Kelli-Marie Vallieres, PhD learned first-hand – at her family’s manufacturing business – that leading well means learning first and then supporting her team from a place of understanding. That approach, rooted in humility and curiosity, became the foundation for a remarkable career journey.

In this episode, Kelli-Marie shares how the power of applied learning, genuine collaboration, and relationship-building led to national best practices like the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative. And how that initiative led to her role at Chief Workforce Officer with Connecticut’s Office of Workforce Strategy.

Kelli-Marie talks about:

• Asking questions before trying to lead
• Collaboration across industry and education.
• Building relationships to transform Connecticut’s workforce development model.
• Being “comfortable with being uncomfortable” and how it impacts change.

Her story is a powerful reminder that real leadership starts with learning, and that shaking up traditional systems requires courage, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous growth.

Where you can find Kelli-Marie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-marie-vallieres-phd-9959a96/ Office of Workforce Strategy: https://portal.ct.gov/gwc/ows-initiatives ------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Jacqueline Gallo’s career path in manufacturing is nothing short of inspiring. From a small town in Rhode Island to EVP at Pursuit Aerospace, she climbed the ranks by saying “yes” to the toughest challenges. Then she built a leadership style grounded in compassion and continuous improvement.

In this episode, Jacquie shares how her team pioneered second chance employment programs that provide training and jobs to formerly incarcerated individuals, which cuts recidivism rates dramatically. Her work is a bold example of what’s possible when manufacturing leaders look beyond traditional pipelines.

Jacquie also explains how Kaizen and people-first process improvements are making Pursuit’s shops cleaner, safer, and more welcoming places to work.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about building inclusive teams, rethinking workforce development, and leading with purpose.

Where you can find Jacqueline: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-gallo-25220912/ Company: https://pursuitaero.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Jennifer Anderson, Vice President of Human Resources at Whelen Engineering, is proof that HR can be as innovative and essential as any technology. With Whelen boasting a workforce that’s 39% women - well above the national average - Jen joins Ellen and Jenny to share the human-centered strategies that are reshaping the workplace.

This episode dives into Jen’s journey as an HR innovator, and how Whelen’s deep culture of inclusion, connection, and long-term employee investment has built more than just a loyal workforce, a thriving one.

You’ll hear how Jen reintroduced engagement surveys that have worked…leading to meaningful changes that are simple yet effective at boosting morale. She also shares her commitment to psychological safety, leadership support, and making changes with a crawl-walk-run mentality built on trust.

Where you can find Jennifer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-anderson-2371603b/ Company: https://www.whelen.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Marietta Lee never imagined she’d one day run the family business. With a law degree and a thriving career in legal journalism, manufacturing was nowhere on her radar. But when she moved back to Connecticut to be closer to family, the opportunity to join the Lee team changed her path.

In this episode, Marietta shares how The Lee Company has remained innovative by being intentional about its future. She details their unique family employment policy, which sets rules for family members coming into the business. It’s about protecting and respecting the business, its employees, and its culture.

Marietta dives into how Lee is developing talent from within. They have a generous tuition reimbursement program and an in-house, paid training program for employees at all levels, Lee University. They are well-situated to build a workforce that’s skilled, loyal, and ready to grow.

Finally, Marietta talks about the Innovation Center currently under construction and why it was important to their company.

The Lee Company is proof that thoughtful planning and people-first development can keep a legacy business alive and thriving.

Where you can find Marietta: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marietta-lee-17729410a/ Company: https://www.theleeco.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

When Lara Mouakar moved from Lebanon back to the U.S., she never imagined she’d land in high-tech manufacturing. With a background in adult education, Lara could have settled into a new role in education. Instead, she took a huge risk on a third-shift group lead role at ASML and found a whole new career path!

In this episode, Lara shares how she overcame the challenge of leading in an unfamiliar industry. She talks about building trust, fostering growth, and using her educator’s mindset to develop strong, skilled teams. Now, as a Senior Learning Specialist, Lara’s passion for continuous improvement is helping ASML, and its people, prepare for the future.

Whether you're switching industries or leveling up your leadership, Lara’s story is a masterclass in learning and adaptability.

Where you can find Lara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-mouakar-131206a4/ Company: https://www.asml.com/en

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

How do you build strong culture in a global company—and make it feel local?

In this episode, Ellen and Jenny sit down with Lee Ulinskas, Employee Engagement & Development Manager at ebm-papst, to explore what it really means to create meaningful workplace culture across locations, languages, and time zones.

Lee shares how her role is to nurture culture, collaboration, and continuous learning—while also navigating regional differences between locations in Connecticut, Tennessee, and Germany. Her career path has given her a unique perspective and now she's now a driving force behind culture-building initiatives that make a real difference.

This episode is packed with powerful takeaways:

• How to adapt global values to local teams
• Ways to foster trust and feedback across cultures
• The importance of perspective-taking in collaboration
• A simple but powerful mindset: treat coworkers like customers

Lee’s intentional, thoughtful approach to culture shows that it’s not just about posters on the wall—it’s about behaviors, values, and systems that reflect who you are as a company, every single day.

Where you can find Lee: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-ulinskas/ Company: https://www.ebmpapst.com/us/en/home.html

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Are you drowning in “urgent” tasks and feeling like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Manufacturing Shake-Up, hosts Jenny and Ellen tackle the all-too-common struggle of overwhelm.

They break down the hidden traps that lead to burnout, including the myth that everything is urgent, the pressure to do it all yourself, and the curse of competence—where being good at something can sometimes hold you back from achieving more.

Jenny and Ellen share their own experiences as recovering workaholics and explore practical strategies to break free from the cycle of exhaustion. They discuss: ✔️ The difference between important vs. urgent work ✔️ How burnout impacts safety and productivity in manufacturing ✔️ Why delegating and cross-training are critical for success ✔️ How leaders can create a culture that values balance over burnout

If you’re ready to shift from survival to thrive, this episode is for you. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation filled with humor, hard-won wisdom, and actionable tips to take control of your time and energy.

🎧 Listen now and take your first step toward working smarter—not harder!

What makes a great place to work for the new generation of manufacturers? Just listen to Gina Greco!

Gina, an Automation Engineer at PTA Plastics, was bribed by her professor (for extra credit) to attend her university's STEM career fair. That small push led her to a booth that stood out: a company with a robot on display and, more importantly, a team of women excited to welcome her. That conversation landed her a job where she thrives today, building cutting-edge automation solutions in injection molding.

In this episode, Gina shares her journey into manufacturing, how company culture played a huge role in her job acceptance, and why she can see a great future at PTA Plastics. She dives into key lessons for companies hoping to attract top young talent: the importance of an inviting career fair booth, an engaging interview process, and a modern, growth-focused work environment.

Join hosts Jenny and Ellen as they uncover the career-building factors that matter most to young engineers like Gina, from hands-on learning opportunities to women-focused workplace communities. If you're looking to attract the next generation of manufacturing talent, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Where you can find Gina: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina24670/ Company: https://www.ptaplastics.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/