Talking Industrial Automation
Technology
About
The Talking Industrial Automation Podcast is a show to help you get to know the people who make modern manufacturing and processing possible. Along the way you'll hear about integration technology, trends and challenges. If you are a manufacturer, end user/client, supplier or system integrator interested in industrial automation, you will enjoy the insights in this podcast.
Episodes
- From Bioengineering to Factory Automation: How Rob Goldsmith Helps Bring Manufacturing to Life
n this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , Lisa Richter sits down with Rob Goldsmith, Director of Industrial Systems at Matrix, to explore his unexpected journey from bioengineering student to automation leader overseeing one of Nor…
- Scaling Smart: Jeremy Anderson on Modernizing Manufacturing, Data, and Automation
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Jeremy Anderson, President of Process and Data Automation at the Krones Group, to explore what it really takes to modernize manufacturing in today's rapidl…
- M&A in Automation: Clint Bundy on Valuations, Talent, and the Future of System Integrators
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter speaks with Clint Bundy, Managing Director at Bundy Group, a boutique investment bank that has spent more than three decades advising companies in automation, control sys…
- Engineering the Brain of the Process: Guru Thakkar on Scalable Automation, Front-End Discipline & Intelligent Systems
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Guru Thakkar, Director of Engineering at Inflexion Point in Neptune, New Jersey. With more than 20 years of experience across pharmaceutical, life sciences…
- The Brains of the Factory—Scaling Automation Leadership with Matt Wise
As we kick off the new year, Talking Industrial Automation revisits a listener-favorite conversation with Matt Wise, CEO of E-Tech Group—one of Control Engineering and Plant Engineering's 2025 System Integrator of the Year award winners. M…
- From Boots to Bots: Brandon Umscheid's Automation Journey at Baker Group
- Listening, Leading, and Evolving: How Adrienne Meyer is Shaping the Next Chapter of CSIA
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter welcomes Adrienne Meyer, the newly appointed CEO of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA). With 20+ years of experience managing global trade associations and…
- From Control Panels to Purpose: How Stephen Beck Found His Path in Industrial Automation | Talking Industrial Automation
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Stephen Beck, Senior Chemical Engineer at Huffman Engineering, to explore his journey from building control panels at age 10 to shaping automation systems…
- Breaking the Mold: How Marcos Carlotto of Schneider Electric Is Reimagining Industrial Automation | Talking Industrial Automation
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter is joined by Marcos Carlotto, Director of Software-Defined Automation at Schneider Electric, for a deep dive into how open systems, artificial intelligence, and workforce…
- Standards, Audits, and Intuition: Bud Weightman's 35-Year Journey in Quality Management | Talking Industrial Automation
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter welcomes Bud Weightman—President of Qualified Specialists International (QSI) and a seasoned expert with over 35 years in quality management, auditing, and standards cons…
- Navigating the Future of Industrial Automation with GE Vernova's Paul Adams | Talking Industrial Automation with Lisa Richter
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Paul Adams, Senior Director of Partner Ecosystems at GE Vernova, to explore how his nearly three-decade journey with GE has shaped a deep understanding of…
- Scaling with Purpose: Joe Mazzola on Growing McEnery Automation and Leading with Vision | Episode 109 of Talking Industrial Automation with Lisa Richter
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Joe Mazzola, General Manager of McEnery Automation, to unpack his journey from co-op student to company leader. Joe shares how McHenry has grown from a two…
- A Decade of Impact: Jose Rivera Reflects on Leadership, Legacy, and the Future of Automation | Episode 108 of Talking Industrial Automation with Lisa Richter
In this special crossover episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter shares a conversation from Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast , featuring outgoing CSIA CEO Jose Rivera. As he prepares to step down after 10 trans…
- Leading with Value: Smarter Pricing Strategies for Today's Industrial Market with Brian Doyle | Episode 107 of Talking Industrial Automation with Lisa Richter
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation , host Lisa Richter sits down with Brian Doyle, CEO of Holden Advisors, to explore how B2B companies—especially in manufacturing and industrial sectors—can unlock growth through value-based…
- Matt Wise of E Tech Group | Episode 106
In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Matt Wise, CEO of E Tech Group as we explore how E Tech Group became a powerhouse in system integration, earning accolades like the 2025 System Integrator of the Year award. Disc…
- TIA Rewind - Jim Biehl of Partner at Wipfli, LLP (formerly of Clayton & McKervey)
In this encore presentation of one of the most listened episodes of Talking Industrial Automation, Jim Biehl reveals why some businesses thrive and others flame out, based on his decades of experience. Plus, he discusses the No. 1 inhibito…
- Cole Wangsness of OnLogic | Episode 105
In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Cole Wangsness, who is a Solution Architect at OnLogic. Since joining the team in 2018, Cole has focused on empowering companies to solve complex technology challenges at the edg…
- Kyle Carreau of PTC/Kepware | Episode 104
In today's episode, we're talking industrial automation with Kyle Carreau, who is an Enablement Manager for the Kepware team at PTC. Kyle is the "go-to" technical and commercial resource For Kepware's technology partners, international dis…
- Jim Gillespie of GrayMatter | Episode 103
In this episode, you'll hear from Jim Gillespie, who is the co-founder and chief growth officer of GrayMatter, a leading OT-focused company that provides consulting, services, and curated technology to transform operations and empower peop…
- Economic and Labor Update with Alex Chausovsky | Episode 102
This episode is a special one – content from a recent CSIA members-only presentation – a Virtual Keynote Address by Alex Chaukosky, who is director of analytics and consulting for the Bundy Group. But that title really does not give you th…
- Kacie Chitwood Miller Resource Group | Episode 101
In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, Kacie Chitwood, an account executive at Miller Resource Group, shares her insights into the job market for controls engineers. Some tidbits: The surprising salary jumps controls engineers c…
- Andrew Harris of ACS | Epsiode 100
Andrew Harris shares his journey from participating in a high school robotics program to leading business development and engineering initiatives at ACS. You'll also hear about ACS's evolution from a spinoff architectural firm to a leader…
- Bryan DeBois of RoviSys | Episode 99
The airwaves are blowing up with the potential of AI in industrial automation -- but is it all talk? Not at all, says Bryan DeBois, DIrector of AI at RoviSys, a system integration founded in 1989. In fact, Autonomous AI is solving unsolvab…
- Jeromy Peterson of Ripple Industries | Epsiode 98
From an entry-level job at a sewage plant (spoiler, it's as bad as you think) to writing a science fiction novel to earning four degrees+, Jeromy Peterson has accumulated an unusual mix of experiences over the course of his 25-year career.…
- Alex Pool of Masked Owl Technologies | Episode 97
After 30 years of experience in industrial solution leadership -- ranging from greenfield design and engineering to custom specialized solutions -- Alex Pool launched Masked Owl Technologies. As President of this SI startup, he uses his de…
- Adam Gluck of Copia Automation | Episode 96
Can we be solving hard problems that make the economy work better? That make the world a more efficient place? Those are the questions that inspired Adam Gluck to leave his engineering job at Uber and found Copia Automation, which brings m…
- Sandy Gennaro Professional Speaker and Drummer | Episode 95
It's not often that an industrial autlomation podcast features a rockstar as a guest -- but it's happening today. Sandy Gennaro -- former drummer for bands as diverse as The Monkees to Joan Jett to Cyndi Lauper -- is here to tell you about…
- Ken Hackett of General Control Systems | Episode 94
Meet Ken Hackett, who is Director of Business Development for General Control Systems. In this role, he uses his 30 years of expertise in engineering design, sales, service, and installation of process controls, instrumentation, and electr…
- Crossover Episode with the Rivergate Marketing Podcast
We are doing something a little different with this episode of Talking Industrial Automation because TIA host Lisa Richter was invited to be a guest on the Rivergate Marketing Podcast, produced by Rivergate Marketing, a full-service digita…
- Dave Bader of Eurotech | Episode 92
Over the course of three decades, Dave Bader, who is Vice President of Business Development at Eurotech, has been involved in several automation revolutions including the evangelism of artificial intelligence at the edge, industrial IoT, a…
- Karen Griffin of Hargrove Controls and Automation | Episode 91
Finding a role that allowed her to advance her technical skills while also progessing her career was exactly what Karen Griffin was looking for when she landed at Hargrove Controls and Automations. She went on to serve in various automatio…
- Ira Sharp with Phoenix Contact | Episode 90
With more than 18 years of experience in industrial automation with a focus on Open Control, IIoT Industry 4.0, Networking and Cybersecurity, Ira Sharp, director of product marketing automation at Phoenix Contact USA, has seen a few things…
- Ben Durbin of Cybertrol Engineering | Episode 89
Joining the company just one year after inception, Ben Durbin has climbed through the Cybertrol Engineering ranks to the top spot: CEO. Along the way he's gained on-the-job experience in every corner of the business -- from programming to…
- Greg Jackson of SmartSights | Epsiode 88
After decades of living in the same ecosystem, WIN-911 and SyTech merged to form SmartSights, blending the best of both and triggering a fresh look, brand and approach. Hear all about it in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation fro…
- Andrew Thomas of Skkynet | Episode 87
Frustrated with the lack of tools to reliably communicate among different process areas, Andrew Thomas decided to do something about it. So in 1995, he and a partner developed real-time communication software that resulted in a program cal…
- What's New in the Best Practices Manual 6.0 with Tony Valasek | Episode 86
For many CSIA members, the Best Practices Manual is THE reason they joined the association -- and for good reason. The BP Manual Best Practices Manual is the most comprehensive collection of best practices within a system integrators indus…
- Growing Into Leadership Roles with CSIA Emerging Leaders SIG | Episode 85
"People are like an unstable PID loop," jokes Keith Mandachit of Huffman Engineering in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. Hear what else he and his fellow panelists Andrew Palmberg (Technical Systems Inc) and Becca Johnson (Gr…
- Dino Busalachi of Velta Technology | Episode 84
Dino Busalachi is CTO and Co-Founder of Velta Technology, a company that provides digital safety as a service. Dino has close to 4 decades of global experience across information technology, engineering, and industrial control systems with…
- Lisa Ryan of Grategy | Episode 83
Drawing on her experience as a certified speaking professional and best selling author, Lisa Ryan offers some advice for companies that want to retain talent and build a company culture that makes employees want to stay. Along the way, she…
- Mike Bradshaw of Stratus Technologies | Episode 82
Since April 2019, Stratus has completely revamped its partner ecosystem and the programs that support it, providing greater benefits to the partners while driving double digit growth for Stratus reports Mike Bradshaw, Senior Director - Glo…
- Theresa Benson | Part 2 | Episode 81
A former colleague once called Theresa Benson "corporate spackle" because she comes in and fills in the gaps quickly, diagnosing issues and moving people forward in the face of ambiguity. As a product storyteller and strategist with over 2…
- Theresa Benson | Part 1 | Episode 80
A former colleague once called Theresa Benson "corporate spackle" because she comes in and fills in the gaps quickly, diagnosing issues and moving people forward in the face of ambiguity. As a product storyteller and strategist with over 2…
- Alicia Gilpin and Nikki Gonzales of Automation Ladies Part 2 | Episode 79
As hosts of Automation Ladies -- the only podcast -- that we know of -- where women (mostly) talk about Industrial Automation, Alicia Gilpin (Ali G.) and Nikki Gonzales provide a unique perspective on the industrial automation industry. Fo…
- Alicia Gilpin and Nikki Gonzales of Automation Ladies Part 1 | Episode 78
As hosts of Automation Ladies -- the only podcast -- that we know of -- where women (mostly) talk about Industrial Automation, Alicia Gilpin (Ali G.) and Nikki Gonzales provide a unique perspective on the industrial automation industry. Fo…
- Pod in a Box | Episode 77
In this episode, we're talking industrial automation as usual but instead of hearing from one or two guests, you're going to get to hear from a lot of them – hot mike style-ish because I grabbed random 2022 Rockwell Automation Fair attende…
- Daren Dieleman of Interstates | Episode 76
Daren Dieleman parlayed a background in accounting and finance into a 10-year career with a worldwide system integration firm, Interstates. He spent most of that time leading the automation delivery teams, but recently he transitioned to a…
- Dan Barrera of Bosch Rexroth | Episode 75
Fresh out of college, Dan Barrera had three offers -- including his dream job. But he turned it down for one with an automation company. And he's never looked back. Today is is a product manager at Bosch Rexroth where he is product manager…
- Shawn Tierney of Insights in Automation | Episode 74
Technology enthusiast and entrepreneur Shawn Tierney took two decades of experience as an automation specialist and turned it into content development and training business with more than 75,000 followers across his blog, podcast and YouTu…
- Wendy and Howard Huffman of Huffman Engineers | Episode 73
After moving their family out of state to start Huffman Engineering based on a PO, Wendy and Howard Huffman were handed a piece of paper that said the project they left everythy for was cancelled. But despite that setback -- and early Hot…
- Cody Bann of WIN-911 | Episode 72
Did you know NASA uses WIN-911 software to test the rockets for the new Artemis program? Hear about other examples -- such as how Dubai keeps aquatic species alive in the middle of the desert, New Zealand monitors seismic activity and UK c…