Chuck Ridgeway is the Automation Technology Manager & Senior Customer Advocate at Horner Automation in Indianapolis, Indiana. As an engineer in the automation and robotics industry for over 30 years, Chuck has seen both the changes and valuable uses of automation and robotics in our world, and is an important voice for educators to hear about the value of STEM learning for future careers.

Horner Automation has been part of some truly unique projects in their many years in the industry, creating hardware and software that helps make businesses to homes to schools run smoothly. Their sensors, controllers, and automation have been involved with everything from major sports stadiums, Las Vegas resort attractions, cruise ships, and snowmaking at ski resorts, to the US postal service, agricultural facilities, various food & beverage producers, water/wastewater facilities, power management and fuel storage.

Horner is currently offering, free for qualifying educational institutions, one of their powerful Horner Controllers to help eliminate lab-time bottlenecks and time limitations. The use of an OCS as part of our Academic Program makes it easy and cost-effective for each student to have their own lab equipment and be able to meet their requirements for your automation educational program. Learn more about it at hornerautomation.com/product/academic-program

Connect with Chuck & Horner Automation:

• Website: hornerautomation.com
• Horner's Education Resources: hornerautomation.com/product/academic-program
• YouTube: Horner Automation YouTube
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chuck-ridgeway-79993210

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

Chad Miller teaches Technology, Engineering, & Design as well as Computer Science in North Carolina. But he wasn't always a teacher. His experiences as a computer aided draftsman helped him learn the business of architectural lighting, and in the process problem solving, iteration, and more skills that kids in CTE courses need. As an educator, he has always been passionate about STEM and providing real world examples in his classroom. He also enjoys helping with clubs and mentoring groups, even partnering with NC State for many years to bring their students to mentor his students.

He also has his students competing in the Technology Student Association (TSA), and has even had students win top awards for their STEM & design skills.

Connect with Chad:

• Instagram: @techtomentor
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chad-miller-917791214/
• TSA website: tsaweb.org
• Code.org AI teaching course: code.org/en-US/artificial-intelligence

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

For over 15 years, Simply Technologies has been sneaking digital manufacturing into classrooms—one buzzing spindle and slightly terrified teacher at a time. So far, they’ve helped over 3,500 North American schools bring STEM to life in very real, very loud, very safe, and very hands-on ways.

Their father-son company, Simply Technologies, has (unofficially but confidently) placed more CNC machines in schools than anyone else on the continent. They like to say they created CNC for teachers who didn’t sign up for CNC—and it turns out, that’s a lot of them.

In September 2025 they launched Empower[ed] Academy—what they believe is the first-ever CAD/CAM/CNC Teacher Training & Certification program in North America. The goal is to help teachers confidently turn their students’ “Imagination to Reality”—without having to Google “what’s a post-processor” mid-lesson.

On this episode, Steve and Jeremy share insights and stories from 15 years of classroom CNC success, and some practical tips and ideas that teachers can use the day after they listen to the episode.

The founders of Simply Technologies Group Inc. in London, Ontario, Steve and Jeremy Stevenson, have worked within the digital manufacturing since 2009. As a father-son duo with deep industry expertise and a passion for innovation, they offer a diverse range of products, including CNC machines, CO2 laser systems, and GRIT Automation products. Beyond selling equipment, they are committed to education and support, providing in-depth training, technical assistance, and industry-leading resources to help customers get the most out of their investment, with the help of their support and training guru, David Logan.

Connect with Steve & Jeremy:

• Website: simplytechnologies.xyz
• Empower[ed] Academy: learn.simplytechnologies.xyz
• Instagram: @simply.technologies

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show