This week, Leisa Fox and EOS Implementer Loraine Hardin reflect on three significant events that highlight the momentum of Iowa’s business and manufacturing community: the Traction Table, the CBJ Manufacturing Conference, and the Manufacturing Masterminds tour at Seneca Foundry. Together, they explore the common challenges companies are facing—from workforce transitions to economic pressures—and the EOS tools and leadership strategies that are helping them adapt.

Listeners will also hear behind-the-scenes stories from the Seneca Foundry tour, including the molten metal demonstration, advances in automation, and a focus on culture and succession. With themes of innovation, resilience, and leadership woven throughout, this episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone looking to strengthen their business and gain fresh perspectives on Iowa’s manufacturing future.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/loraine-hardin

The live CBJ Manufacturing Conference podcast brought together three leaders—Dawn Ealy, Steve Coleman, and Wendy Mihm-Herold—to map out strategies for addressing Iowa’s looming workforce crisis. With 240,000 Baby Boomers set to retire by 2030, the conversation underscored the need for employers to proactively leverage automation, retain senior workers through flexible arrangements, and intentionally engage the next generation of Gen Z talent through workplace learning initiatives.

This episode made clear that manufacturers cannot afford to choose one approach over another. Automation alone will not close the gap, nor will simply retaining retirees or hiring more Gen Z. Instead, success depends on a comprehensive, three-pronged strategy. The panel’s message was unequivocal: all manufacturers must act now to invest in technology, people, and partnerships—or risk being left behind as the talent pipeline shrinks and demand continues to grow.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/CBJ-manufacturing-conference

On this episode of the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, Leisa Fox welcomes Todd Shores, Virtual CFO with Creative Planning, to discuss how manufacturers can respond to the financial turbulence caused by expanded tariffs. Shores underscores the importance of transparency—encouraging leaders to openly communicate financial challenges with employees, building trust while aligning teams behind critical decisions.

The conversation also dives into practical strategies for adaptation, from targeting new markets to sourcing outside of high-tariff regions. Shores stresses the urgency of reviewing financial data in real time and making swift adjustments. His message is clear: companies that stay agile, honest, and proactive in their financial leadership are the ones best positioned to weather uncertainty and capture growth in this shifting economic landscape.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/tariffs

In this episode, host Leisa Fox tackles one of Iowa’s most urgent challenges: the looming workforce gap. With hundreds of thousands of jobs set to open in the next five years, the solution isn’t abstract—it’s work-based learning. Leaders from iJAG, ABI, MidAmerican Energy, and Kuder share how their collaboration is creating a clear pathway for students while giving businesses direct access to the skilled workforce they need.

Through firsthand stories and practical strategies, the discussion underscores a critical truth: work-based learning isn’t optional. It’s a mandate. Employers who want their share of tomorrow’s workforce must act now by engaging with students, educators, and solution providers. The payoff is a stronger workforce, a stronger economy, and a future-ready Iowa.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/manufacturing-workforce-solution

Qore’s new facility in Eddyville marks more than production—it’s a statement: QIRA is the gold standard in bio-derived materials. Capable of replacing fossil-based inputs with renewable corn-sourced alternatives, QIRA stands as a drop-in replacement for traditional BDO and is already transforming global supply chains. With Cargill and HELM at the helm, QIRA exemplifies how agriculture, industry, and innovation can unite for economic and environmental gain.

In this episode, Jon Veldhouse guides us from cornfields to manufacturing floors, illustrating how Qore’s partnerships—most notably with LYCRA—are reshaping sustainability standards without sacrificing performance. Discover more through the LYCRA sustainability page and QIRA’s company portal to see how this golden opportunity in Iowa is redefining global manufacturing.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/qore-qira

The future of housing in Iowa is getting smaller—and smarter. In this conversation, Mike Stuart of Tiny Homes Iowa explains how his company is transforming the housing market with tiny homes that combine modern design, efficiency, and affordability. With the state’s new legislation paving the way for tiny homes in every Iowa city and county, Mike shares how this change could redefine where and how Iowans live.

From engineering to energy efficiency, we unpack the process that makes tiny homes possible and the opportunities it creates for Iowa’s skilled workforce and suppliers. This is more than a discussion on construction—it’s a vision for sustainable communities, expanded housing access, and a manufacturing sector ready to meet the demands of tomorrow’s homeowners.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/tiny-homes

Robotics is no longer just for high-volume automotive lines. In this insightful conversation, Mark Barglof of Kinetic Technologies explains how advances in robotic welding are making automation accessible to manufacturers running short batches and tackling complex part geometries. With benefits that extend far beyond labor savings—such as reduced wire and gas consumption, lower scrap, and even floor space optimization—Mark shows how robotic welding is reshaping ROI calculations for modern plants.

Looking ahead, AI-powered robots and cobots are poised to rapidly advance quality control and predictive maintenance. Mark also discusses Kinetic’s rapid prototyping capabilities and the evolving workforce needs that come with more automation on the factory floor. If you want to understand where manufacturing automation is headed and what skills will be most valuable in the next decade, this episode is a must-listen.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/kinetic-technologies

Tanya Fish of ITA Group joins the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast to share the power of personalized incentives and strategic recognition. From sales teams to distributor networks, she explains how behavior-based reward programs create stronger relationships, boost retention, and drive better business results. ITA Group’s tailored approach ensures individuals are motivated in ways that matter most to them.

More than perks or prizes, Tanya emphasizes the importance of clear performance metrics and systems that reinforce the habits and behaviors that lead to sustained success. This episode is a must-listen for any leader ready to transform engagement into measurable impact.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/ITA-group