Max Ceron, the director of the CWB Association, discusses his role in supporting the welding and fabricating industry in Canada. He emphasizes the importance of upskilling the current workforce and creating opportunities for the next generation of welders and fabricators.

Ceron also talks about the need for better communication between welders and engineers, as well as the growing trend of entrepreneurialism among young welders. He shares his own experiences as a welder and educator, and highlights the importance of community and networking in the industry. Ceron also mentions his side hustle as a podcaster and radio show host, and his plans for expanding the CWB Association's reach internationally.

This is the first of four episodes recorded at FABTECH Canada in Toronto. Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Desirée Guzmán, a welding instructor with Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), joins us to talk about her full-circle career as welder.

She talks about how she was inspired by a metal artist she met during a trip to Puerto Rico to start her own jewelry-making business. She also explains how that piqued her interest in learning how to weld.

Desirée discusses how after enrolling in CWIT's welding program, it led to her working at number of Chicago-area fab shops. The after a few years of working in industry, her career came full circle when she accepted an open welding instructor position at CWIT.

She also talks about the mission behind CWIT and its work to not only get more women to work in the trades, but empowering them with confidence and a community.

At the top, we call back to a conversation in an episode with Michael Bennett about a toy plastic welder. We compare and contrast Mattel's Spin Welder and Mindware's Spin-Gineer.

Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Matt Brunner, co-founder and co-owner of Manitowoc, Wis.-based Brunner Fabrication joins us to talk about how he transformed his family's autobody shop into a successful metal fab shop focused on high-volume production.

Brunner talks about launching his fabrication business in 2018, growing the shop footprint to 12,000 sq. ft., finding a niche in high-volume sheet metal part production, partnering with TRUMPF, working with snow equipment manufacturer Ariens Co., training a workforce without any fabrication experience, and developing an apprenticeship program.

At the top, we introduce the newest member to the podcast team, Griffin Hammond, and talk about the documentary "Sriracha" that he wrote and produced. We also feature Clayton Deputy, a fabricator out of Santa Barbra, Calif., who went designed and fabricated an octopus sculpture. Deputy owns and operates Gnarwhal Creations, which mostly focuses on off-road and aftermarket fabrication.

Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.