Manufacturing Happy Hour

What happens when a multimedia entrepreneur and a concert venue owner sit down for a live podcast?
A good conversation – with a couple beers – about creativity, grit, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.
In the first live episode of the year, recorded at The Argo in Milwaukee as part of Manufacturing Happy Hour’s 10-year anniversary, host Chris Luecke sits down with two longtime friends: Andrew J. Coate, co-founder of The Argo (a 700-capacity venue his team transformed from a historic 1950s cinema in under seven months), and Michael O’Sullivan, Creative Director at Motivation Media.
Together they dig into the creative process, building businesses from the ground up, co-founder dynamics, and the long-term friendships that shape your best work.
Later in the episode, manufacturing veterans and friends of the show, Kyle Mahan (Former Vice President and General Manager of the Automation Division at Wauseon Machine) and Bill Berrien (CEO at Pela Global Precision) join the stage to bring it all back to the shop floor.
In this episode, find out:
How Michael O’Sullivan and Andrew J. Coate have known each other since high school on the south side of Chicago, and how their paths kept crossing through business and creativity over more than two decades
What it means to build a creative business in industries you wouldn’t expect, and why B2B and manufacturing are some of the most exciting places to be creative
Turning creativity into a daily habit. Why practice, not talent, is the real shortcut, and how both guests built their creative muscles over time
How constraints drive better creative decisions, and why that’s one of the most transferable lessons to the manufacturing floor
The “done is better than perfect” mindset: balancing flexibility with process discipline when you’re building something new
What the manufacturing industry looks like from behind a camera lens, and why storytelling is one of the industry’s most underused assets
How Kyle Mahan (EP235) and Bill Berrien (EP160 & EP268) would apply the night’s creative lessons directly to industrial sector

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!
Tweetable Quotes:
"Creativity really often needs constraints to be the maximum of what it can be." - Andrew J. Coate
"Networking doesn’t just happen at an event. It’s something that can happen over years and decades." - Chris Luecke
"I did not start out to form a video production company. Having those people who believed in me along the way gave me that space to keep practicing, to keep pushing it." - Michael O'Sullivan

Links & mentions:
The Argo, concert venue, bar & kitchen, and event space located in the historic Fox Bay Theater in Whitefish Bay, WI, minutes from downtown Milwaukee
Motivation Media, making videos that make a difference for nonprofits, businesses, commercials, fundraising, and so much more
Women in Manufacturing (WiM), a global trade association committed to supporting, promoting, and inspiring women across all the manufacturing industry. We’ve portion of the ticket sales from this show to WiM to support its mission
Episode 160: Buying a Manufacturing Company and Reimagining Upskilling with Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, where Bill shares his thoughts on upskilling your team and continuous learning in the manufacturing industry
Episode 235: How to Find Automation Talent Anywhere with Kyle Mahan, VP & GM of Wauseon Machine, where Kyle discusses what it takes to find the best automation talent in the manufacturing industry in today’s industry
Episode 260: Innovations Transforming Automotive Manufacturing featuring STÄUBLI, RAM Solutions, and More, a look what’s transforming automotive manufacturing with interesting takes from eight industry experts

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Mentioned in this episode:
Mfg Happy Hour's Rust Belt Renaissance Tour
Manufacturing Happy Hour is hitting the road this spring, hosting live shows Cleveland on 3/24, Rochester on 3/25, and Pittsburgh on 3/26. Get your tickets today.

Most of the time, applications from candidates with a felony record end up in the garbage can. The problem is, by overlooking people from what are seen as ‘problematic’ talent pools, you could be denying yourself access to untapped talent.
Second-chance hiring means giving people the chance to showcase their talent, hone their skills, and start again. When you do that, great things can happen for them, you, and your local region.
Here, Chris catches up with Marcus Sheanshang, President of JBM Packaging, to discuss the thriving manufacturer’s Fair Chance Hiring Program.
JBM Packaging is a family-oriented business that specializes in eco-friendly paper packing products and solutions. Since Marcus bought the business in 2008, it has gone from strength to strength. Its Fair Chance Program has played a part in JBM’s ongoing success.
The conversation dives into the mission behind this game-changing program and how it’s grown from an ambitious idea to an initiative now responsible for 43% of JBM’s dedicated team members.
Marcus also discusses how second-chance hiring can transform lives for the better and play a key role in the future of the manufacturing industry.
In this episode, find out:
The perks of looking for manufacturing talent where other people aren’t
How to improve or reinvent your manufacturing business by attracting and retaining the right talent
The essential aspects of a successful and sustainable second-chance hiring program
How to support and develop new program members and give them a genuine second chance
Why setting clear candidate criteria and considering a person’s potential are key to making strong hiring choices
How giving candidates a fair chance can change the trajectory of someone’s life and make your business even stronger
The driving forces behind JBM’s Fair Chance Program’s continual growth and notable 13% turnover rates

Tweetable Quotes:
"Can they live our core values, and can they help make this place better? Those are some of the criteria that we need."
"They need to lead it. This is on them, but we can certainly walk with them as they're walking down their path."
"It would frighten me right now if we didn't have the Fair Chance Program, 'cause I think we have 67 Fair Chance team members. If we didn't have that, I don't know where we would be."

Links & mentions:
Fair Chance Program, JBM Packaging's second chance hiring program provides formerly incarcerated workers with the resources they need to thrive at work and in life
JBM Packaging, a purpose-driven packaging company, JBM provides full-service solutions for brands seeking alternatives to plastic packaging
Second Chance Month, a concerted effort to raise awareness about the nearly 44,000 legal barriers faced by men and women with a criminal record taking place every April
Criminal Records and Reentry Toolkit, people with a record (justice-involved or justice-impacted people) includes approximately 77 million people in the United States
Second-chance hiring continues to gain traction among major manufacturers. In 2024, staffing firm Kelly filled more than 2k jobs with justice-involved people. Monthly turnover was just 9%, lower than the industry average. (source: Manufacturing Dive)

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, stay Thirsty.
Mentioned in this episode:
Industrial Marketing Summit 2026
The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community.

Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.
Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

AI is reshaping what it means to be a modern manufacturing professional.
When a 30-year veteran retires, decades of expertise used to leave as well. How they ran a machine, which feeds and speeds worked, and all the practical knowledge that separated good from great. Now, Mastercam’s AI co-pilots can capture that information and make it instantly accessible. The learning curve that used to take years can now be compressed into months, making manufacturing careers more accessible to the next generation.
Chris sits down with Russ Bukowski, President of Mastercam, to explore how CAM technology has evolved from manual G-code programming to AI-powered systems that are fundamentally changing manufacturing accessibility.
The conversation covers the business side of manufacturing transformation, why mid-size machine shops and tier-two suppliers are no longer at the mercy of large OEMs, the leadership lessons Russ learned from Walt Disney and why manufacturing salaries are starting at $80K+ for CNC programmers.
In this episode, find out:
How CAM systems act as a 10x multiplier for manufacturing professionals.
The evolution from manual G-code programming to AI-powered CAM systems
Why Mastercam's AI co-pilot is bridging the knowledge gap left by retiring manufacturing experts
How post-COVID supply chain vulnerabilities are driving companies to vertically integrate
The power shift giving mid-size manufacturers leverage in negotiations and exclusive supplier agreements
Why manufacturing needs to be promoted as a viable white-collar career
How technical expertise creates leadership credibility
The importance of visiting customers and talking to shop floor employees
What Mastercam's acquisition enabled in terms of investment, innovation, and customer relationships

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!
Tweetable Quotes:
“AI's not a silver bullet. It's not going to replace a program or replace an operator, but it is going to enable them to do more and to move more quickly in the business.”
“CAM is really that enabler. Without it, the digital design to physical machine process is slow and error-prone. It removes the cognitive burden and makes complex manufacturing possible. It's that 10x multiplier for somebody in manufacturing, making somebody a 10x manufacturing expert because they're able to deliver results so much faster by using computing power.”
“I always like to ask myself this as a leader, if nobody was looking, if there were no repercussions, would I still make the right decision? From a sustainability standpoint, from an ethical standpoint, that's how I hold myself accountable.”

Links & mentions:
Mastercam, CAD/CAM solutions that are trusted to deliver superior and reliable machining performance with advanced productivity tools and AI-enabled CAM capabilities
Tree House Brewing Company, brewers of Julius and pioneers of hazy IPA, Tree House produces world-renowned beer in Charlton, Massachusetts

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Mentioned in this episode:
Mfg Happy Hour's Rust Belt Renaissance Tour
Manufacturing Happy Hour is hitting the road this spring, hosting live shows Cleveland on 3/24, Rochester on 3/25, and Pittsburgh on 3/26. Get your tickets today.

Fear is expensive. In 2025, manufacturers delayed billions in capital projects because anxiety, not data, drove business decisions.
But 2026 is different. Tax incentives expire mid-year, borrowing costs are down, and the hard data shows CapEx accelerating at 3-4%. The companies acting on facts while others remain frozen are the ones positioned to gain market share, capture expiring tax benefits, and pull ahead.
This episode comes to you live from the A3 Forum 2026, where the message is clear: 2026 isn't about waiting for certainty. It's about preparing for complexity with multiple strategies, acting on hard economic data, and recognizing that technology will solve the labor shortage.
You'll hear why geopolitics can no longer be ignored and why every manufacturing company needs dedicated monitoring and scenario-based planning to navigate constant disruption. We dig into why America's $1+ trillion manufacturing investment boom is creating career opportunities that rival the tech industry and why the outdated narrative around manufacturing jobs is costing the industry the next generation of talent.
Plus, we explore how automation and robotics are becoming the central solution for critical challenges and how theme park robotics taught the industry the power of asking “how” instead of “no”.
In this episode, find out:
Why 2026 is transitioning from a year of uncertainty to a year of complexity
How to become a value-added partner instead of a transactional seller
How America's $1+ trillion manufacturing investment is rebuilding domestic capability
Why manufacturing careers now offer competitive tech-level salaries
Why 92% of manufacturing CEOs prioritize smart manufacturing as their top growth strategy
The impact of expiring tax incentives on CapEx decision-making urgency
Why AI has shifted from hype to practical implementation questions
How theme park robotics pioneered human-robot collaboration and safety standards
Why the answer should be "how" instead of "no" when facing unconventional challenges

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!
Tweetable Quotes:
“We are in a manufacturing revolution, but most people don’t realize it yet. More importantly, America is starting to learn how to rebuild and manufacture its own goods. We are starting the process to build and AI is a tool that will help close that chasm.” – Bob Little
“If 2025 was marked as a year of uncertainty, I think we are now far enough into the process to recognize that it's transitioning to a year of complexity in 2026. You have to be prepared for a variety of different scenarios. You have to treat it almost like war gaming, if you think about it.” – Alex Chausovsky,
“92% of manufacturing CEOs interviewed by Deloitte said smart automation or smart manufacturing is their top priority. This data validates that automation/robotics is the central issue for manufacturing leadership, not a side conversation.” – - Alex Shikany

Links & mentions:
A3 - Association for Advancing Automation, connecting innovators, businesses, and technologies across key technology sectors-robotics, vision, motion control, and industrial AI-to accelerate progress in automation
3DM Consulting, tap into Alex Chausovsky's market research and analysis
Bardin, helping industrial AI coworkers bridge the sales-engineering gap and, most importantly, helping manufacturers close deals faster
Eat'n Park, family restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to guests in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia since 1949

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Mentioned in this episode:
Industrial Marketing Summit 2026
The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community.

Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.
Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

There’s a commonly held belief in manufacturing: big ideas need big money, fast growth, and outside control to survive. But that playbook doesn’t work for every business or every industry.
Andrew Johnson, co-founder of HeavyTech and CEO of ShelfAware, joins the show from Everywhere Beer Co. in Anaheim, California, to talk through how he and his partners built HeavyTech, a hybrid and electric big machinery manufacturer, on their own terms. He shares the long road behind developing technology for hybrid and electric heavy machinery, and why, when it came time to scale, they made a deliberate decision to crowdfund and not follow the traditional VC path.
Along the way, we also get into why diversification within a single industry creates leverage most business owners miss, what it means to be fearless in business, and the struggles of connecting with other entrepreneurs at the same stage of growth.
If you’ve ever questioned whether the “standard” approach to funding actually fits your business, this conversation will make you rethink the rules.
In this episode, find out:
Why timing is the most important factor in business success
How crowdfunding gives you more control over your business and direct access to future customers
Why diversifying within an industry is one of the smartest entrepreneurial moves you can make
The importance of connecting with other entrepreneurs in the same position as you
How HeavyTech invented its hybrid and electric machines for construction, farm and ranch
What it means to be fearless in business
Where Andrew sees the future of U.S. manufacturing going

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!
Tweetable Quotes:
“I think the inclination today is that you need to go raise a bunch of money with private equity venture capital. I believe that’s wrong. Crowdfunding allowed us to raise a bunch of money from individuals. Normal people who believed in the future vision of our company and would eventually become our customers.”
“I think that’s the beauty of diversification. Each business is in the same industrial space. The products are different, but they complement each other. Sometimes I go into a meeting trying to sell ShelfAware, and I end up selling O-rings or end up talking about HeavyTech and leave with a new investor.”
“Timing is everything in business. You have to be at the right place at the right time. You can have a great idea, but if the market is not ready, it won’t work.”

Links & mentions:
HeavyTech, a manufacturing company designing and building hybrid and electric machinery for the construction and agriculture industries.
ShelfAware, a manufacturing intelligence company providing real-time production visibility and workflow insights to improve efficiency on the factory floor.
Everywhere Beer Co, an independent craft brewery based in Cleaveland, producing small-batch beers.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Mentioned in this episode:
Industrial Marketing Summit 2026
The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community.

Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.
Industrial Marketing Summit 2026