In this episode of The Manufacturers Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan talks with Sameer Narkar, Founder and CEO of Konnect Insights, a bootstrapped SaaS company that’s redefining how enterprises manage customer experience.

What started as a small team of engineers in India has grown into a platform used by 400+ global brands in 35+ countries, managing over a billion customer interactions every year. Konnect Insights helps businesses unify social listening, omni-channel ticketing, analytics, and publishing all in one place.

Sameer shares what it takes to grow a tech company without external funding, how AI can actually simplify work instead of overcomplicating it, and why passion and trust, not just technology, win customers and retain top talent.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What “omni-channel” really means for customer experience (and why most companies get it wrong)
• The difference between plug-and-play AI and purpose-built, “home-cooked” AI
• How to scale globally using partnerships instead of massive ad budgets
• Why emotional connection often lands your first five clients before product maturity does
• How to navigate language, culture, and local regulations when expanding internationally
• The three factors that keep core employees loyal for the long haul

About Sameer Narkar: Sameer Narkar is the Founder and CEO of Konnect Insights, a unified customer experience management platform combining social listening, omni-channel ticketing, analytics, and publishing. Under his leadership, Konnect Insights has grown organically into a trusted enterprise solution for global brands across 20+ industries.

Connect with Sameer: LinkedIn: Sameer Narkar

Website: Konnect Insights

Connect with Lisa: Website: LisaRyanSpeaks.com

LinkedIn: Lisa Ryan, CSP

Listen now to learn how Sameer turned curiosity, persistence, and partnerships into a global success story and why staying human is still the smartest growth strategy of all.

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan sits down with Brent Hagan, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lob, to explore what it really means to lead with impact: in business, in culture, and in community.

With experience at Amazon, Deliver, Eaton, and Lob, Brent brings a rare perspective on how to scale operations without losing the human connection. He shares stories from massive fulfillment centers to small-town manufacturing plants, where leadership goes far beyond efficiency metrics. From creating bus routes for workers to strengthening local schools, Brent’s approach shows that true supply chain success isn’t just operational, it’s personal.

What You’ll Learn:

• How leaders can leave the communities they enter better than they found them
• The balance between autonomy, accountability, and culture on the shop floor
• Why technology should simplify, not replace, human problem-solving
• The biggest mistakes companies make during mergers and acquisitions—and how to avoid them
• How small and mid-sized manufacturers can use digital tools without losing their people-first approach
• Why something as simple as a whiteboard can outperform high-tech dashboards

About Brent Hagan: Brent Hagan is the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lob, where he leads logistics, supply chain, and operations strategy for a platform powering billions of personalized mail pieces. With leadership experience at Amazon, Deliver, and Eaton, Brent specializes in bridging traditional operations with technology-driven innovation—while keeping people and community at the heart of every strategy.

Connect with Brent:

LinkedIn: Brent Hagan

Connect with Lisa:

Website: LisaRyanSpeaks.com

LinkedIn: Lisa Ryan, CSP

Listen now to learn how to build a culture that scales and a company that leaves every place it touches better than before.

In this episode, host Lisa Ryan sits down with Eric Wick, founder of Safety Team Technologies. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in insurance and hands-on safety consulting, Eric shares his journey from the financial sector to creating innovative solutions for blue-collar safety and OSHA compliance.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• From Finance to the Shop Floor:
• Eric recounts his early career pivot from finance to industrial sales and, eventually, risk management for blue-collar businesses. Learn how his dedication to supporting small business owners shaped his approach to safety and compliance.
• The Pain Points of OSHA Compliance:
• Discover the two sides of OSHA compliance—the written Injury Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), which is easier to create than ever before, and the real challenge: implementation and documentation of ongoing safety meetings and hazard assessments.
• Insurance Premiums & Experience Mods Demystified:
• Eric explains why manufacturers face higher workers compensation premiums and illustrates, with real-world examples, just how costly workplace injuries can be. He offers practical steps to reduce claims and improve your insurance rates.
• The Power of Recurring Safety Training:
• Consistency is key! Eric shares why regular, relevant safety trainings (especially with quizzes and gamification) not only reduce accidents but can translate into significant cost savings for businesses.
• Leveraging Technology & Automation:
• Eric provides actionable tips on using automated software for tracking safety meetings, hazard assessments, and employee attendance, making compliance less of a headache and more of a business asset.
• Building a Safety-First Culture:
• Eric and Lisa discuss the importance of showing employees that safety initiatives are about caring for their well-being—not just checking the OSHA compliance box.
• Practical Tools & Resources:
• Eric highlights a free OSHA compliance checklist available on the Safety Team Technologies website and explains how their automated platform can fit any manufacturer’s workflow and budget.

Who Should Listen:

Manufacturing leaders, HR professionals, safety managers, insurance brokers serving blue-collar industries, and anyone interested in practical strategies for safer, more compliant workplaces.

Resources Mentioned:

• Download a Free OSHA Compliance Checklist: oursafetyteam.com
• Schedule a no-pressure demo or enroll in automated safety training starting at just $5/employee/month

Connect with Eric Wick:

Discover how to simplify OSHA compliance and enhance your safety culture at oursafetyteam.com.

Don’t miss this episode if you want to streamline compliance, lower insurance premiums, and send your people home safer every day!

Are you accidentally sabotaging your best people? Even the most skilled, motivated employees can only perform as well as the tools, information, and support they’re given. When access is blocked—whether it’s equipment, training, or their leader, frustration rises, productivity drops, and great talent walks out the door.

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network, Lisa Ryan, CSP, breaks down how to remove everyday barriers and create Access That Empowers—so your team can do its best work and choose to stay.

You’ll learn:

• Why the old “stay in your lane” hierarchy doesn’t work anymore
• What today’s employees expect from leaders (approachability, trust, and real connection)
• The hidden costs of limited access: bottlenecks, mistakes, and missed ideas

Four practical strategies to create access:

1. Ask before it’s a problem
2. Be human and approachable
3. Eliminate friction in tools, processes, and training
4. Open doors to growth (cross-training, shadowing, clear paths)

Key idea: When you make success easier for your people, they make success inevitable for you.

Brought to you by Grategy — helping manufacturing leaders create cultures people want to work in and nobody wants to leave. Learn more at LisaRyanSpeaks.com.

In this episode of the Manufacturer’s Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan welcomes Reeves Smith, Director of Sales at Leapfrog, to share his decades of IT experience helping manufacturers tackle cybersecurity, digital transformation, and the complexities of modernization. Reeves breaks down real-world challenges and actionable steps for manufacturing leaders ready to secure and streamline their operations.

Key Topics Covered:

• Common Technology Struggles for Manufacturers
• Reeves shares why so many small and midsize companies hit technology roadblocks as they try to scale up and modernize, and how the pace of tech change often outstrips internal IT skills and resources.
• The Truth About Cyber Threats
• Why being a smaller manufacturer doesn’t mean hackers will overlook you—attackers are often targeting your organization’s connections and customer networks. Hear a real story of a multi-million-dollar impersonation attack that almost put a business under.
• The Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape
• Threats are growing more sophisticated, and so are the entry points—from IoT devices to remote laptops. Reeves explains why old strategies won’t cut it for today’s manufacturing environments.
• People: The Essential Security Layer
• Most cybersecurity breaches start with people, not just failed technology. Reeves emphasizes the importance of workforce training, proactive testing, and building a culture of security awareness at every level.
• How AI Is Changing the Game
• From AI-powered phishing to deepfake scams that trick even top executives, manufacturers need to be vigilant. Plus, practical advice for manufacturers just starting to explore AI and automation—like making use of AI tools already embedded in their current platforms.
• Laying the Foundation for Innovation
• Before investing heavily in AI, Reeves explains why upgrading infrastructure, managing and integrating data, and moving applications to the cloud are critical first steps to success.
• Smart Steps for Digital Transformation
• Find out how to prioritize the right projects, avoid costly missteps with public AI tools, and get buy-in from the team, especially when introducing changes to legacy systems.
• Navigating Change and Job Security Fears
• Reeves addresses worries about AI taking jobs and offers a constructive way for employees to use technology as a tool for growth, not just efficiency.
• Why Partnering with Experts Matters
• With security and technology demands growing, Reeves highlights the benefits of working with an experienced IT partner for strategic advice and reliable protection.

Top Takeaways:

• Don’t assume you’re too small to be a target—cybercrime affects manufacturers of all sizes.
• Invest in workforce education; people are your first (and often weakest) cybersecurity layer.
• Start with the infrastructure and data management before chasing advanced AI.
• Use trusted IT partners to assess your situation and guide tailored solutions.
• Consider security and productivity side by side—good cybersecurity shouldn’t slow down production.

Connect with Reeves Smith and Leapfrog:

• Email: reeves.smith@leapfrogservices.com
• Website: leapfrogservices.com

Ready to modernize your manufacturing security? Listen to this episode for an expert’s roadmap to resilient, future-ready operations!

In this episode of the Manufacturers Network Podcast, Lisa Ryan welcomes Grace Bilbrough, Director of Marketing for ProWood, a leading brand under UFP Industries. Grace shares her journey from event planning to becoming a key marketing strategist, and reflects on the pivotal role company culture played in ProWood’s successful rebrand and business transformation.

Grace and Lisa dive deeply into the importance of transparency, open communication, and recognizing employee contributions as cornerstones of Pro@ood’s culture. Grace reveals practical ways her team bridges cross-department silos, fosters entrepreneurial thinking, and keeps employees motivated, even throughout periods of change and growth. She offers insights into how initiatives like leaderboards, town halls, and regular updates keep competitive spirits high and teams aligned with company goals.

Learn how new ideas—like the launch of ProWood’s upcoming True Frame Joists—are sourced directly from employee feedback on the front lines, and how their culture of care extends from manufacturing lines to customer partnerships. Whether you’re navigating change in your own organization or looking for fresh ways to spark employee engagement, Grace shares actionable takeaways you can implement today.

Key Topics:

• The value of transparency and honest communication through change
• Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship across a large organization
• Practical strategies for employee recognition and alignment
• Collaborating across marketing, sales, operations, and product teams
• Translating internal culture into long-lasting customer relationships

Connect with Grace Bilbrough on LinkedIn or via email at GBilbrough@prowood.com to continue the conversation.

Tune in for actionable advice and inspiring stories about building a people-first culture in manufacturing!

Welcome to the Manufacturer’s Network Podcast! In this episode, host Lisa Ryan sits down with Ben Hansen, a 5-time Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, founder of an 8-figure staffing firm, and expert in maximizing profitability for $2M–$50M companies. Ben is the "Profit Doctor," helping businesses identify and eliminate “profit leaks” to significantly boost bottom-line results.

Key Topics Covered:

- Ben’s Journey: From his early days at Dell and Microsoft to launching his own fast-growth company and eventually becoming the go-to expert for curing "profit-itis."

- Understanding Profit-itis: Why having strong revenue doesn’t always mean healthy profits, and what profit-itis looks like in manufacturing companies.

- Biggest Profit Myths Debunked: The dangers of focusing solely on revenue growth and why the popular “hockey playbook” doesn’t work for most businesses.

- The 80/20 Rule & The 50/20 Formula: Ben explains how identifying and cutting the least profitable products, clients, and employees can fast-track margin improvement.

- Profit Killers: How profit psychology, unprofitable products, toxic employees, and the myth that “more is always better” can undermine your success.

- Simplifying Financials: Transforming complex P&Ls into actionable reports that help non-accountants make better decisions.

- Accounting Blind Spots: Common mistakes in financial analysis, including underestimating the cost of difficult clients and the impact of soft costs.

- Growing Without Growing: How many firms can substantially improve profits without adding a single dollar to revenue—sometimes by getting smaller and more focused.

- Actionable Steps: Ben shares his Profit Accelerator and Profit CFO programs, designed to simplify your numbers and create massive gains.

Resources & Links:

- Connect with Ben Hansen at https://www.profitdoctor.com

- Find Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhansenprofitdoctor

- For CEOs looking to break the cycle of low profits, schedule a check-in with Ben

If you’re a business leader tired of working harder for less, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world strategies you can put to work right away!

Too often in the workplace, recognition is either generic, forced, or inconsistent, and when that happens, it loses its power. But when done well, recognition is one of the most powerful tools you have to inspire loyalty, engagement, and long-term retention.

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network, Lisa Ryan, CSP, shares how to make recognition meaningful, personal, and consistent, without breaking the budget or making it awkward.

You’ll discover:

• Why recognition is one of the most underutilized retention strategies
• The biggest myths about recognition — and how to overcome them
• How to make recognition specific, timely, and tied to your mission
• Simple tools like peer-to-peer recognition and “All About Me” sheets
• Four practical strategies you can implement right away to make recognition stick

When employees feel seen and valued for their everyday contributions, they don’t just stay, they thrive.

Brought to you by Grategy, helping manufacturing leaders create cultures people want to work in and nobody wants to leave. Learn more at LisaRyanSpeaks.com.