Episodes

  • Ep. 98: Oh Snap!

    Ep. 98: Oh Snap!
    Oct 23 2025
    Ryan Downs, president of Oh Snap! Pickling Company and formerly of the sauerkraut mega-maker GLK Foods, joins co-hosts Ann Franz and Kate Bruns on this week's episode to share his and his family's history in food manufacturing in the New North region.

    Downs created Oh Snap! in 2015 following a robust product development process and now sells through most major retailers all over North America, promising "portable pickle perfection" -- healthy, mess-free snacks that can be taken anywhere, including pickled cucumbers, green beans, carrots and infused cranberries.

    "There's kind of pickle madness in the country right now," he says, adding that Oh Snap! was built off nutrition trends around gut health and an exploration of packaging pickles' popularity in a new way. And he's proud to point out that Oh Snap! has actually lifted up the entire pickling industry as opposed to taking business away from other products in the sector.

    Learn more about Oh Snap! by listening to this week's episode, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service: www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/secure/ssl/savings/business/free-consultation

    Oh Snap! is online at www.ohsnappickles.com.
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    21 mins
  • Ep. 97: Apricity brings dignity of work to recovery community

    Ep. 97: Apricity brings dignity of work to recovery community
    Oct 16 2025
    Dan Haak, president, and Cheryl Fritz, business development manager, for Appleton-based Apricity join Kate and Ann on this week's episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service.

    Apricity was created in 2017 when STEP Industries merged with Mooring Programs -- making the company a comprehensive source for providing treatment, employment and support services to individuals impacted by substance abuse disorder.


    "It's a great combination of having a solid business with a great nonprofit mission," Fritz says.

    Learn more about Apricity, its mission and how it is working with our region's manufacturers by listening to this week's episode.
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    16 mins
  • Ep. 96: Meet Oshkosh Door's Chris Calawerts, Insight's October cover story

    Ep. 96: Meet Oshkosh Door's Chris Calawerts, Insight's October cover story
    Oct 9 2025
    Chris Calawerts, Insight on Business' October 2025 cover subject, is the president and COO of Oshkosh Door, Edgewater Door in Neenah and Oregon Door in Winston, Oregon. On this week's episode he shares his passion for manufacturing, his admiration for Garth Brooks and his best leadership insights as co-hosts Ann Franz and Kate Bruns, the author of the October cover story, dive a little deeper into this month's Insight cover feature.

    Read the cover story, "Open Hearted," online at insightonbusiness.com.

    Thank you to Wisconsin Public Service for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about how they're helping manufacturers at wisconsinpublicservice.com.
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    22 mins
  • Ep. 95 (10/2/25): LIVE at Schreiber Foods for our 2-year anniversary

    Ep. 95 (10/2/25): LIVE at Schreiber Foods for our 2-year anniversary
    Oct 2 2025
    NEW Manufacturing Insights celebrated its anniversary and the start of Manufacturing Month with a special recording in front of a live audience Oct. 2 at Schreiber Foods in Green Bay. The exclusive event was open to pre-registrants of Manufacturing First taking place Oct. 29 at Green Bay’s Resch Expo.

    On this week's episode, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service, Pat Koleske, senior vice president at Schreiber Horizon, shares this insights and talks about how the Schreiber brand is expanding and rebranding.

    Over its 80 years in business, Schreiber has developed multiple solutions to scale its business, from supply chain management to innovation processes. Recently Schreiber decided to bring together these solutions marketed to outside customers under one umbrella.

    Learn more at schreiberhorizon.com. Visit our sponsor, Wisconsin Public Service, at wisconsinpublicservice.com.
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    22 mins
  • Ep. 94 (9/25/25): Bridging the gaps between school and business

    Ep. 94 (9/25/25): Bridging the gaps between school and business
    Sep 25 2025
    Aimee Herrick, director of events and emerging talent for the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce,
    brought her past experience working as a teacher to the table when she established the Emerging
    Talent Alliance. “When we started, we really wanted to focus on how we can bridge gaps between
    schools and businesses,” Herrick says.

    In this week’s episode, Herrick talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about the importance of building those collaborations in educating the next generation of workers and how businesses can get involved in the alliance.

    Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in
    September. NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and
    Insight Publications.
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    15 mins
  • Ep. 93 (9/18/25): Manufacturing First Keynote Betsy Allen-Manning

    Ep. 93 (9/18/25): Manufacturing First Keynote Betsy Allen-Manning
    Sep 18 2025
    Betsy Allen-Manning, company culture expert and this year’s Manufacturing First keynote speaker, says transforming your company into a ‘destination workplace’ — one with a positive brand reputatio — gives you an advantage when there is high competition for talent.

    In this week’s episode, Allen-Manning talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz of NEW Manufacturing Insights about her journey to becoming an internationally recognized speaker, what she’ll be sharing at this year’s Manufacturing First Expo & Conference, and the five things companies need to do to become destination workplaces.

    Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in September. NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and Insight Publications, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

    Learn more about our sponsor at www.ricecompanies.com.
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    18 mins
  • Ep. 92 (9/11/25): Making waves in Northeast Wisconsin

    Ep. 92 (9/11/25): Making waves in Northeast Wisconsin
    Sep 11 2025
    Josh Delforge, vice president of engineering and operations at Cruisers Yachts in Oconto and a member of the leadership team for North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance (NCMMA), originally intended to be a part of the space program. “Unfortunately, my senior year was the Columbia shuttle disaster,” Delforge says. “So that really changed the plan.”

    In this week’s episode, Delforge talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz of NEW Manufacturing Insights about his journey to the marine industry, why the NCMMA is valuable to the next generation of STEM enthusiasts, and some of his favorite projects with Cruisers.

    Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in September. Learn more at www.ricecompanies.com.
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    26 mins
  • Ep. 91 (9/4/25): VPI CEO Tim Riebau

    Ep. 91 (9/4/25): VPI CEO Tim Riebau
    Sep 4 2025
    Tim Riebau, president and CEO of VPI (formerly known as Valley Packaging Industries), says one of the best parts about his organization is the impact it can have on people with disabilities — while at the same time filling a vital co-packing niche for large companies in the community.

    In this week’s episode, Riebau talks with co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz about VPI’s mission, the changes the organization has been through in recent years, and why large companies love working with the nonprofit.

    Learn more at https://vpiwi.org/

    Thank you to Rice Companies for sponsoring this and all episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights in September. Learn more about our sponsor at www.ricecompanies.com/
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    23 mins