Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing

E-04: Stepping Outside the Box

Manufacturing packaging in the era of online shopping
Virtually every item we receive comes in a package... whether it’s a brand new computer, clothes you ordered online or food you bought last minute for dinner. Probably most of us put little or no thought into where the packaging is actually manufactured and how it’s made.
Package Craft, located in the sleepy town of Bethel, North Carolina, specializes in manufacturing packaging for various businesses and organizations locally and across the nation. Founded in the 1980s with the help of an economic grant from the town of Bethel, Package Craft has evolved over the years and extended its capabilities like: unique, custom boxes; pads; build-up blocks; die-cuts and partition assemblies.
On this episode of Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing, we talk to Bryon Murphy, Controller at Package Craft since 2016. His career started as a Controller at an Aerospace organization in Wichita, Kansas where he worked for seven years.
When the organization moved to Kinston, NC, he moved with it. Byron grew up in Greenville, NC, went to East Carolina University and was elated to be back. He worked there for six more years before landing his current job at Package Craft. 
In this episode, we discuss the growth of the packaging industry, Byron’s role in the organization, workforce retention strategy, how Package Craft can track the future fate of the local and national economy based on sells, and more.
 
LINKS
Package Craft
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. 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.
Byron Murphy
Byron Murphy has been the Controller and Senior Leader at Package Craft since 2016. Byron graduated from East Carolina University in 2008 with an MBA in Accounting. He worked in the Aerospace industry in Kansas for seven years. Bryon sits on the IES Advisory Board.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

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

North Carolina State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
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 Barbara Williams, Associate Executive Director at NC State’s Industry Expansion Solutions (IES).
 
LINKS
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. 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.
Barbara Williams
Barbara Williams is the Associate Executive Director at NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions. Barbara provides implementation, facilitation and training for management system implementation to businesses across North Carolina. Barbara is a senior facilitator with over 20 years of manufacturing and engineering experience; fifteen of those years directly related to training and implementing quality management systems. Barbara has an office in Greensboro, NC. Before joining IES, Barbara worked for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) for seven years as a nuclear safety engineer, where she led teams that improved safety at three nuclear materials processing laboratories.  After leaving DOE Barbara started an ISO 9000 consulting business and served companies in the metal fabrication, industrial painting, rubber products, medical/industrial gases, and textiles industries. Barbara has a B.S. in mechanical engineering.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

E-S-03D: Clocking In with NCCCS, Partner of NCMEP

North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS)
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 Maureen Little, Vice-President of Economic Development for the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS).
 
LINKS
NCMEP
North Carolina Community College System
 
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.
Maureen Little
Maureen Little is the Vice-President of Economic Development for the North Carolina Community College System.  She began her work in economic development in 1987 as Director of Business and Industry Services at Stanly Community College, serving her native Union County.  After eleven years at the local college level, she joined the North Carolina Community College System in a Regional Director for Economic Development position, working specifically with the colleges in the Charlotte Region.  In 2005, she was promoted to the Senior Regional Director position and began working with the 58 North Carolina Community Colleges. Maureen graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.

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.