Fully Open (by ValveMan) cover art

Fully Open (by ValveMan)

Fully Open (by ValveMan)

By: Gilbert Welsford Jr. • ValveMan
Listen for free

About this listen

Real conversations with the leaders who built this industry.
Hosted by Gilbert Welsford Jr., third-generation owner at ValveMan.


Fully Open shares stories, insights, and lessons from the people who’ve spent decades in industrial manufacturing, engineering, and plant operations — the ones who’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.


It’s not about specs. It’s about perspective.
You’ll hear how top performers make decisions, lead teams, earn trust, and navigate change in high-stakes environments.


What you’ll hear:


  • Wisdom earned through decades of frontline leadership
  • Stories from those who shaped the industrial world
  • Timeless lessons on people, pressure, and performance


Who it’s for:


Industrial leaders, engineers, operators, and anyone who wants to learn from those who’ve actually done the work.


Links.
Follow the show on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fully-open-podcast
Newsletter. The Line Doesn’t Lie: https://valveman.com/linkedin-newsletter

© 2025 Fully Open (by ValveMan) Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • He Bought His Grandfather’s Company — And Built It Into His Own Legacy

    He Bought His Grandfather’s Company — And Built It Into His Own Legacy
    Dec 9 2025

    He lost the family company.
    Then he bought it back.

    Bert Lowden didn’t inherit Aquatrol — he had to fight for it.
    This is the story of what happens when legacy slips through your fingers… and what it takes to rebuild it from the ground up.

    🔊 In this episode of the Fully Open Podcast:
    • The pain of losing a family business
    • What it takes to buy back a legacy — with no safety net
    • The real cost of ownership (when you're the one on the hook)
    • Why fixing a reputation takes more than capital

    🎙 Hosted by Gil Welsford Jr., third-generation industrial entrepreneur and founder of ValveMan.com.

    —

    📌 Subscribe for new episodes every month.
    We go beyond the brochure — real stories from the shop floor, the boardroom, and the legacy left in between.

    #FullyOpenPodcast #FamilyBusiness #Ownership #ValveIndustry #LegacyBusiness

    —

    ▶ Watch all episodes of the Fully Open Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLExeHmRbu0ZY0aYxeR1-qYJxm9zB1-ZN_
    🔗 Learn more about Bert’s company: https://aquatrol.com
    🔗 Learn more about Gil & ValveMan: https://valveman.com
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • The Brutal Reality of Running a Family Business | Brian O’Leary (REOTEMP)

    The Brutal Reality of Running a Family Business | Brian O’Leary (REOTEMP)
    Nov 4 2025
    Brian OLeary doesn’t just run a family business — he stewards a legacy.
    And that mindset has guided him through decades of growth, succession, and strategic ownership at REOTEMP Instruments.

    In this fourth episode of the Fully Open Podcast, host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Brian to explore the generational reality of industrial leadership — and why equity, stewardship, and long-term trust are still the foundation of resilient companies.

    💡 What you’ll hear:
    • What “ownership mindset” means inside a family-run manufacturing company
    • How REOTEMP scaled while staying grounded in values
    • Why second-generation leaders face a different kind of pressure
    • How trust and training can build long-term wealth across teams
    • What it means to build things that actually last — not just for sale
    🧭 This isn’t just a business story — it’s about legacy, decisions, and what we owe the next generation.

    🔗 Learn more about REOTEMP Instruments: https://www.reotemp.com

    🔧 Explore Valve & Instrumentation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com


    📩 Contact: info@valveman.com

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Sales Isn’t Dead. But the Old Way Is — with Scott Grimes

    Sales Isn’t Dead. But the Old Way Is — with Scott Grimes
    Oct 14 2025

    Scott Grimes doesn’t sell — he solves.
    And that mindset has carried him through decades in industrial filtration and process sales at Donaldson Company.

    In this third episode of Fully Open (by ValveMan), host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Scott to explore how sales has evolved — and why curiosity, empathy, and technical understanding are still the real differentiators in industrial markets.

    💡 What you’ll hear:

    • Why “listening” is the most underrated skill in modern sales
    • How to sell by understanding your customer’s process — not pushing product
    • Lessons from decades in filtration, reliability, and process industries
    • The changing mindset of mentorship in technical sales
    • Why authenticity still closes more deals than strategy decks ever could

    🎙️ This isn’t just a talk about sales — it’s about what real connection looks like.

    🔗 Learn more about Donaldson Company: https://www.donaldson.com

    🔧 Explore Valve & Instrumentation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com

    📩 Contact: info@valveman.com
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.