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NEW Manufacturing Insights

NEW Manufacturing Insights

By: Kate Bruns
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 NEW Manufacturing Insights is a collaboration between the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA) and Insight on Manufacturing (IOM) magazine, highlighting issues and opportunities for manufacturers in the 18-county New North region in Northeast Wisconsin. Hosted by NEWMA Executive Director Ann Franz and IOM Editor Kate Bruns featuring guests from across the region, new episodes will be released on Thursdays. Get a quick overview of the latest NEWMA and Insight programs and events, take a behind-the-scenes look at IOM cover stories and features, and enjoy leadership tips and fun facts you can use to strengthen your manufacturing business, grow your network and advance your career.2023, Insight Publications Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Ep. 109: DuxxBak President & NEWMA Chair Brandon Beard

    Ep. 109: DuxxBak President & NEWMA Chair Brandon Beard
    Feb 4 2026
    Brandon Beard, president of DuxxBak Composite Decking in Green Bay, says he never planned on working in manufacturing. His first dream was to be like Robin Williams' character in "Good Morning, Vietnam" -- focused on military service and broadcasting. Brandon finally gets his turn behind the microphone today, but we promise he doesn't yell into the microphone on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights.

    He joins this week's show to talk about his career in manufacturing in Northeast Wisconsin, his long history with the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, and why he was honored to serve as this year's chair of the NEWMA board.

    NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of Insight and NEWMA, produced by Woodward Community Media.

    Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode! stokerga.com

    Learn more about DuxxBak Composite Decking here: duxxbakdecking.com

    Learn more about the NEW Manufacturing Alliance here: newmfgalliance.org
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    22 mins
  • Ep. 108: The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin

    Ep. 108: The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin
    Jan 28 2026
    Ryan Rogers, director of operations for 1000 Island Airboats in Marion, Wisconsin, joins Kate and Ann on this week's show to talk about the 2025 "Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin," as determined by an online vote this past fall: the 1000 Island 24-Foot Search and Rescue Airboat.

    The lifesaving product is also the subject of this month's Insight on Business magazine "Home Made" feature, which you can read online here: www.insightonbusiness.com/features/homemade/cool-as-ice/article_e2f7ec0b-d6a1-48c1-a046-8106817d09c5.html

    Rogers tells the co-hosts about the company's history, why his family was moved to purchase the business and bring it to Wisconsin in 2017, and what it was like winning WMC's "Coolest Thing" competition, all on this week's episode sponsored by Stoke RGA (stokerga.com).

    Learn more about 1000 Island Airboats online here: 1000islandairboats.com
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    20 mins
  • Ep. 107: UWGB Chancellor Michael Alexander

    Ep. 107: UWGB Chancellor Michael Alexander
    Jan 22 2026
    The Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, led by podcast co-host Ann Franz, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and makes a big change by moving to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In that spirit, Dr. Michael Alexander, chancellor of UWGB since May 2020, joins Ann and special guest co-host Jen Fietz of Stoke RGA on this week's episode to talk about his five-plus years leading the institution, the challenges and revelations of COVID, how higher education is evolving, UWGB's exceptional enrolllment growth in the face of demographic challenges, and why UWGB is a good fit to the new host institution of NEWMA.

    Thank you to Stoke RGA for sponsoring this episode, and all of our 2026 episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights.
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    18 mins
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