Episodes

Sal is joined by Ellen Feldman Ornato and Jenny Drescher, founders of The Bolder Company and co-hosts of The Manufacturing Shake-Up, for an insightful conversation on leadership, emotional intelligence, and driving meaningful change in manufacturing. Filmed on location at Torrison Stone & Garden in Durham, CT, Ellen and Jenny share how their unlikely start in improv comedy helped shape their approach to workplace development and communication. They reflect on their experiences as women in tradit...

Sal is joined by Marietta Lee, President and CEO of The Lee Company, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, workforce strategy, and why putting people first is essential to the future of manufacturing. Marietta shares her unconventional path from investigative journalism into her family’s business and how starting at the ground level shaped her approach to earning trust and building credibility. She reflects on the company’s long-standing commitment to strong employee benefits and how that...

Sal is joined by Bill Hazard, President of Novo Partners, for a conversation about the power of steady, disciplined improvement and how it can transform a manufacturer into a true growth engine. Bill shares his path from engineer to business builder, and why operations—and the challenge of making things better week after week—became the through‑line of his career. He reflects on buying Novo in 2014 and seeing not just a stable shop but the potential for exponential growth, driven by small, relen...

Sal is joined by Michael Auletta, SVP of Sales, Marketing & Services at Bauer Inc., for a conversation about building relationships that go beyond borders. Michael shares his unconventional path from broadcast journalism at ESPN to joining his family’s exporting business, reflecting on the early challenges that tested his resolve and how his communication background became a powerful asset in global sales. He and Sal explore why relationships are the true currency of business—from leading teams ...

Sal sits down with Ron Angelo, President & CEO of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), for a thoughtful conversation about agility, relevance, and what it takes to thrive in an era of nonstop technological change. Ron shares what’s fueling CCAT’s rapid growth and why adaptability now matters more than rigid long-term planning as the U.S. industrial base evolves. Drawing on his own journey across four careers, he explains what staying relevant really looks like in real time—and ...

In this episode, Sal sits down with Ed Gilchrest, President and Owner of Gyre9 & President of G9EV, and Frank von Holzhausen, Chief Research and Design Officer of Gyre9 & Chairman of G9EV, for a deep dive into the delicate balance between courage and caution in business. From their distinct yet complementary paths, they explore the challenges of being “guns for hire” versus creating and selling their own products. Ed and Frank reflect on how luck and timing have shaped their journey, sharing key...

Sal is joined by Mario D’Aquila, Chief Operating Officer of Assisted Living Home Care Services, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, communication, and the evolution of a family business built on compassion and purpose. Mario shares his journey helping grow a small Meriden-based operation into one of Connecticut’s leading home care providers, now serving thousands across three major locations with more than 700 caregivers. He opens up about aligning employees with a company’s mission ...

Sal is joined by Drew DiSilvestro, President of AmeriTech Contracting, for a high-impact conversation on persistence, leadership, and scaling with intention. Drawing from his military background, Drew unpacks how trust, accountability, and a strong team dynamic are essential to execution. Sal and Drew explore the shift from being mentored to mentoring others, navigating the complexities of government contracts, and why patience and mindset matter as much as talent. For leaders building teams and...

Sal is joined by Cathy Awwad, President & CEO of the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB), to explore what it takes to build a future-ready workforce across 41 diverse communities. From addressing critical skills gaps in sectors like IT, manufacturing, and healthcare to partnering with local businesses to align training with real-world demands, Cathy shares how NRWIB goes beyond job placement to support long-term career growth. They dive into the importance of soft skills, leade...

Sal is joined by Brent Robertson, Founder of Be Generative, for a powerful conversation on reimagining leadership in today’s rapidly evolving workplace. They explore the hidden costs of traditional leadership narratives, the trap of indispensability, and how these mindsets can limit team potential. Brent introduces the concept of Generative Listening—an approach that moves beyond active listening to spark new conversations and breakthroughs—and shares how leaders can tap into community intellige...

In this episode, Foster is joined by Ramsey Goodrich, Managing Partner at Carter Morse & Goodrich, to explore a people-first approach to mergers and acquisitions. Ramsey shares his journey from Pace Bank’s management training program to leading a boutique investment bank focused on family and founder-led businesses. Drawing on three decades of experience—from navigating the tech bubble to advising hundreds of companies—he explains why prioritizing people over price creates more meaningful, lasti...

Sal is joined by Douglas Johnson, President at Marion Manufacturing Company, Inc., to unpack what it really takes to transition a company to a younger, energized workforce. From overcoming technology gaps and generational communication challenges to rethinking hiring around attitude and curiosity instead of just skills, our guest shares lessons learned through COVID and beyond. We dive into how coaching strengthened leadership and family dynamics, why letting younger employees make mistakes help...

Sal is joined by Chris DiPentima, President and CEO of CBIA, for a candid conversation about leadership, legacy, and the future of Connecticut business. Chris shares his winding journey from Boston College to manufacturing to heading one of the oldest business organizations in the country—older than even the U.S. Chamber. He opens up about his family’s roots in both manufacturing and law, and why he’s committed to staying in Connecticut to drive local solutions. Chris and Sal discuss how small b...