In this episode of the Ctrl+Alt+Mfg podcast, recorded live from the CSIA Conference in Baltimore, host Stephanie Neil sits down with Daren Dieleman, vice president of business development at Interstates and chair of the CSIA Board of Directors.

The manufacturing landscape is shifting rapidly, and system integrators are at the center of that transformation. Daren explores the real-world impact of AI on the factory floor, the ongoing people challenge in a competitive talent market and why leadership in automation now requires a growth mindset and radical humility.

This conversation offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and how to stay ahead of the change curve.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How integrators are using AI for efficiency without losing sight of core PLC programming.
• Navigating the transition as junior leaders move into senior executive roles.
• Why customers are moving away from transactional projects toward trusted advisor relationships.
• The emerging technologies that demand every integrator's attention.
• Why the best leaders are willing to get uncomfortable to drive innovation.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Conference Overview

02:18 Member Engagement and Industry Challenges

05:29 Technological Advancements and AI Impact

08:29 Leadership Traits for the Future

11:24 Customer Expectations and Trust

14:28 Closing Thoughts and Conference Takeaways

• (00:00:00) - Introduction and Conference Overview
• (00:02:18) - Member Engagement and Industry Challenges
• (00:05:29) - Technological Advancements and AI Impact
• (00:08:29) - Leadership Traits for the Future
• (00:11:24) - Customer Expectations and Trust
• (00:14:28) - Closing Thoughts and Conference Takeaways

When most people think about cybersecurity, they think of stolen passwords and data breaches. But what happens when the targets are the systems that keep buildings running, water flowing and energy moving?

In this episode of the Ctrl+Alt+Mfg Podcast, hosts Gary Cohen and Stephanie Neil sit down with Danielle “DJ” Jablanski, a leading OT cybersecurity strategist at STV. Together, we move past the awareness stage and dive deep into the high-stakes world of cyber-physical risk.

DJ breaks down why securing the built environment is one of the biggest challenges hiding in plain sight. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss theater dreams, food trucks, why you don’t need an engineering degree to be an OT security champion, the myth of the perfect security framework and why network segmentation is a constant process rather than a one-time project.

This episode explores:

• The "Always/Never" Principle: Lessons borrowed from nuclear weapons policy for industrial safety.
• Capability vs. Awareness: Why technical maturity, not more education, is the real bottleneck in OT.
• The Vendor Dilemma: Balancing the risks of vendor consolidation against point solution fatigue.
• Audacious Goals: Why the biggest risk to your organization is standing still for the next six years.

Whether you're an engineer on the shop floor or a leader in the C-suite, this episode is a masterclass in building resilience into the very infrastructure we rely on every day.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Cyber-Physical Security Challenges

07:11 The Importance of Operational Technology Security

13:33 Danielle Jablanski's Journey into Cybersecurity

16:29 Understanding the Critical Nature of OT Security

19:57 The Growing Gap in Operational Technology (OT) Security

23:55 Understanding Network Segmentation in OT

27:29 The Importance of Securing the Built Environment

31:32 The Role of EPC Firms in Cybersecurity

34:36 Navigating Cyber-Physical Risks

37:41 Assets vs. Functions in Cybersecurity

39:43 Evolving Threat Models in Critical Infrastructure

43:35 Advice for Infrastructure Owners on Cybersecurity

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Cyber-Physical Security Challenges
• (00:07:11) - Introduction to Cyber-Physical Security Challenges
• (00:13:33) - Danielle Jablanski's Journey into Cybersecurity
• (00:16:29) - Understanding the Critical Nature of OT Security
• (00:19:57) - The Growing Gap in Operational Technology (OT) Security
• (00:23:55) - Understanding Network Segmentation in OT
• (00:27:29) - The Importance of Securing the Built Environment
• (00:31:32) - The Role of EPC Firms in Cybersecurity
• (00:34:36) - Navigating Cyber-Physical Risks
• (00:37:41) - Assets vs. Functions in Cybersecurity
• (00:39:43) - Evolving Threat Models in Critical Infrastructure
• (00:43:35) - Advice for Infrastructure Owners on Cybersecurity

Everyone wants seamless industrial data. Fewer people talk about the tradeoffs beneath it.

Recorded live at the CSIA Conference in Baltimore, Gary Cohen sits down with Skkynet CEO Gary Tillery to discuss industrial connectivity, cybersecurity, system integrator partnerships and the future of manufacturing technology.

Tillery shares insights from more than 30 years in industrial automation, including why system integrators remain critical to digital transformation, how cybersecurity has become a business risk and why manufacturers should think carefully about where and how data moves between the edge, OT networks and the cloud.

The conversation also explores AI's growing role in industrial operations, channel partner relationships and Skkynet's perspective on the industry's push toward unified namespace architectures.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Navigating Industrial Data Challenges

02:25 Gary Tillery's Journey to Skkynet

08:42 The Role of System Integrators

14:05 Managing Channel Conflicts

17:14 Positioning Skkynet in a Competitive Landscape

19:02 Global Partner Management Strategies

21:47 Onboarding New System Integrators

24:17 Cybersecurity in Industrial Operations

27:31 Future of System Integrators

30:17 Data Hub and the Fractal UNS Model

35:07 Innovative Marketing Strategies

• (00:00:00) - Navigating Industrial Data Challenges
• (00:02:25) - Gary Tillery's Journey to Skkynet
• (00:08:42) - The Role of System Integrators
• (00:14:05) - Managing Channel Conflicts
• (00:17:14) - Positioning Skkynet in a Competitive Landscape
• (00:19:02) - Global Partner Management Strategies
• (00:21:47) - Onboarding New System Integrators
• (00:24:17) - Cybersecurity in Industrial Operations
• (00:27:31) - Future of System Integrators
• (00:30:17) - Data Hub and the Fractal UNS Model
• (00:35:07) - Innovative Marketing Strategies