High-Mix, Low-Volume Environments w/ Josh Gruenstein 25:51

5M ago25:51

25:51

For many years robots were used to perform repetitive tasks in low variabilty environments and required on-site automation engineers to program and run those systems. But we're now living in an era where machine learning and AI technology are making high-mix, low-volume environments ripe for automation. In this conversation, co-founder and CEO of T…

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Forwardskilling: Technical Training for the Existing Workforce w/ Bill Berrien 38:04

6M ago38:04

38:04

As host of this podcast, I've had many conversations about how to reach the next generation, expose them to opportunities in manufacturing and skill them up accordingly. But what about skilling up the EXISTING workforce? My guest today, the Owner and CEO of Pindel Global Precision, poses the question: "When's the last time you heard about someone o…

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A Bio-Based Manufacturing Future w/ Noah Helman 34:33

6M ago34:33

34:33

From government regulations, to recent supply chain challenges to consumer-driven pressure, we're living in a world where demand for sustainable manufacturing practices is coming from all around us. Noah Helman, Co-Founder and CEO of iMicrobes, is leading a company that's using renewable, low-carbon feedstocks to create net-zero, bio-based material…

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A Manufacturing Growth Outlook for 2025 w/ Cara Walton 47:32

6M ago47:32

47:32

2024 was a year of uncertainty for many manufacturing leaders. The economy was unpredictable. High interest rates created hesitation in making investments. And we awaited the outcome of a very polarized election. But here were are beginning a fresh year. So what's ahead? My guest today, Cara Walton, is a manufacturing intelligence advisor. As a Dir…

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Why It's a Great Time to be in Manufacturing w/ Doug Woods 48:15

6M ago48:15

48:15

My guest today, Doug Woods, is President of AMT (The Association for Manufacturing Technology). And as he'll tell you, from opportunities being created by reshoring to major government investments to advanced technology that includes additive, AI, machine learning, augmented reality, robotics and automation, he believes right now is simply a great …

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The Future of Financing CapEx Equipment w/ Le'ora Lichtenstein 33:14

6M ago33:14

33:14

"Your equipment may be complex, but selling it shouldn't be." This is the headline you'll find on the company website home page of today's guest, Le'ora Lichtenstein. Co-founder and CEO of Corbel, a modern equipment finance business, Le'ora will talk about how the way CapEx equipment can be both bought and sold is evolving. And in particular, she'l…

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Augmented Reality on the Manufacturing Shop Floor w/ Devin Bhushan 38:42

7M ago38:42

38:42

In this conversation, CEO of Squint, Devin Bhushan, talks about augmented reality. First of all, what exact IS it? And secondly, how the heck does it fit into a conversation about manufacturing? From training and troubleshooting to quality and worker productivity, Devin dives into the wide range of opportunities created when you're able to layer di…

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How B2B Manufacturers Can Win Organically on LinkedIn w/ Jake Hall 42:47

7M ago42:47

42:47

Social media. Manufacturing. Do these two things REALLY fit together? And if so, how? Should I as a manufacturing leader really care about things like: – Building brand awareness? – Or telling our company story? – Or establishing an influential voice in our product category? And is social media truly a place where I can do all of that? In this conv…

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A Look at the State of US Manufacturing Headed Into 2025 w/ Thom Walstrum 32:35

7M ago32:35

32:35

In this conversation, Thom Walstrum, a principal business economist in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, talks about the current state of US manufacturing. He'll share his thoughts about the manufacturing outlook for 2025, trends in the manufacturing sector's share of our nation's GDP over time, how that compa…

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Practical AI Applications for Optimizing Your Manufacturing Operations w/ Berk Birand 36:27

7M ago36:27

36:27

In many instances where we put AI technology to use in our personal lives today – whether that means using ChatGPT to research a subject or taking recommendations from Netflix about what other shows or movies we might like – the stakes are pretty low. But as CEO of Fero Labs, Berk Birand, will tell you, on the shop floor in a manufacturing facility…

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Cultivating More Effective Manufacturing Leaders w/ Bill Remy 43:41

8M ago43:41

43:41

We all know there are labor gaps on the manufacturing front lines. But today my guest, CEO of TBM Consulting Group, Bill Remy, will argue that those gaps are also emerging (and will continue to emerge) in manufacturing leadership as well. In our conversation, he'll talk about not only WHY this leadership problem is growing, but what we can do about…

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Introducing the 2025 Industrial Marketing Summit w/ Wendy Covey 28:58

8M ago28:58

28:58

This episode is conversation that I recently recorded with Wendy Covey – CEO and Co-Founder of TREW Marketing – a marketing agency that works exclusively with companies marketing to engineers in industries that range from embedded design to control and automation. And as you'll learn shortly, Wendy and her company TREW Marketing joined forces early…

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The Benefits of Model-Based Engineering w/ Henrik Hulgaard 25:48

8M ago25:48

25:48

In this conversation, product configuration expert and co-founder of Configit, Henrik Hulgaard, talks about product modeling ahead of production. More specifically, he'll dive into the ways model-based engineering can help manufacturers: - Reduce product complexity - More easily meet sustainability requirements and regulations - Break down knowledg…

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Democratizing Industrial Automation w/ Etienne Lacroix 30:21

8M ago30:21

30:21

Traditionally, for a lot of small and medium-sized manufacturers, lower production volume has made it difficult to justify major investments in automation. But if the technology can be made simple enough for practitioners on the shop floor to manage it themselves, new automation opportunities can be unlocked. In this conversation, Founder and CEO o…

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The Manufacturing Apprenticeship Opportunity w/ Jason Woodard 33:42

9M ago33:42

33:42

In today's conversation, Plant Manager at Geislinger Corporation Jason Woodard will be talking everything apprenticeships. He'll dive into: – The value an apprenticeship program creates for your organization AND for the apprentice – How to get started with building a program – Where to find resources to support you in doing so – And much more A man…

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Matchmaking Supply and Demand for Parts Manufacturing w/ Markus Seibold 30:11

9M ago30:11

30:11

Finding the right suppliers can be challenging for manufacturing leaders. Especially on a short timeline, and when quality control and lead times are at risk for customers. And on the supplier's end, filling capacity and expanding into new business opportunities can be equally challenging. My guest today, Markus Seibold, is the founder of a marketp…

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Automation in High-Mix, High-Variability Environments w/ Ariyan Kabir and SK Gupta 34:48

9M ago34:48

34:48

If common belief holds that high-mix, high-variability manufacturing applications are not meant for automation, then my two guest today are here to bust that myth. In this conversation, Co-Founders of GrayMatter Robotics, Dr. Ariyan Kabir and Dr. SK Gupta will talk about: - How the advancement of robotics technology is rapidly changing what's possi…

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Managing the Challenges of Leadership Transitions w/ Jon Summers 59:36

9M ago59:36

59:36

Leadership transitions are hard. They're hard for the leader who's on his or her way out. They're hard for the incoming leader, stepping into a brand new role. And they're hard for everyone else at the organization living through the disruption and uncertainty that naturally comes along with a big change. Jon Summers, President of Noble-X Companies…

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Why Manufacturing Leaders Must Understand the Global Chemical Supply Chain w/ Doug Friedman 38:45

10M ago38:45

38:45

Think about your most important product. Who are your suppliers? Do you know who's supplying THEM? And in turn, do you know who's supplying the suppliers of your suppliers? CEO of BioMADE, Doug Friedman, is an expert in the biochemical manufacturing space. And today, he's here to explain why every manufacturing leader should care about the global c…

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Advancing Manufacturing Through Public and Private Sector Collaboration w/ Abby Smith 31:15

10M ago31:15

31:15

Abby Smith, President and CEO of Team Pennsylvania, has figured out how to bring together the public and private sectors to move manufacturing forward in her state. She'll talk about exactly what they're doing and how they're doing it. My hope is that some of you listening today will walk away feeling inspired and triggered with ideas for what simi…

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How to Prepare for a Manufacturing Facility Expansion w/ Alex Garland and Christopher Yows 34:43

10M ago34:43

34:43

When you're leading a manufacturing organization that's thriving (or even growing bit by bit), somewhere along the way you're likely to run into a problem you can't ignore. And that is: We're out of space. In this conversation, Alex Garland and Christopher Yows from Burns & McDonnell will talk about the different layers of complexity involved with …

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Perspectives on Finding and Keeping Manufacturing Talent w/ Jon Franko 32:44

10M ago32:44

32:44

My guest today (and my business partner of 18+ years), Jon Franko, is also the host of The Manufacturing EMPLOYER podcast. Whereas my show is designed for CEOs, Presidents, Owners and those leading manufacturing organizations, Jon's show is directed at those responsible for recruiting and retaining talent (as well as building great cultures) inside…

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Quality Management in a Changing Manufacturing Environment w/ Naveen Poonian 38:24

10M ago38:24

38:24

Quality management isn't just about the mitigating defects to optimize profit or to increase customer satisfaction. In mission-critical environments, quality management means keeping people safe when lives are at stake. Naveen Poonian, President and CEO of iBase-T, is a manufacturing leader whose software for the defense and aerospace industries pl…

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Modernizing the Traditional Manufacturing Facility w/ Chris Stevens 34:37

11M ago34:37

34:37

Digital twins. Digital threads. Cloud computing. Edge computing. Simulations. Brownfield. Greenfield. If you're a manufacturing leader and your blood pressure starts rising when you see terminology like this, you're not alone! Because ultimately what matters to you is that production in your facility is running smoothly. And big technology transfor…

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Rethinking the Impact of Free Trade on American Manufacturing w/ John Gardner 42:45

11M ago42:45

42:45

I've had a lot of conversations on this podcast about bringing manufacturing jobs back onto American soil. But my guest today, John Gardner, goes a layer deeper – asking us to rethink the idea of free trade altogether. John, the author of "How to Make America the Manufacturing Super Power of the World", passionately shares his thoughts about: – The…

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Current and Future Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act w/ Nihal Shetty 28:28

11M ago28:28

28:28

In today's conversation, we're talking about the Inflation Reduction Act. What it's all about? Why's it matter to manufacturing leaders? What impact will it continue to have on our economy, regardless of whether we see a Kamala Harris or a Donald Trump administration take the reins in 2025? More broadly, we'll discuss why paying attention to (and u…

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Starting Small With AI and Emerging Manufacturing Technology w/ Jarred Knecht 39:24

11M ago39:24

39:24

It's gonna cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's gonna require a whole team to maintain it. And MAYBE we'll see some benefit by year three. This isn't exactly a compelling value proposition for making a major technology investment in your manufacturing business. Yet it's the overwhelming feeling the manufacturing leaders often feel when co…

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Why Engineering Knowledge Should Drive Marketing Messaging w/ Adam Kimmel 40:53

12M ago40:53

40:53

Engineers and marketers may come from different planets. But in manufacturing environments that involve selling technical, complex products, marketers NEED the knowledge of those engineers to drive messaging strategy. So how do you make that happen? How do you get the engineer to understand why their expertise and participation in marketing matters…