In this episode of the Manufacturer’s Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan welcomes Reeves Smith, Director of Sales at Leapfrog, to share his decades of IT experience helping manufacturers tackle cybersecurity, digital transformation, and the complexities of modernization. Reeves breaks down real-world challenges and actionable steps for manufacturing leaders ready to secure and streamline their operations.

Key Topics Covered:

• Common Technology Struggles for Manufacturers
• Reeves shares why so many small and midsize companies hit technology roadblocks as they try to scale up and modernize, and how the pace of tech change often outstrips internal IT skills and resources.
• The Truth About Cyber Threats
• Why being a smaller manufacturer doesn’t mean hackers will overlook you—attackers are often targeting your organization’s connections and customer networks. Hear a real story of a multi-million-dollar impersonation attack that almost put a business under.
• The Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape
• Threats are growing more sophisticated, and so are the entry points—from IoT devices to remote laptops. Reeves explains why old strategies won’t cut it for today’s manufacturing environments.
• People: The Essential Security Layer
• Most cybersecurity breaches start with people, not just failed technology. Reeves emphasizes the importance of workforce training, proactive testing, and building a culture of security awareness at every level.
• How AI Is Changing the Game
• From AI-powered phishing to deepfake scams that trick even top executives, manufacturers need to be vigilant. Plus, practical advice for manufacturers just starting to explore AI and automation—like making use of AI tools already embedded in their current platforms.
• Laying the Foundation for Innovation
• Before investing heavily in AI, Reeves explains why upgrading infrastructure, managing and integrating data, and moving applications to the cloud are critical first steps to success.
• Smart Steps for Digital Transformation
• Find out how to prioritize the right projects, avoid costly missteps with public AI tools, and get buy-in from the team, especially when introducing changes to legacy systems.
• Navigating Change and Job Security Fears
• Reeves addresses worries about AI taking jobs and offers a constructive way for employees to use technology as a tool for growth, not just efficiency.
• Why Partnering with Experts Matters
• With security and technology demands growing, Reeves highlights the benefits of working with an experienced IT partner for strategic advice and reliable protection.

Top Takeaways:

• Don’t assume you’re too small to be a target—cybercrime affects manufacturers of all sizes.
• Invest in workforce education; people are your first (and often weakest) cybersecurity layer.
• Start with the infrastructure and data management before chasing advanced AI.
• Use trusted IT partners to assess your situation and guide tailored solutions.
• Consider security and productivity side by side—good cybersecurity shouldn’t slow down production.

Connect with Reeves Smith and Leapfrog:

• Email: reeves.smith@leapfrogservices.com
• Website: leapfrogservices.com

Ready to modernize your manufacturing security? Listen to this episode for an expert’s roadmap to resilient, future-ready operations!

In this episode of the Manufacturers Network Podcast, Lisa Ryan welcomes Grace Bilbrough, Director of Marketing for ProWood, a leading brand under UFP Industries. Grace shares her journey from event planning to becoming a key marketing strategist, and reflects on the pivotal role company culture played in ProWood’s successful rebrand and business transformation.

Grace and Lisa dive deeply into the importance of transparency, open communication, and recognizing employee contributions as cornerstones of Pro@ood’s culture. Grace reveals practical ways her team bridges cross-department silos, fosters entrepreneurial thinking, and keeps employees motivated, even throughout periods of change and growth. She offers insights into how initiatives like leaderboards, town halls, and regular updates keep competitive spirits high and teams aligned with company goals.

Learn how new ideas—like the launch of ProWood’s upcoming True Frame Joists—are sourced directly from employee feedback on the front lines, and how their culture of care extends from manufacturing lines to customer partnerships. Whether you’re navigating change in your own organization or looking for fresh ways to spark employee engagement, Grace shares actionable takeaways you can implement today.

Key Topics:

• The value of transparency and honest communication through change
• Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship across a large organization
• Practical strategies for employee recognition and alignment
• Collaborating across marketing, sales, operations, and product teams
• Translating internal culture into long-lasting customer relationships

Connect with Grace Bilbrough on LinkedIn or via email at GBilbrough@prowood.com to continue the conversation.

Tune in for actionable advice and inspiring stories about building a people-first culture in manufacturing!

Welcome to the Manufacturer’s Network Podcast! In this episode, host Lisa Ryan sits down with Ben Hansen, a 5-time Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, founder of an 8-figure staffing firm, and expert in maximizing profitability for $2M–$50M companies. Ben is the "Profit Doctor," helping businesses identify and eliminate “profit leaks” to significantly boost bottom-line results.

Key Topics Covered:

- Ben’s Journey: From his early days at Dell and Microsoft to launching his own fast-growth company and eventually becoming the go-to expert for curing "profit-itis."

- Understanding Profit-itis: Why having strong revenue doesn’t always mean healthy profits, and what profit-itis looks like in manufacturing companies.

- Biggest Profit Myths Debunked: The dangers of focusing solely on revenue growth and why the popular “hockey playbook” doesn’t work for most businesses.

- The 80/20 Rule & The 50/20 Formula: Ben explains how identifying and cutting the least profitable products, clients, and employees can fast-track margin improvement.

- Profit Killers: How profit psychology, unprofitable products, toxic employees, and the myth that “more is always better” can undermine your success.

- Simplifying Financials: Transforming complex P&Ls into actionable reports that help non-accountants make better decisions.

- Accounting Blind Spots: Common mistakes in financial analysis, including underestimating the cost of difficult clients and the impact of soft costs.

- Growing Without Growing: How many firms can substantially improve profits without adding a single dollar to revenue—sometimes by getting smaller and more focused.

- Actionable Steps: Ben shares his Profit Accelerator and Profit CFO programs, designed to simplify your numbers and create massive gains.

Resources & Links:

- Connect with Ben Hansen at https://www.profitdoctor.com

- Find Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhansenprofitdoctor

- For CEOs looking to break the cycle of low profits, schedule a check-in with Ben

If you’re a business leader tired of working harder for less, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world strategies you can put to work right away!

Too often in the workplace, recognition is either generic, forced, or inconsistent, and when that happens, it loses its power. But when done well, recognition is one of the most powerful tools you have to inspire loyalty, engagement, and long-term retention.

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network, Lisa Ryan, CSP, shares how to make recognition meaningful, personal, and consistent, without breaking the budget or making it awkward.

You’ll discover:

• Why recognition is one of the most underutilized retention strategies
• The biggest myths about recognition — and how to overcome them
• How to make recognition specific, timely, and tied to your mission
• Simple tools like peer-to-peer recognition and “All About Me” sheets
• Four practical strategies you can implement right away to make recognition stick

When employees feel seen and valued for their everyday contributions, they don’t just stay, they thrive.

Brought to you by Grategy, helping manufacturing leaders create cultures people want to work in and nobody wants to leave. Learn more at LisaRyanSpeaks.com.

In this episode of the Manufacturers Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan sits down with Harish Chandramowli, co-founder of Flaire and an expert in software engineering and data management. Harish, bringing a fresh perspective from outside the traditional manufacturing space, discusses how technology and a data-driven approach can transform the way fashion brands operate, from production planning to supply chain management.

Discover why fashion manufacturing is vastly more complex than most industries due to SKUs, color variations, and the speed of trends. Harish explains how legacy processes relying on PDFs and emails hinder efficiency and highlights the revenue risks that come from lost or mismanaged data. He also shares real-life stories from working with emerging brands and the importance of adopting scalable, nimble workflow tools before investing in a full-fledged ERP.

Whether you're a small business wrestling with spreadsheets or looking to streamline operations with AI and automation, Harish's advice will help you harness the power of data from day one. He shares practical tips for getting started with affordable modern tools, maintaining data sanity, and adapting workflows as your brand grows.

Key Takeaways:

• Why SKUs and data management are especially critical in fashion manufacturing
• How delays and lost data translate to lost revenue in fast-moving industries
• The surprising complexity of different manufacturing sectors
• Strategies for improving data entry and usage even with limited resources
• When (and when not) to invest in ERP software
• How AI tools and spreadsheets can kickstart your data organization
• A vision for the future of lightweight, customizable workflow platforms

Connect with Harish:

Reach out to Harish Chandramowli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharish/ for more insights on workflow automation, data-driven manufacturing, and a candid discussion about your business operations.

Tune in now to learn how you can revamp your production and supply chain strategies—with Harish Chandramowli!

In this episode of the Manufacturer’s Network, Lisa Ryan dives deep into one of the most critical and overlooked moments in any manufacturing employee’s journey: onboarding. She reveals why those first 90 days are the make-or-break window for retention and explores how traditional onboarding, centered on paperwork and compliance, is failing new hires. Lisa shares practical, high-impact strategies to shift onboarding from a box-checking task to a powerful tool for connection, engagement, and long-term retention.

You’ll learn:

• The real reason employees leave in their first 90 days and how to prevent it
• Why onboarding actually starts before Day One and what you can do during that “T-minus” period
• Ways to make new hires feel welcome before they even walk in the door
• The critical role leaders and peers (not just HR!) play in successful onboarding
• Simple, actionable ideas: from welcome kits to buddy systems, that create belonging and boost morale
• The importance of regular check-ins and personal touches to keep employees engaged from the start

Lisa also previews next week’s topic on recognition strategies that foster loyalty. Tune in for fresh insight and actionable tips you can put to work right away in your organization!

Links:

• Learn more about Lisa’s work and resources: lisaryanspeaks.com
• Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn or email her your questions for a chance to be featured in a future episode!

Remember:

Culture isn’t a perk—it’s your strongest competitive advantage. See you next time!

On this episode of the Manufacturers Network, host Lisa Ryan sits down with William Spengler, founder of Frederick Fox, a recruiting firm that’s helped over 700 companies hire standout finance professionals for manufacturing and beyond. William brings more than 15 years of agency recruiting experience and a background in cost accounting to this candid conversation about winning the race for manufacturing finance talent.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why plant finance roles are some of the hardest jobs to fill in manufacturing today.

- How proactive networking within a 25-mile radius gives CFOs an edge before hiring becomes urgent.

- The post-pandemic shift: Why most manufacturers are moving finance talent back onsite, and how that impacts recruiting.

- Creative strategies CFOs can use to stay salary-competitive without breaking the P&L.

- How remote flexibility and company culture play into long-term talent retention.

- The “human-first” approach that helps land highly specialized candidates—even when relocation is involved.

- Insider tips for manufacturers scaling through organic growth or private equity: what to plan for in hiring and onboarding.

- Why a magical first day (with swag!) and a thoughtful onboarding process make recruiters’ and candidates’ lives easier.

Key Moments:

- William’s journey from cost accountant to recruiter, and why industry experience matters

- The importance of trust and flexibility in today’s workplace culture

- Real-world examples: moving high-value talent across states and crafting a personalized candidate experience

- Unique perks companies are using to stand out—think HOA discounts and wellness benefits

- How to have the right internal conversations before starting your next finance search

If you’re a manufacturing leader or CFO struggling to find—and keep—great finance people, this episode is packed with practical advice and fresh perspective.

Connect with William Spengler:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willspengler

- Website: https://www.frederickfox.com

Listen in for the strategies and mindset you need to build a finance dream team in today’s market!

Welcome to a brand new chapter of the Manufacturers Network Podcast! In this high-impact solo episode, Lisa Ryan dives into the critical workplace culture shifts manufacturing leaders need to make NOW to attract and retain top talent into 2026.

Lisa breaks down the three essential culture shifts every manufacturing organization must implement:

1. Purpose Over Pay: Move beyond wages and help employees connect their work to a bigger mission.
2. Recognition as a Habit: Discover why daily, specific recognition is the secret sauce for boosting morale and driving results.
3. Acts of Service: Learn how removing small frustrations and truly listening to your people transforms your workplace.

Every culture shift comes with an actionable step you can implement this week; no fluff, just real-world strategies you can carry right onto the shop floor or into the boardroom.

Lisa also teases upcoming episodes focused on onboarding strategies that go beyond HR paperwork to make new hires feel valued (and stick around!).

Key Takeaways:

• How to connect employees with purpose for stronger retention.
• The power of intentional, frequent recognition.
• Why small acts of service and problem solving matter more than grand gestures.
• Simple action steps to build a culture people don’t want to leave.

If you’re ready to lead with purpose and build teams that last, this episode is for you!

Connect with Lisa Ryan:

• LinkedIn: Lisa Ryan
• Email: lisa@grategy.com
• Learn more: lisaryanspeaks.com

Brought to you by Grategy: practical tools for manufacturing leaders to strengthen teams and boost retention.

Subscribe for upcoming episodes featuring expert guests and more practical strategies from Lisa!