Live from Chicago with Acme Finishing and IMEC

Curt Anderson  00:00

Hey, good morning. Happy Tuesday. How, man How is everybody out there today? We haven’t Damon’s not with us. So it’s just us. So man, I am just honored. I am thrilled. What a privilege introduce my two dear friends today I’m gonna go ladies versus cold. Melissa Basa from IMEC. Good morning. How are you?

Melissa Basa  00:18

I’m great. Thanks. How are you?

Curt Anderson  00:19

Hi, my goodness gracious. If I was doing better, we’d have to call 911 going that great. Got my dear buddy got Brandon Stern in the house. Brandon, how are you? I’m

Brandon Stern  00:29

doing well. How are you?

Curt Anderson  00:30

I’m doing fantastic. Let’s you know what so you guys are so you’re new to the show. So I have a regular question that I do on the show. So you guys ready? Here? You sit down? Are you are you ready? Are you ready? Okay, you know, I’m gonna start with Brandon. So I’m gonna come at Brandon first. So Brandon, how we kick off the every single show is with this question here. When you were little guy growing up. You grew up here in Chicago, right? And so we’re in Chicago. We’re at Acme Finishing this wonderful, incredible powerhouse manufacturer right here in Chicago. So when you were little guy growing up in Chicago, who was your hero? Who did you look up to? Who was your heroes? Low guy growing up? Here’s the mic. That’s great.

Brandon Stern  01:08

Well, I guess I had to one of them. I wanted to be a professional baseball player. So it was Bryce Harper. Nice. And then of course, my father as well. Oh,

Curt Anderson  01:17

well. Alright, two great answers, Bryce Harper. So by the way, if you’re not a baseball fan in Philadelphia Phillies, I have a conscious score this morning. He had two doubles and a homerun last night. So that’s a great hero, Bryce Harper. So second, what is your dad? What’s dad’s name? And let’s tell and why was Dad Your hero growing up? His name

Brandon Stern  01:36

is Mitch Sterm. And he’s definitely my hero. He’s just an amazing guy. And, you know, he taught me how to be a great man and, and you know, I took in everything that that he taught me and hope to be as good as anyone that

Curt Anderson  01:53

that that just Alright, so I Mitch, if you’re out there, my friend so rumor on the street as Mitch just retired. Do I have that you just man. So my wife’s a school teacher? I understand dad was a school teacher for two or three years is that how many? Third, I think it was 3232 years, Mitch. So hey, God bless you, brother. So congratulations. And what a great job raising such a wonderful young man. I’ve had the honor privilege of getting to know this this this this wonderful dude, what you do to your risk by the way, you know, make up something good. Come on. Give us a good story.

Brandon Stern  02:24

20 Ninjas No, I was working out and and maybe maybe had too much weight on the bar and tore a tendon. All right. Well, hey, you know, fun. Well, that’s, you know, nothing cool.

Curt Anderson  02:38

We talked a lot about business, but this is great. You know, talking about dad being your hero, Bryce Harper, being your hero. And you know, this is awesome. Are you going to join us? Oh, goodness gracious. I thought we had somebody else. And I was going to try twist his arm. So I like different lists of bosses with iMac we’re going to dive in deeper on Acme finishing here in Chicago and IMEC. Melissa, same question. Little girl growing up here in Chicago, who was your hero?

Melissa Basa  03:05

So I’ve got a lot of strong women in my family, many of whom are my heroes. But my hero growing up was my great grandma Frieda lived in the Bronx. And she was about four foot 10, maybe with heels. She worked as a librarian in the hospital till just before her 100 and first birthday. And my favorite story is I can’t remember she might have been late 80s in her 90s I don’t know. And she chased down a purse robber who stole her purse on the street in the Bronx. Instead of giving up and letting the preschool she chased him down. She hollered for help. And she got her purse back. And so Wow, just a strong woman who I always look up to who never quit, who kept working and giving back and fighting for what was right.

Curt Anderson  03:48

Well, how about a Hi Fi for grandma? Great Grandma Freda. So that is what an inspiration that is. All right. So shout out to Mitch, great grandma of Frieda. And what a wonderful story just put your grandma just written down on the streets of the Bronx, and it’s great getting her first back. And that’s what you know, you can win a great job you’ve done and I’m gonna embarrass you for a second. So you’re a Dartmouth grad? What’s your claim to fame and news. Can you share a little bit about I

Melissa Basa  04:12

am I so I got my master’s in engineering management from from Dartmouth after my undergrad from the University of Illinois. And yeah, my my claim to fame is I gave a commencement speech at Dartmouth. 10 years after my graduation with my masters, they asked me to come back and speak at the graduation of the mem program, the mem class in 2012. So I did that it was quite an honor a little bit intimidating, maybe a little less so than this. But it was all good. It was a great experience.

Curt Anderson  04:40

So well. Hey, that’s wonderful. And what’s great, you know, I love not being the smartest guy in the room. And so when you’re hanging out, especially miss Dartmouth there you know, so let’s dive into we’re talking about Acme finishing wonderful manufacture here. So Brandon, take us there Acme finishing, how do you guys make the world a better place? What do you guys do here? I know we’ve got a little bit Vidyo over our shoulder here. So you kind of get a background this place is massive. We would love to take a little tour. I’ve taken a tour here. It’s just a great facility. What do you guys do? How do you make the world a better place? Yeah, so

Brandon Stern  05:10

we’re liquid and powder coating applicator based out of Elk Grove village, Illinois, we paint parts for major OEMs push out hundreds of 1000s of parts a day. And any sort of industrial coating or architectural coating or even corrosion resistant coating that the customer may need. We can provide for him.

Curt Anderson  05:31

Awesome. Alright, let’s you know and again, you’re you’re newish here so I’m gonna put you on the spot. Give us a little bit of background of Acme like you guys started about a couple months ago, right?

Brandon Stern  05:41

Yeah, we’re a little over 90 years old. 90. Yes. Right.

Curt Anderson  05:45

Almost as old as grandma Freda.

Brandon Stern  05:51

So yeah, we’ve been around for just over and you look good for that age. Right? Yeah. That’s right. You know, we we it’s of, we’re not actually the fourth generation, that one of the original owners, great, great granddaughter actually is employed here still. And about eight years ago, nine years ago, a private equity firm, purchased Acme and has helped grow to be an amazing place even better than it was before. So yeah,

Curt Anderson  06:20

huge, huge, Matt. And again, you’re getting a little look over our shoulder here. above our head, I guess. You know, wonderful video, check out go to Acme Finishing.com Just do incredible work here. Just give it what it let’s go here. You know, young guy, you know, you had a technology background, what attracted you to come to Acme finishing?

Brandon Stern  06:38

Yeah, well, so I worked in the digital marketing space actually, not even in manufacturing prior to this. And, you know, I started looking for other jobs. I saw Acme finishing and it just looks interesting. They, you know, the job listing. It was, you know, it looked great. I could tell now that I know gr our president, I could tell that he wrote it based on now that I know him. So I applied and met with the HR director. And she was awesome. Who’s actually that’s our, that’s the fourth generation who’s saying works here. Nice. So I met with her she was great. And then I was lucky, lucky enough to get an in person interview with ger and Brian, our General Manager. Meeting was supposed to be probably an hour, an hour long, it was maybe two and a half hours. And I just was like this. These are great, guys. This is a, you know, this is an awesome company. And I wanted to work here and I guess they saw something in me. So I ended up getting the job. Well, hey,

Curt Anderson  07:39

how about a round of applause for Brandon Stern for hitting a ball of the park and what’s and what’s great as I’ve had the privilege of you know, I’ve been working with a company you know, for since the fall and saw the transition when you came on and I have to tell you, dude, like it’s you came in and just made immediate, powerful impact. We’re going to dive into that what a great job you’ve been doing. Let me slide over to my dear friend Melissa. So Melissa, you have this little thing on your your your shirt here says IMEC. So please share with anybody you’re part of the MEP network manufacturing extension partnerships, who and what is the MEP? How do you guys make the world a better place? And most importantly, who is I met here in Illinois? Yeah, absolutely.

Melissa Basa  08:18

So IMEC, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. We’re a group of improvement specialists working here in the state with manufacturers and industrial businesses to ignite excellence and global competitiveness to make sure our manufacturers achieve all their operational and strategic initiatives. And we’re one of the 51 MEP centers, Manufacturing Extension Partnership. So we are supported by US Commerce, and it is our mission to work with all of the manufacturers here in the state to make sure that we keep domestic manufacturing and specifically here in Illinois, healthy, profitable, productive, viable and a great place to work. Yeah, and

Curt Anderson  08:56

that’s for anybody out there. Let’s talk about the manufacturing in Illinois. I mean, it is amazing. I think there’s 13,000 manufacturers strong here in the state of Illinois. And when you think Chicago, you wouldn’t realize that but there’s 1000s and 1000s. Probably the majority of that 13,000 is right here in Chicagoland metro area. Just talk a little bit about the manufacturing that’s going on here in Chicago. Yeah,

Melissa Basa  09:17

there’s a little bit of everything in the area. We’ve got a lot of industries a lot of diversity in size and product and process there’s food manufacturing and metal fabricators. We’ve got you know, our finishing companies, we’ve got printing and we’ve got you know, all sorts of components pretty much if it’s made somewhere there’s you know, Chicagoland manufacturing is kind of on my Microsoft set of of the whole yeah domestic manufacturing footprint for

Curt Anderson  09:43

sure. What What attracted you what brought you to iMac in brought your skills, your talents, your Ivy League background, what brought you to iMac

Melissa Basa  09:54

so I was drawn to the mission of the work after after grad school. I worked for 12 years in the private sector in manufac. I’m sharing and I loved what I did. And we the manufacturer for whom I worked used IMEC for some of our Lean initiatives, some of our safety and so I got to know the team a little bit and the mission and said, I don’t I don’t totally understand it, but I want to be a part of that. So I, I cold called the IMEC when it was time for a change in my career and cold call them and said, I don’t get it, but I want to be a part of it.

Curt Anderson  10:21

I’m not sure what you do, but I want a piece of you.

Melissa Basa  10:25

Like, like many of us. So our team, our team averages about 18 years in private sector manufacturing in industry before coming to join the mission of IMEC and most of us are mission driven, right, we want to come serve the better the greater good of all of Illinois manufacture. Yeah,

Curt Anderson  10:40

love it. And so for any manufacturers out there catching us, you know, there’s an MEP Manufacturing Extension Partnership near you. And so as Melissa just said, There’s one in all 50 states, you got embroidery go 51. Right. And so, you know, you’ve mentioned lean, operational excellence, you know, leadership, cybersecurity is a huge one, digital marketing. So you guys, automation,

Melissa Basa  11:02

safety, environmental initiatives, pretty much if it’s something that a manufacturer here in Illinois working on, we’ve got programs, resources, expertise to help, right,

Curt Anderson  11:13

absolutely love it. And so 50 people strong, we’ll dive in, we’ll dive into some of her, she has a wonderful team for all of our teammates out there. And so we’ll dive in that let’s come back to Acme finishing. So let’s, if you don’t mind, we’ve got a couple of samples as you know, so if somebody’s new to powdercoating, I remember first time I hit a warehouse 100 years ago, in the company next to me was a powder coating company. And I’m like, What is powder? Like? How does powder paint I don’t understand, like, that doesn’t make sense to me, I just I put your this is painting, right? Walk us through, like what is powder coating and kind of explain that. And we’ve got a couple examples that we could shoot. Yeah,

Brandon Stern  11:45

of course. So to keep it short of powder coating. So it actually starts in the powder form. If you if you were to pick up the powder, it feels like sand in your hand. Basically, the parts are on a conveyorized line, the the conveyorized line is actually grounded. So there’s no charge and on the tip of the gun that the powder shoots out, it’s actually has a negative charge on it. That negatively charges the powder which attracts it to the part. So if you were to touch it right after it sprayed, it would slide right off. It goes through an oven usually 500 600 degrees heats up the the the metal which in turn hardens the powder into a into a solid and it forms something like

Curt Anderson  12:35

this. Wow, look at that thing. Okay, and so what what is that part

Brandon Stern  12:40

is actually for John Deere. It’s nice. It’s it’s a part that that they actually did a couple things for him. I have another one here to actually secure injured I’ll hold it up. So that’s a spring so you know, there’s there’s tons of reasons why somebody would need something powder coated. Yep. Whether it’s for corrosion resistance, or maybe it’s, you know, something just for the look of it, right. There’s all there’s all different sorts of reasons why you need something powder coated. So definitely something like like these two parts, kind of has a mix of both, right, it’s visually appealing, as well as you know, helps with you know, stopping corrosion of the metal, right. So, tons

Curt Anderson  13:23

of different industries that you guys serve tons of different parts again, I’ve been on the line it is so impressive here now, I’ve been in a couple of different powder coating or sometimes it’s a small steel manufacturer might have their own small line you guys hear do impressive work, just share a little bit of some, some of the scope of work again, like we’re seeing a little bit of this massive facility here. Just talk about some of the what’s the best fit for you guys. Yeah,

Brandon Stern  13:50

so we do a ton of other high volume bars as well as large parts we can do industrial coatings as well so we’re on compliance so we can do coatings for you know your skyscrapers that you see as well as you know something extremely small that you know you would never even expect or ever see. We have two conveyor eyes lines where we have 110,000 square feet to conveyor eyes lines, our biggest line can handle parts up to about 50 feet in length and up to about 2000 pounds as well. So like I said we can do large parts on that line and we have practically a smaller version of that line that we can do hundreds of 1000s of small parts a day on we have we also have to what are called chain on edge lines to make it easy it’s it’s literally a chain that poles that goes around it’s like almost like a small conveyor. And it’s those are for automotive parts that we do. We also do some some liquid too. So we have a liquid conveyor is line Although we’re able to still do liquid coatings on which, you know, as much as it’s a bit of a dying industry, we have some legacy customers who, you know, it works for them. And it’s it’s a, it’s still a great product as well, and have a batch liquid paint booth as well that, you know, when, when I first joined Acme, that’s what I pictured was like, two guys in the booth. And that’s what it was. And we do have two guys in the booth. And, but that’s not our main focus, but we’re able to do even larger parts there. And, you know, maybe smaller runners are more interested parts to on that line as well. Right.

Curt Anderson  15:34

So I think, you know, the big thing is the combination things, I want to shout out to the consistency of the parts that you guys are able to produce here, the sheer volume, the size, this about Chicago, what I’ve learned from you is really, as you just alluded to Melissa, Chicago is really is a perfect location, because you can serve as you know, John Deere agriculture, this part here if we didn’t mention that, and you know, auto industry is great as a neighbor, so don’t talk about how Chicago is really just a perfect location. Yeah,

Brandon Stern  16:02

so our industry is pretty regional. And with our location, we’re smack dab in the middle of the Midwest. So that allows us to work with all types of industries, like Kurt said, automotive is right around the corner, up in Michigan, and, you know, there’s a ton of agriculture around us. I mean, this, we work with a wide range of, of different different companies, right, lighting is a big one as well. But yeah, you know, there’s so many possibilities in this area, it’s, it’s the perfect location, even if a part was, you know, being fabricated in the East Coast, and it needed to go to the West Coast, to the end user over there. We’re right, right there in the middle. And, you know, we’re able to help with like streamlining supply chains by being in a center, the center of the United States, right? So

Curt Anderson  16:51

let’s go here. So I think you kind of you represent the new guard of manufacturing. So you know, in, you know, my age and stage, I represent the old guard, so baby boomers are retiring, I think it’s a crazy number per day, you know, I’m the Gen Xers of Gen Xers are, you know, you know, I’ll retire like 30 years from now, but you know, that gender, you know, my generation is starting to, you know, so we need young folks coming in into manufacturing. Why, you know, in most, let me go to you, the heroes of our economy, you know, so shamelessly we like to say are the manufacturers right? Why are all the cool kids? why should other cool kids like Brandon be considering manufacturing? Well,

Melissa Basa  17:28

there’s, there’s great careers to be had, there’s a lot of skills to learn, right? There’s, it’s, it plays on all of your strengths, right? There’s an art to it, there’s a science to it, there’s satisfaction in creating a tangible product that solves a problem that meets a need that that our consumers use every day, right? Whatever, whatever industry you’re in, there’s just something very satisfying about that, about solving a problem creating a product and putting it out there in the world to make someone’s life better. But there really are great careers. And, you know, we still struggle with the perpetuating stereotype of dark, dirty, dangerous environments. And it’s just not that I mean, even here, you think about right powder coating and, and painting, right. And you might have a vision of it, but it’s automated, and it’s high tech, and it’s safe, and it’s fast paced, and it requires a lot of high tech skills. Right. And that’s really, that is the new story of manufacturing.

Curt Anderson  18:18

Yeah, and we I think we were talking before, you know, there’s a big buzz for reshoring a lot is coming back to the States. So again, for our young folks out there, you know, all the cool kids like Brandon are going into manufacturing. So I Brandon, this you mentioned ama so you guys covered a lot of different Do you want to describe like what is AMA?

Brandon Stern  18:35

Yeah, so it’s it’s the it’s basically a certification

Curt Anderson  18:40

for architecture and so for higher like you said, like skyscrapers Yeah.

Brandon Stern  18:44

So So you have to pass certain quality standards in order to be a nama registered applicator, right. So because of our wash our quality systems in place, we’re actually registered with two different of our vendors. With that we’re able to paint aluminum extrusions. We’re able to paint curtain walls, windows anything that you know will will will you know face the weathering of time and and you know not every powder coater has that ability but we have a great quality team here and our line is our big line that we run all those parts on is is you know next amounts to super high tech awesome on right

Curt Anderson  19:33

now all right so we’re here in Chicago so I’m gonna I’m gonna I’m gonna I’m gonna go off off course a little bit so was there a course are there I had no we had no we had no court. Of course we had no course but so curious minds want to know. What are the bears gonna do this year? What are the bears? Now you get the first round pick this year, Brandon. Like can we get it to can it be like 1985 all over again or what’s your winter we

Brandon Stern  19:55

all have I don’t want to say because I feel I’ll jinx it even though what I say probably won’t change anything, but I’m thinking we’re gonna we’re gonna get at least to the playoffs. Very good. I’ll give us a play.

Curt Anderson  20:08

All right, so you heard it here. Whatever date it is today. It’s I know that I think it’s Tuesday. So you heard it here first. So we’re going to the playoffs this year, maybe maybe next year, it’d be like the 40 year anniversary of the 85 Bears. So maybe we’re maybe we’re one year away. Right? Yeah. Okay. Greatest bear of all time.

Brandon Stern  20:25

That’s pretty obvious. Definitely. Well, Walter Payton.

Curt Anderson  20:28

And what do you have? What was your answer? I was gonna say Perry. Okay. All right. So I have to go here. Walter Perry, or Walter Payton was Walter Walter Payton was one of my heroes. Do you remember? So you’re waiting, he was way before your time. Did you know he had what was you know, his nickname? It was sweetness was his nickname. And he had a tagline. And this is gonna tie into my next point here. So he had a tagline never die easy. And I’ll tell you one of the great what an inspiration class act. And so you know, it’s being a class actor. That’s what I feel here about Acme talk about some of your teammates here. I know. We’ve got Ge, I, you know, gr. Brian, you fourth generation? You know, let me go here for a second, do you realize four out of five businesses typically fail? In the first five years? Four out of five businesses? That’s 80%. And then it perpetuates from there. Okay. You guys have been in business for 90 years. Okay. I’m not a math major. But that’s 100 that that’s how many, you know, 45 cycles, right? That you guys have survived? You don’t do that by mistake, right? Don’t you, you know, quality, product speed, you know, doing your work, you know, providing what you say you’re going to do get delivering incredible product over and over again. I know you’re new. We’re gonna be here for another nine years. I don’t know if I’ll be here. But you’ll be here. Right? So, I mean, it depends on modern medicine, you know, but back to the were can run about the bears. That some ninjas, right, but some you know, but we can run about, you know, everybody wants to be on a winning team. Right? You’re 100 Plus strong here, Acme finishing, just talk about like, just the culture, the team, the camaraderie, I mean, you feel it when you walk in and just kind of describe that. Yeah,

Brandon Stern  22:05

that’s definitely a focus of Acme you know, I don’t like to say we’re a family. Because if you say we’re a family families are a bit dysfunctional. But, you know, in terms of in terms of, you know, the relationships that we all have with each other, you know, it’s not like, you know, most people here know what’s going on in my life. I know what’s going on, there’s, I can name a lot of the guys on our line, by name. Yeah, I know, what’s going on in their life. So I think that sets us apart from a lot of companies, you know, we would say that culture is a huge focus here. And yeah, and that’s, I think, what was one of the big drivers for me was, I went from a even smaller company than this to mid size manufacturing. And, and, you know, I kind of expected it to be like, you know, you only talk to a couple people, and you didn’t really get to know anyone, and I mean, you know, it’s we, the good part of the family, the the love in the, in the relationships and everything, it’s great here, it’s a great place to work a great place to be you love it, that’s off, we have some employees who’ve been here for almost 40 years, I know, we have one actually, that has been here for 40 years, and nice couple in the 30s. And there’s families who work here, you know, uncles, sons, you yachters and so, you know, just seeing that is, you know, that’s how, you know, it’s, it’s, it’s a great place to work,

Curt Anderson  23:27

it’s a great place. And if you want to just smack the key keyboard again. And you know, as you’re seeing right here, it’s just a buzz, it’s just buzzing with activity, you know, when you come here, let’s, let’s go here, because then I’m going to talk a little bit more about your team at iMac, but let’s go here. We did. We’ve been putting out some content, and we had a wonderful conversation about, you know, really why a company shouldn’t take on powdercoating internally, right? It’s, you know, so for manufacturers out there, like, hey, let’s do it ourselves. Why not? You know, well, I mean, you’re, you’re a master at making this part, you know, but, you know, you bring in as powdercoating it brings a whole different level of complexity, right? Just share a little bit, why, why is it really better for companies outsource powdercoating? Some,

Brandon Stern  24:09

I mean, you’d think it’s simple until you actually see an app. And, I mean, there’s so many factors that goes into creating a quality part, and, you know, having the, the knowledge base that our team has, having the, you know, we have our Quality Manager, actually, he’s been with me for 30 years, he knows powdercoating like the back of his hand and, and just having like people on your team that that have this, this sort of, you know, knowledge is it’s, it’s impossible to come by and starting from scratch or there’s going to be a ton of failures. It’s it’s not only an expensive thing to start, but you know, there’s a huge learning curve that you know, the opportunity cost and time spent learning, you know, we would have been way better off just sending it to somebody like us who, who’s been doing it for nine years. And you know knows that more than anything else? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So

Curt Anderson  25:04

you know, man, go check out Acme finishing, we’ve got a couple of nice blog posts describing AMA, you know, architecture, you know, high level powder coating solutions that you provide. We also did a deep dive on like, you know, if you’re a manufacturer, and if you’re if powder coating, you know, you’re trying to staff or you’re trying to keep up with the latest greatest trends of sustainability, safety, all these, you know, problems and challenges. That’s why they would need to reach out to someone like yourself, right? Melissa, let’s go to IMEC you are 50 Folks, strong, wonderful team, just everybody throughout the entire state of Illinois passionately just eating, drinking, breathing, sleeping, how to help wonderful manufacturers like the team here at Acme finishing, let’s give a shout out some of your teammates are just you know, some things that go on at IMEC.

Melissa Basa  25:48

Yeah, we’ve got such an amazing team. Like I said, we’re all you know, we have a background in manufacturing in industry, and we’re all drawn to the mission to the work. You know, it’s my role to go out and meet with the owners and senior leaders of manufacturing companies and understand what what do they need? What do they need to achieve their goals? What are their challenges? And I don’t have all the answers. And I don’t know everything about every industry and every particular quality certification or niche need. But I know that the team behind me has the answers, right? So whenever I never know what a manufacturer is going to hit me with on any given conversation. But I know the team is going to help whether it comes to automation or safety or continuous improvement or workforce development or sustainability or whatever, whatever it is that they’re losing sleep over they need to accomplish. I know the team is there to help. Right.

Curt Anderson  26:35

And that’s and and that’s what the great thing is, you know, you’re you’re not a government agency. So you’d like to dispel that myth. So a lot of you know, sometimes companies like hey, wait a minute, but you’re funded by the Department of Commerce. So the nice thing is you can come in objectively and just like you’re really just pouring your heart and soul into trying to help these manufacturers. So I I’m always I’m challenged to do this because I know I’m gonna forget somebody but you have a wonderful list. Let’s give shout out to your fearless leader, Dave belay. Reyes again. Oh, Jacqueline. Hello, J. Michelle. Fossett Melissa Zerbo. Amy Clary, I was with Tom grant yesterday. Whoo. I’m Jordan. Amy. Who else am I leaving out? On the spot? Yeah. Let’s see. So go to IMEC. Go to the IMEC team. So it’s IMEC, go to IMEC website, check it out. And benchmark.org Thank you. And if you’re a manufacturer, I strongly encourage you invite you check out your local MEP. If you’re in Indiana, it’s at Purdue. There’s you know, there’s there at universities, there’s nonprofits like IMEC. Just wonderful resources. Let’s talk about how these guys when when Acme reaches out to you, just for somebody out there like what, what’s the expectation of how does that party start when they reach out to an MEP? Yeah,

Melissa Basa  27:51

so we don’t come with a preset list of solutions, right? It’s our role to help a manufacturer in any way they might need. In our in our early conversations with Acme finishing, they had done some really great front end work on their marketing, they had redone the website, and they were doing a bunch of awesome social media things. What they were looking for was a boost on the back end. So that’s how we got to talking about SEO. I think at the time if we recall, right? If you if you Googled powdercoating, Chicago, there were like seven and a half million results, right. So how did we give them a boost? So we went down that path, exploring what they needed? What were their goals? How did they want to grow? Where Where did they already have strengths, and where were they looking for a little additional help. And then on top of it, we were able to support that with a grant program. So yeah, Win Win,

Curt Anderson  28:38

win win. And that’s a great thing is I know, our friends louvers who aren’t too far from here, they always say, you know, IMEC is the company that always has my back that I don’t pay for, you know, so, so but they do a great job, as you know, seeking grant opportunities for manufacturers, you know, I call them scholarships, you know, they’re relentless entrepreneurs, heroes of our economy and just need a little help. We have a wonderful trend of resourcing reshoring. You know, we’re manufacturers coming back, there’s a big Renaissance, like you said, it’s not the down and ugly, dirty that it was, you know, way back in the day, and you’re a testament to that. So I’ve had the honor privilege of working with you the past few months, you came in, just rolled up your sleeves, swing in, you’re an MMA guy, and you were just throwing punches. That’s what I want to go. What I loved about working with you is, let’s talk about our singles or doubles, or triples and homeruns. You mind if we go there for a minute? Because I would get I’d get a text message or a call like, hey, Kurt, you know, can we reschedule our meeting? I’m working with a double right now. Like, hey, Curt, I’m on the cusp of planning a home run what let’s I’m a big baseball fan. So let’s talk about some of our what are what are singles and doubles and triples.

Brandon Stern  29:42

So we kind of quantified you know, depending on the size of the opportunity, what a single double, triple or homerun was, and that’s something Curt and I did together. I actually still use it now. Even not with Curt internally but Uh, you know, when I’m, I’m in sales here. So when I’m seeking out customers, I try and get a feel for what their needs are. And I’m like, okay, they fall into this category. And so, you know, that’s where Kirk got sometimes, you know, I maybe, you know, push push Curt off a little.

Curt Anderson  30:21

But just like my wife, you know, like, I’m used to it, man. Right? There’s a long line of people that do that. So

Brandon Stern  30:30

I’m on the phone with a triple like, let’s, let’s talk in an hour. Yeah. It’s right. So it wasn’t, it wasn’t good. It was a good program that he kind of did with me. And it kind of helped me, you know? What’s the right word? Separate what the different opportunities that we have. And yeah, it was it’s really useful. And it’s, I like I like the baseball terminology. Yeah,

Curt Anderson  30:50

same same here. I didn’t and what’s so admirable you just started a few months ago, and like you’ve just come in and just embrace it’s a new industry new, you know, it’s not like a this is my family business. I, you know, it’s in my DNA. I, you know, I grew up with this, you know, this is all brand new to you, and you have such a passion. Why are you what, what sparks that passion? Is that come from Mitch? Like, what? Why are you so passionate about helping your customers win and succeed? Yeah,

Brandon Stern  31:14

well, I think so.

Curt Anderson  31:16

Another shout out to Mitch, right.

Brandon Stern  31:19

I think he helped out there. You know, I just, I love salt. Like, I love solving problems. It’s, it’s, I’ve always liked to do it. And coming from the digital marketing space, where, you know, it wasn’t a tangible product. I mean, it wasn’t a tangible product that I was solving a problem with. I just, you know, the the feeling of, of helping somebody out and, you know, making a product to reality, just, just every time we do it, it makes me makes me feel good. Yeah.

Curt Anderson  31:49

And what I love is, you know, you and I will talk and you’re like, Man, I’m trying to we’re trying to get this right formula, you know, and again, like, this is a science, you know, like, like, you use it earlier, it’s an, you know, when you’re a manufacturer, it’s an art, it really is an art and so like, you guys get this down to the exact color. But you know, sustainability, I mean, there’s a lot that goes behind, it’s not just like, you know, like, you know, my wife wants to paint our house, oh, my God, you know, whatever, you know, she’s like, No, we need to, you know, like, you guys really are meticulous, I’m helping that client, when just, if you could just share a little bit client reaches out to you like, how does, you know, how does that engagement starts? Right?

Brandon Stern  32:22

So if client reaches out to us, I’ll ask them, you know, what’s, what’s the project? What do you what do you what are you looking for us to paint, what it’s used for? What sort of turnaround times are looking for, you know, the art, we have wonderful powder vendors who might also help us in picking the right powder, that you wouldn’t think but if you use the wrong powder for certain application, you know, there’s certain powders that are meant for exterior use for interior use, things that are going in automotive, and so you know, I kind of whatever information I can get from them about the project, I then, you know, go to our powder vendors, and we help formulate exactly the correct powder to use for them. And that’s kind of the that’s the process.

Curt Anderson  33:10

Yeah, I love and I think that, you know, one of the keys of success for businesses is twofold. It’s number one, how can you have a curious mind and what I love with you is like you’re just sinking in, you’re talking with vendors, you’re diving into, like you’re trying to master you know, become a artisan yourself with this, this new product line, and you’re you know, this company that you’re new to, and diving right in, then the other thing that you and I have been working on is like, how do you teach the competition, you know, so that’s a big light. So for our manufacturers out there are entrepreneurs out there like trying to figure out this whole marketing, digital marketing, what if you could just dedicate yourself to number one, knowing your customer inside and out? And then number two, helping your customer you just do those two things? It’s a pretty simple, you know, not always easy, right? But it’s a simple formula, you know, and you guys do that IMEC. I have a few more names that I have to you know, we didn’t say raise a guy. No, we didn’t say Jordan. I didn’t say Chrissy John’s we didn’t say Mary Halleck. So any and John Hazara got for he was just on the show, Paula and John has just done a live show two weeks ago. So again, anybody that we’re missing, please forgive Noah down, down south. So we’ve got some other friends. So I’m so let’s go here. When he reaches out to you, you have you mentioned grant program, you have a really exciting, wonderful grant program here in Cook County. Can you just share a little bit about how this program works?

Melissa Basa  34:25

Yeah, yeah. So Cook County decided when they got some federal funding a couple years back now to invest in the manufacturers in the area who had been impacted by COVID and had some needs. And so we put together a program applying some of that funding and there are now 12 projects from which manufacturers can pick. They can actually in the end, do two projects, not simultaneously but there’s 12 projects kind of preset scopes across four different areas operations, workforce leadership and growth. So that kind of covers every area right a manufacturer might be struggling with in in recovery. During from the effects of the past few years and whatnot, so they can pick and apply for and we streamline the application process. So it’s relatively straightforward, easy, quick, right and put a bunch of operations people in charge of administering a grant and it goes pretty smoothly. in Cook County, Bureau of Economic Development in Cook County has been a phenomenal partner. In fact, they won a national award for us for their support of this program. So I have lost count of the hundreds of projects we’ve done under this program, and it continues now. So we’re really excited to be able to offer it and to have dollars to support the work we’re doing. Yeah,

Curt Anderson  35:35

it’s just it’s so inspiring what you guys are doing here in Illinois. So I know you had a program a couple years ago, it’s called Grow your future. And were you they had I met grant funds and the number that so that was 127 manufacturers for that program. Then cook cook Cook County rolls up their sleeves, and they come up with grant funding to help a wonderful manufacturers because these are the job creators, you know, and again, as you know, I have the privilege of doing this week in week out. And every person I interview, it’s like, you know, I didn’t know that somebody made this I didn’t know you know, you look around the room, wherever you’re at everything is made by somebody by somebody, you know, machine, somebody’s hands, that type of thing. You’ve had a wonderful experience with our friends, IMEC, would you recommend IMEC to your friends, your Mitch, to Mom and Dad, your dog? Like whatever, you know, you’re the guy that you’d beat up the other day. But would you recommend it to other manufacturers?

Brandon Stern  36:25

Of course, they’ve been super helpful in connecting Yes, with you. And and, and, you know, we’re going with round two. So obviously, it worked out well for us. And, you know, they’re phenomenal to work with. They’re responsive and helpful, and, and any questions that anyone would ever have? They have an answer for it. So that’s

Curt Anderson  36:45

right. Should we give it like a little like, you know, I’m just kidding. I’m just, I’m kidding. Alright, so we’ll start winding down. I think we’re coming into time. So any parting thoughts words of wisdom list Abasa that you want to share for our manufacturing friends out there as we I do have one or two more questions left, but it just any words of wisdom that you want to share for manufacturers or that type of thing?

Melissa Basa  37:06

I am not sure actually wisdom about

Curt Anderson  37:09

how about how inspiring is it for you on a daily basis, just working with manufacturers in it, you know, like we’re gonna go visit another manufacturer, when you leave here as in, we’re gonna hit another manufacturer tomorrow, two sisters that have been running a company for decades. And

Melissa Basa  37:22

we’re doing an event this afternoon in the area to talk about talent succession planning in specific to manufacturing. So how do we grow the next generation of leaders in the industry? So that’s key. That’s exactly right. You talked about the wave of retirees. And so how do we keep our manufacturers strong? Right,

Curt Anderson  37:37

very admirable what you do on a daily basis, my friend, so you’re doing awesome work. Okay, I have two questions left. So this one might put you on the spot. So just make the digest that I always love asking. I’m an eager learner. I’m 55. And just trying to figure out how I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed? How can I get smarter? I love asking, what’s the best business advice that you’ve ever received? What’s the best business advice? Anybody want it? So I want to put him on the spot who wants to go first? Once? Because I’m gonna I’m looking for an answer for both you guys, because I’m learning. So you have one best business advice, your best business advice you’ve received at a young age? Yeah.

Brandon Stern  38:18

I definitely say Persistence is key. Being persistent and, you know, figuring out what sort of problem you need to solve and, and and you know, being able to always help, whoever you can help. It’ll go a long way. And it’ll help you sustain a company that’s like us who has been around for nine years just being persistent and helping in any way you can. Well,

Curt Anderson  38:44

how about drop the mic and that one right there. So persistence now just was Mitch a coach by any chance he was. So guy, dad. So dad was like, What did get that coach for 30 years,

Brandon Stern  38:53

I coached baseball, he’s coached a number of things, but for the longest period was baseball and golf,

Curt Anderson  39:00

baseball and golf. And boy, you’ve got to certainly be persistent in both of those and so man what a Apple didn’t fall far from the tree. So hey, let’s give give me a little one of these. Right? So God bless you too. That was a great answer. So persistence, Melissa, best business advice that you want to share or that you’ve ever received. Yeah,

Melissa Basa  39:16

that for me, that’s an easy one. A mentor early in my career told me that your customers down the road, they will not remember the particulars of any particular incidents problem, you work through together, whatever the situation, but they will remember how you made them feel in the moment, right? So the details, business stuffs gonna go sideways in business, there’s going to be issues, right? It’s not about the details. And exactly the solution is how you make that customer feel as you’re working through the problem together. And I try and carry that through, as I’m working with manufacturers, right? What do they need and how am I respond to that? How am I making them feel and know that we want to support them and get whatever help right and so that’s, that’s the approach I take all the time is to make sure that they will remember how I made them feel We work together

Curt Anderson  40:00

well as great grandma free to proud right now are what was that? You know, that’s almost you know, so on our show we have like chocolate mic moments that we have moments of silence. That was like a moment of silence right there. So what a phenomenal answer you know what, you know these if you you know, know your customer, help your customer and that ties in just be persistent. You know, do things with integrity and use your you know, even if you you know, you have a bad call or a sales call or somebody rejects you just be persistent. And just, you know, how you know, do you care, right? Did you make your customer realize, understand fully that you care? What about me? And how about a round of applause for those two answers right there. All right. Last question for you guys. Man. I’m ready to run through a wall. How about you guys? Because this is this last question for you. Ready? You sit down? You get for this one? I’m ready. Okay. baseball fans, right? Baseball? A little bit. Okay. Cubs or Sox? Cubs or Sox? You know? I’m a White Sox fan. You are White Sox. Okay. I think it would be like Cardinals or something.

Brandon Stern  41:04

For my grandfather passed into my father’s No, pass it on to me. Right. So it’s hard to say and but I am always like,

Curt Anderson  41:12

Hey, you always got 2005 Right? We’ve always got 2005. How about cubs? Okay. All right, hypothetical. I went, I went I’m coming to you versus style. You’re ready. You said not ready for this. Okay, last question of the day because we wind down first off, I want to thank these two amazing human beings for just being so awesome and sharing what’s going on here at Acme finishing what’s happening iMac. So my last question. Let’s see it’s a Cubs cubs are playing the White Sox. Okay, consequent White Sox. It’s the bottom of the ninth cubs array. So your White Sox fan. So bottom ninth cubs are playing the White Sox and there’s somebody on second base. It’s a tie score. Okay, tie score to Alex and the manager turns on the bench and says hey Basa grab a helmet grab a bat get up there hit in the winning run. I got dinner reservations. I need to get out of here right. So you grab your helmet grab your bat you walk up to the plate to hit in when you run for the Cubs beat the dreaded White Sox. Okay, are you with me? Are you ready to set up here? Yeah, what’s your walk up song did not think that. What’s the walk up song for Melissa Bossa

Melissa Basa  42:18

okay, but don’t laugh. I promise. All right. All right. My walk up song is dynamite. biochars die. Alright. I want to celebrate and live my life. Good answer.

Curt Anderson  42:28

Dynamite. What do you got? Dude?

Brandon Stern  42:29

That’s a tough one. I wasn’t I wasn’t

Curt Anderson  42:36

and then throw the curveball at ya.

Brandon Stern  42:42

You know what? Probably probably hanging on by Morgan Wallen and Ernests. It’s a fantastic song awesome. The message behind and

Curt Anderson  42:55

you’re putting in the winning run on that one that you’re putting in and when you run so I guys I want to thank you both for joining us today. This is just an honor privilege. Connect with Brandon stern on LinkedIn You’ll thank me later connect my dear friend Melissa Basa they do amazing work here in Chicago. So want to wish everybody amazing, incredible day. Thank you guys both God bless everybody out there and just keep being someone’s inspiration just like these two and you’re just you’ll make the world a better place. So we will see you I’m doing another live on Thursday back here in Chicago. So we’ll see as I’ve done so thank you guys. Have a great rest of your day. See?

43:31

You