Automation media, trade shows, and digital content are reshaping how the industrial automation industry connects. In this episode, Sarah shares insights from covering manufacturing and packaging events, building relationships across OEMs and integrators, and how social media and content creation are influencing the future of automation, engineering, and industrial technology.

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🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

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🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

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👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales: https://linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales

Courtney Fernandez: https://linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez

Ali G: https://linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering

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🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with a 5-star podcast review if you love us!

Season seven opens with a burst of grit and ingenuity as we sit down with Cathy “Conveyor Cougar” Rinne, president of FlexLine Automation. She’s built a 15-person, woman-owned integrator that moves fast, ships parts when it counts, and isn’t afraid to retool the playbook—from conveyors to robotics, from taping to a gluing-capable box erector, and from cold calls to a TikTok presence that actually drives qualified attention.

We dig into what a president really does in a family business: setting direction, teaching the team to own outcomes, and letting go of “my way” so the next generation can lead. Kathy walks us through deploying AI where it matters—automating drawings, quoting, and repetitive engineering tasks—while managing ERP fatigue and bridging generational skepticism. Her take is grounded and sharp: if an automation company won’t automate itself, the market will notice.

The conversation detours through farm country for a reason. Kathy’s lifelong ties to agriculture inform how she solves factory problems: use what you have, fix what breaks, and design for reality, not a brochure. We talk autosteer tractors, robotic milking, and why rural manufacturers are often overlooked despite carrying so much of our GDP. That’s why Kathy and her daughter host a free automation fair in southern Illinois, because you can’t Google what you don’t know, and engineers deserve to touch the tech before they buy.

We also tackle a myth that won’t die: “go direct” is not always cheaper or faster. Custom reach studies, multi-size changeovers, and hybrid conveyor builds demand an integrator’s judgment, inventory, and speed. FlexLine keeps enough parts to turn around a hundred feet of conveyor in 24 hours, answers with a human, and has literally flown urgent orders. Pair that with smart, authentic social content that meets engineers on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, and you get a modern path to trust. Person by person, plant by plant.

If you care about real-world automation (AI that saves hours, robots that fit the job, and service that shows up) this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a teammate who needs a spark, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway so we can reach more builders like you.

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Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, Nikki Gonzales Director of Business Development at Weintek USA, and Courtney Fernandez Robot Master at FAST One Solutions.

Follow us on Linkedin and YouTube for live videos, demos, and other content!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for episode updates, job announcements, and more!

Get in touch with us at automationladies.io!

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with a 5-star podcast review if you love us!

When a chance conversation at a beer bar introduced her to the word “SCADA,” Margarita Rosenkrans had no idea it would spark a career in industrial automation. In this episode, Courtney and Alicia chat with Margarita—Sales Engineer at Inductive Automation—about her path from graduating in the middle of a hiring freeze to thriving in both support and sales engineering roles. We cover her behind-the-scenes insights from OT SCADA CON, the culture and community at Inductive, favorite Ignition features, troubleshooting war stories, and even how she used Ignition’s Maker Edition to build her wedding website. Whether you’re an Ignition pro or just automation-curious, you’ll enjoy this mix of career lessons, tech talk, and personal stories.

Thank you to Inductive Automation for sponsoring this Episode and the recent support of OT SCADA CON - where we were lucky enough to meet Maggie in person!

Find out more about the Ignition Community Conference happening Sept 16 - 18 in Sacramento CA and get your tickets to Level Up! your SCADA game.

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________

Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, Nikki Gonzales Director of Business Development at Weintek USA, and Courtney Fernandez Robot Master at FAST One Solutions.

Follow us on Linkedin and YouTube for live videos, demos, and other content!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for episode updates, job announcements, and more!

Get in touch with us at automationladies.io!

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with a 5-star podcast review if you love us!