Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing

E-S-03C: Clocking In with PCE, Partner of NCMEP

Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE)
Established in 1995, the North Carolina Manufacturing Partnership (NCMEP) is the official representative of the MEP Network in the State of North Carolina. The purpose of the partnership is to enhance the productivity, innovative capacity and technological performance of North Carolina based manufacturing firms.
Our mission, at NCMEP, is to help small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve their performance. Through combined resources and collaboration efforts, we provide solutions and services that help organizations all around our great state.
I got the chance to sit down with a few of NCMEP’s partners during this year’s mfgCON in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, I talked to Phil Shoemaker, Executive Director of the Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE).
 
LINKS
NCMEP
Polymers Center of Excellence
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES Extension Operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.
Phil Shoemaker
Phil Shoemaker is the Executive Director of the Polymers Center of Excellence, a NCMEP Partner located in Charlotte, NC. Phil has been at the Polymers Center of Excellence since 2015 where he is in charge of all the center’s operations. He graduated from the University of Denver in 1975 with a BA in History and he went on to get a PhD in History of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-S-03B: Clocking In with MSC, Partner of NCMEP

Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC)
Established in 1995, the North Carolina Manufacturing Partnership (NCMEP) is the official representative of the MEP Network in the State of North Carolina. The purpose of the partnership is to enhance the productivity, innovative capacity and technological performance of North Carolina based manufacturing firms.
Our mission, at NCMEP, is to help small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve their performance. Through combined resources and collaboration efforts, we provide solutions and services that help organizations all around our great state.
I got the chance to sit down with a few of NCMEP’s partners during this year’s mfgCON in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, I talked to Dan St. Louis, Executive Director at The Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC).
 
LINKS
NCMEP
Manufacturing Solutions Center
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES Extension Operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.
Dan St. Louis
Dan St. Louis is the Executive Director at The Manufacturing Solutions Center in Catawba, North Carolina. Dan worked in the sock industry, automotive textiles and yarn industry for 30 years. Member of the NC District Export Council, US Dept. of Commerce Export Trade Advisory Committee, the Hosiery Association Board of Directors. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a BS in Textile Technology.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-S-03A: Clocking In with EDPNC, Partner of NCMEP

Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC)
Established in 1995, the North Carolina Manufacturing Partnership (NCMEP) is the official representative of the MEP Network in the State of North Carolina. The purpose of the partnership is to enhance the productivity, innovative capacity and technological performance of North Carolina based manufacturing firms.
Our mission, at NCMEP, is to help small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve their performance. Through combined resources and collaboration efforts, we provide solutions and services that help organizations all around our great state.
I got the chance to sit down with a few of NCMEP’s partners during this year’s mfgCON in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, I talked to John Loyack, Vice President of Global Business Services at The Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC).
 
LINKS
NCMEP
EDPNC
 
ABOUT
 
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES Extension Operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.
John Loyack
John Loyack is the Vice President of Global Business Services at The Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC).  In this role, John leads the department composed of the EDPNC regional offices, the International Trade Division and the small business counseling team known as Business Link North Carolina. This team supports North Carolina businesses in everything from starting up a new enterprise to expanding an existing business to the development of export strategies aimed at increasing international sales. John earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Spanish from Gettysburg College and holds an MBA in International Business Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-S-02C: Supporting Those Who Defend Us

A service disabled veteran owned company manufactures and supplies the military with unique vehicles
Carolina Growler, a father and son business founded by a veteran, has an important mission: Ensure the US military has safe, appropriate and high-performance forms of transportation. It is their utmost priority.
In 2004, Carolina Growler was awarded a contract to produce over 600 Internally Transported Vehicles (ITVs), Light Attack Vehicles (LAVs). In 2011, Carolina Growler was awarded a $50 million dollar grant from the US government to assist in manufacturing specialized vehicles for the military. Their modified vehicles have been on display in Center Court of The Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Currently, Carolina Growler owns four facilities comprising over 134,000 square feet of production and warehousing space. Since 2007, as a company in a HUB-zoned, Carolina Growler has employed over 150 full-time locals.
On this episode of Clocking In, we speak to John Crews, son of founder Terry Crews and current President of Carolina Growler. I talk with John about the story of the inception of Carolina Growler, what kind of vehicles Carolina Growler makes and what goes into those vehicles and the continued growth of their organization and more.
 
LINKS
NCMEP
IES
Growler
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
John Crews
John Crews is the President of Carolina Growler, Inc. He’s been apart of the organization since 2010 where he started out as Vice President and Director of Operations. He was promoted to President in 2016. John earned a Bachelors from Roanoke College in 1993 and went on to get his Masters at George Washington University in 2000.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-S-02B: Recreating Camping for the 21st Century

A NC camping gear manufacturer is looking to create cutting edge camping supplies for 21st century campers.
At SylvanSport, “originality” is the name of the game. National Geographic Adventure dubbed their Go Camping Trailer the “Coolest.Camper. Ever.” Founded in 2004, SylvanSport wanted to make outdoor adventure accessible to everyone. They have reinvented the pop-up camper and that product has become one of the best constructed camping and gear trailers on the market.
Through the years, SylvanSport has been awarded the #1 RV for Outdoor Adventure; Men’s Journal Gear of the Year; Internal Aluminium Design Extrusion Grand Prize; AdvantageWest Lone Eagle Award and has been an Edison Award Finalist.
While their headquarters is in Brevard, North Carolina, SylvanSport is represented by more than 50 distributors around the US. They also host camping, outdoor and RV-related events throughout the year, across the country.
On this episode of Clocking In, I sit down with Patrick Kennedy Vice President of Operations at SylvanSport and chat with Patrick about the kind of work SylvanSport does, Patrick’s professional journey in working with SylvanSport, the origins of SylvanSport and more.
 
LINKS
NCMEP
IES
SylvanSport
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
Patrick Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy has been the Vice President of Operations at SylvanSport since 2012. He develops, optimizes, and maintains manufacturing and business processes for a forward-thinking company that strives to help make people's outdoor experiences easier and more comfortable. Patrick graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a BSME in Engineering and went on to earn an MBA from James Madison University.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-S-02A: Keeping North Carolina's Textile Industry Alive

A FABRIC MANUFACTURER HOPES TO EXPAND ON NORTH CAROLINA’S TEXTILE RICH PAST
Their values are: “Quality, innovation and reliability” and since Fairystone Fabrics has been in business for a little more than 50 years, I’d say they’ve executed their values well. Fairystone Fabrics is a textile manufacturer located in Burlington, North Carolina.
Fairystone Fabrics takes pride in taking care of their human workforce. The organization currently has 55 employees that have been with them for over 10 years, that’s a 47% retention rate.
Fairystone Fabrics specializes in tricot warping, knitting and sueding. The company’s machinery operated 24/7 or 24/6, working around the clock to create quality textiles. 0% of Fairystone Fabrics waste ends up in landfills; all of the waste products are reused, recycled or used as fuel for power plants.
On this episode of Clocking In, I speak with Jim Bryan, President of Fairystone Fabrics about how Fairystone got started, what kind of fabrics they make, how they’re able to continuously expand their organization and more.
 
LINKS
NCMEP
Fairystone Fabrics
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
Jim Bryan
Jim Bryan has been the President of Fairystone Fabrics since 1996. He has a history of working in textiles, having worked previously at Burlington Industries and Klopman International. Jim has been recently recognized in the Triad Business Journal, Business NC, Burlington Times – News, Alamance News, Greensboro News & Record for business accomplishments and celebration of our 50th year Anniversary for Fairystone Fabrics, Inc. Jim earned a BA in Marketing from Florida Southern College in 1975.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-03: Cashion Fishing Rods Angling To Improve Your Fishing Game

Discover how a North Carolina fishing rod manufacturer is hoping to take the fishing rod industry by storm.
The economy was rough after Matthew Cashion graduated from Virginia Tech in 2009. With a doctorate in chemistry and concentration in advanced materials science, he was having no luck finding full-time employment.
Frustrated and unemployed Matthew received a $2,000 loan from his father and decided to put it all on the line and start a fishing rod business in Stanford, NC. He called the new startup Cashion Fishing Rods. He then used his knowledge of chemistry and advanced materials science to create a fishing rod like no other—one that increases physical performance while maintaining extreme sensitivity.
Today, Cashion Fishing Rods has over 45 distributors in the US. The manufacturer hosts annual fishing tours and has award-winning professional fishermen using Cashion rods in fishing tournaments.
On this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, Matthew discusses what motivates him in the business world, the intricate details that go into Cashion products and how Cashion has grown their brand. We also go on the floor to talk to some of their workforce who are assembling Cashion fishing rods by hand.
 
LINKS
Cashion Fishing Rods
NCMEP
IES
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
Matthew Cashion
Matthew Cashion is the owner and president of Cashion Fishing Rods. Matthew Cashion founded Cashion Fishing Rod in 2009 after he received a Ph.D in chemistry with a concentration in advanced materials from Virginia Tech. Matthew earned his Bachelor’s in Chemistry from East Carolina University and went on to get his Master’s at the University of Texas at Austin. credits help from his father and faith among reason for his thriving business.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-Special-01: The State of the North Carolina Economy for Manufacturing

A sit-down interview with economist, Dr. Michael Walden to discuss the current and future condition of North Carolina manufacturing
When people talk about the general economy and the economics surrounding the manufacturing industry, we may get lost in all the technical and jargon-riddled analysis. We want answers, but due to the variable nature of the economy and especially the manufacturing industry, that might not be so easy. But what we can do is talk to someone who can simplify the most complicated economic concepts and current events. That’s why I sat down with the guy who has the scoop, N.C. State University economist Dr. Michael Walden.
Dr. Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist at North Carolina State University and a member of the Graduate Economics faculty with The Poole College of Management. His Ph.D. degree is from Cornell University and he has been at N.C. State since 1978.
Dr. Walden has teaching, research and extension responsibilities at NC State in the areas of consumer economics, economic outlook and public policy. He has published eleven books and over 300 articles and reports, including the books North Carolina in the Connected Age and North Carolina Beyond the Connected Age: The Tar Heel State in 2050 in 2017, both published by the UNC Press.
As a result of his extensive expertise, Dr. Walden has a bird’s-eye view on various economic outcomes. I was eager to pick his brain about the issues that matter to us as North Carolinians and especially for those in the manufacturing sector.
In this episode of Clocking In, Dr. Walden explains, in layman's terms, the current state of our national economy, the condition North Carolina Manufacturing is currently in, the ongoing trade war and more.
 
LINKS
Michael Walden
NCMEP
IES
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
Dr. Michael Walden
Dr. Michael Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist at North Carolina State University and a member of the Graduate Economics faculty with The Poole College of Management. His Ph.D. degree is from Cornell University and he has been at N.C. State since 1978. He has also been a Visiting Professor at Duke University. He has served on several local and state level commissions. He currently teaches ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-02: Tri-County Industries Fosters Strong Work Discipline, Sense of Worth and Inclusion

Rocky Mount based Tri-County Industries works to enhance the lives of people who are disabled or disadvantaged through work assessment, job training and placement. The organization has been in business for more than 50 years and touches the lives of many in their community.
Tri-County Industries is a unique blend of private enterprise, government funding and local volunteers working together since 1966. Its philosophy of rehabilitation is to help people develop a strong work discipline and a sense of self-worth while obtaining hands-on job experience in a realistic work environment.
We helped Tri-County Industries with a Lean implementation and their ISO 9001 certified management system awhile back, so I wanted to get back and see their 85,000 square feet of workspace and their amazing recovery after Hurricane Matthew. I got to chat with their President Brenda Cogdell and meet some of their workforce that is ready to tackle almost any assembly job, whether it’s fiber-optic kits, sales sample kits, product assembly or direct mail operations.
 
LINKS
Tri-County Industries
Rebuilding After Hurricane Matthew
NCMEP
IES
ISO 9001
Lean
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
Brenda Cogdell
Brenda Cogdell has been President of Tri-County Industries since 2000. She is dedicated to helping others reach their maximum potential and truly understands the unique needs of others.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-01: Not Your Grandmother’s Formica Laminate!

Find out how one NC manufacturing company is helping architects and interior designers make a statement with their trend-setting designs.
 
Laminate is no longer your grandmother's gold fleck formica countertops. There is one innovative North Carolina company helping you change the way you think about laminates, one solution at a time.
ATI Laminates is a family owned and operated manufacturing facility located in Greensboro, North Carolina. They are maniacally focused on developing innovative surfaces for the hospitality, retail, healthcare and institutional markets.
We had helped the company with their certified management system awhile back, so I was curious to share with others how a company that started out as a hinge distributor for a German company could now be operating as a leading, international laminate giant. I decided to return to their offices in Greensboro to find out.
You’ll understand why architects and interior designers who want to create spaces with eye catching color, texture and design turn to ATI for their innovative and decorative surface solutions.
You’ll  also catch a glimpse of how a successful leadership transition happens in a family owned and operated manufacturing business. Plus, get some tips about maintaining a committed workforce.
 
LINKS
ATI Laminates
NCMEP
IES
ISO 9001
 
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state.
Tara Burgio
Tara Burgio is President of ATI Laminates. She has held that role since 1994. Her focus is continuous improvement through continual training, process improvements, being an advocate for community service and maintaining environmentally friendly manufacturing. During her time as president, the company earned both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.