Manufacturing Episodes

June 6, 2024

#169: Aaron Slodov (Atomic Industries) — Techno-Industrial Optimism a…

Aaron Slodov — CEO of Atomic Industries, a company he co-founded back in 2019 and has raised over $20 million from leading investors like Toyota Ventures, Impatient Ventures, Narya Capital, 8090 Industries, and others! Atomic...

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May 2, 2024

#164: Dr. James Kenyon (NASA Glenn) — To the Moon, Mars and Beyond, F…

Dr. James Kenyon , Director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio The road to the Moon goes through Cleveland. With a budget of approximately $900 million, a staff of more than 3,200 civil servants, over 725 pate...

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April 4, 2024

#161: Rick Stockburger (BRITE) — Unleashing the Energy Revolution

Rick Stockburger , CEO of BRITE Energy Innovators. Located in the City of Warren, just outside Youngstown in the Mahoning Valley, BRITE was founded in 2010 as a non-profit focused on the acceleration of energy technology in N...

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March 14, 2024

#158: Nick Dadas (University Tees, SISU Lifestyle, Acton Academy Lake…

Nick Dadas — Co-Founder of University Tees, SISU Lifestyle, Acton Academy Lakeside, ISI, and MasterPlan Coach. In 2003, still a sophomore at Miami University, Nick co-founded University Tees after trying to organize a t-shirt...

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Nov. 23, 2023

[REWIND] #21: Tom Lix (Cleveland Whiskey)

Our conversation this week is with Tom Lix — founder & CEO of Cleveland Whiskey — on pushing the boundaries of convention while building on tradition to artfully blend science with craft to create unique award-winning Whiskey...

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Nov. 9, 2023

#142: Gerald Hetrick Part II (Docket (formerly Bezlio) & EOS)

Gerald Hetrick (CEO of Docket (formerly Bezlio) & Professional EOS Implementer) Gerald has been on the show once before; those of you who’ve been with Lay of The Land from the beginning may recall Gerald as one of the first …

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Oct. 19, 2023

#139: Ethan Karp (MAGNET)

Ethan Karp — President and CEO of MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network which, founded in 1984, has been dedicated to fostering local manufacturing and supporting local manufacturing businesses across technolo...

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Oct. 12, 2023

#138: Mike Maczuzak (SmartShape Design + Walking Across the U.S. & Wo…

Mike Maczuzak — a product designer, early-stage investor, and founder of SmartShape Design — an innovative product development and industrial design firm he started here in Cleveland back in 1989. SmartShape's beginnings were...

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Aug. 31, 2023

#132: David Levine (Wireless Environment & My Home Park)

David Levine — Co-Founder/CEO @ Wireless Environment (Acquired by Ring, Acquired by Amazon) & Co-Founder/CEO @ My Home Park Having made a career of invention and serial entrepreneurship, in 2005 David Co-Founded Wireless Envi...

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May 11, 2023

#118: Dr. Onas Bolton (Octet Scientific)

Dr. Onas Bolton — Founder and CEO of Octet Scientific, a specialty Cleveland-based chemical manufacturer unlocking the full power of safe, economical, and sustainable energy storage by providing better electrolyte chemistry f...

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Feb. 2, 2023

#104: Chuck, Jeff, and Jamey Snider (Snider Recreation)

Chuck Snider, Jamey Snider, and Jeff Snider — the family behind Snider Recreation — on building & growing a recreational and commercial playground company, tying success to providing a fun safe environment for children to play, innovation in recreatio

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Dec. 22, 2022

#99: Steve Santamaria (Folio Photonics)

Steve Santamaria — CEO of Folio Photonics — on innovating storage media and the future of storage technology, the opportunity ahead for Folio Photonics, Cleveland's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and reflections on leadership!

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Nov. 17, 2022

#95: Ed Weinfurtner (Great Day Improvements & Blue Olive Partners)

Ed Weinfurtner — Executive Chairman of Great Day Improvements (one of NEO's largest companies employing over 2,000 people) & Co-Founder at Blue Olive Partners — on growing Great Day Improvements from $44M to $922M in sales in just 7 years …

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Sept. 29, 2022

#88: Anne Skoch (Anne Cate)

Anne Skoch — Founder and CEO of Anne Cate — on how to marry art and business, pursue your passion as a profession, and building her made‐in‐Cleveland accessories brand and manufacturing firm!

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Sept. 15, 2022

#86: Dallas Hogensen (Felux)

Dallas Hogensen — CEO of Felux ($24mm raised) — on marketplaces, importance of culture, and creating the world’s largest operating platform and marketplace to help solve commerce for the steel industry.

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