Monday Manufacturing Motivation with the MEPS (Kaylea Pogue at Missouri Enterprise)

Curt Anderson  0:01

so alright guys here we are live LinkedIn live and you know what? We’re on Facebook and Twitter daymond. So Happy Monday, Damon. October 18 already where’s this month going?

Damon Pistulka  0:11

Exactly.

Curt Anderson  0:12

So guys, Happy Monday. What an honor what an absolute privilege to introduce my friend Kaylea Pogue from the Missouri enterprise, the Missouri MEP Kaylie Happy Monday. Welcome to.

Kaylea Pogue  0:23

Yeah, thank you. Guys. Let me join.

Curt Anderson  0:25

Absolutely. So this is awesome. So you and I were connection through April Schmidt, our mutual friend who was with the Missouri enterprise, she is now in the middle of COVID. April, she moves to Virginia. She’s now with genedge, the Virginia MEP, and she’s connected us with a number of wonderful folks, your coworker, your partner in crime there, Jamie quell. Yeah, he was on a program and just crushed it for us back in August. So Kelly, let’s start with this. So anybody joining us today, you’re with the Missouri enterprise, the Missouri MEP is like, Hey, what is this MEP thing? What does what’s manufacturing extension partnership? Could you explain to everybody what is the MEP?

Kaylea Pogue  1:03

MEP is a network there’s 51 senators, you know, each state has one or some states actually have multiple, you know, they’re broken up by region. But the idea is the mission is that we get to focus on growing and helping manufacturers kind of, you know, bringing them concepts and helping them so they can be sustainable and grow and do everything that they’re meant to do. Right. It’s a it’s a focus on us manufacturing. And then specifically for us, you know, Missouri manufacturing, so

Curt Anderson  1:31

awesome. So this is great. What is so wonderful is you know, we’ve gone back and forth, we’re building a nice friendship. And you said, Hey, I’m a millennial and manufacturing network. So let’s take let’s go back a little bit in time. And so Kaylea talk a little bit, you know, I’m going to go back a little further, you’re just telling me that you were a to Nate Damon, you’re talking to a tenacious basketball player. And Kaley, you shared with me that you actually went to a basketball camp. I did. University Tennessee, the famous legendary Damon, I was sitting down for the way are you sitting down for this? Yeah. Had a summit man.

Damon Pistulka  2:08

I was. I was gonna say because that’s my I lived in Tennessee. Pat was coaching and yeah, man. It was crazy.

Kaylea Pogue  2:14

Yeah, it was awesome. No, I got the opportunity to get to go to the basketball camp. But at the time, it’s kind of the Dream Team, if you will. It was like Candace Parker and Shannon bobbitt. They did really well, you know, the NCAA championship several times throughout that stent. And yeah, I got to go go to the camp. So yeah, I played basketball and soccer in high school and all that kind of stuff. Good time. So it’s awesome

Curt Anderson  2:40

what I want to share you know, here we have a tenacious athlete who learn you know, Pat Summitt. My goodness, what you know, you talk about a legendary, you know, Kaylea I grab if you don’t mind I grabbed I had to share a quote with you today from Yeah, but this was perfectly fitting for our conversation is we’re trying to help manufacturers, a champion is someone willing to be uncomfortable? Another great quote, change equals self improvement. Push yourself to places that you haven’t been. So let’s go right into let’s talk about Kaylea. Okay, so you intentionally pursuing your education in quality management in that, you know, pursuing go ahead,

Damon Pistulka  3:18

and then she went to school right next to where I did the University of Minnesota but I was in South Dakota at South versity. So by the gophers, you know,

Curt Anderson  3:29

so she’s a six sigma quality you know, millennial, so sure, a little bit Kaylea like why manufacturing? What How did that tug your heart in that direction? Why, why go there for your career?

Kaylea Pogue  3:39

So actually, I’m just kind of, I guess, I don’t know if it’s funny or not, but I had started off, I was gonna do the whole healthcare thing, you know, respiratory therapy, started the program was that going along that route? And then I was like, This isn’t for me, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Yeah. So then I was like, Okay, well, kind of looking around. And there was a local manufacturing company to kind of where I’m at right now. And so moving on nine to 20, I started working there, and realized that I really loved it, you know, and so then I moved to the quality department. I love that I was there for about seven ish years, I think, yeah. And, you know, and but in that time, it was kind of funny, because then that’s how much their enterprise kind of, you know, came on my radar. I was like, man, it would be so cool. If there was something out there for manufacturers that was just, you know, like this awesome resource. So, you know, Google, and then I found Missouri enterprise and I actually asked one of she’s retired now, but she was amazing, you know, Laura Lee rose, she was amazing project manager for us. You know, I met with her and talked to her about getting my green belt and those kinds of things with six sigma. And then it was kind of just serendipitous, I guess, you know, when I was scrolling through LinkedIn and saw no mean for at Missouri enterprise, and I was like, oh my As well you know give it a try and so now I’m here so excited to me

Curt Anderson  5:05

man that so you know what you let’s let’s say that you hit a few great topic or great things that we want to unpack right there so first off on LinkedIn so again you know so we’re on LinkedIn live so obviously folks are on LinkedIn but we’re also on Twitter on Facebook so for manufacturers are Millennials are like oh you know LinkedIn this is a perfect case study great success story for you. Yeah, how you tackled and took on your career going this direction thanks to LinkedIn. Now you just share such a huge passion and a love for what you do you have a contagious enthusiasm sure a little bit about like what do you love about why the MEP network What do you love about Missouri enterprise?

Kaylea Pogue  5:44

So for me I think it’s you know, well it was kind of a miss I just happened to land into manufacturing so I think for me it’s kind of you know, from a personal perspective it was like man there’s this these great careers this the great opportunities and you don’t hear a lot about that when you’re in high school anymore You know, which I know that there’s kind of a push these days back towards manufacturing but at the time that just wasn’t the case you know and and so for me it was kind of like the the fact that I landed in it you know, and then getting to share that passion I guess is pretty awesome. So I love being part of the network for that reason, you know, the fact that there’s this whole wave of people kind of out on the same mission trying to try to help me grow and right now is a perfect time for it. You know, I think us manufacturing’s kind of having a moment or can you know, if we all tackle it right, which is what the network’s kind of all about is hopefully being able to help the manufacturers pivot the way they need to you know, since COVID and since you know, all the aftermath of the pandemic, the supply chain issues the workforce shortage and issues all of it you know, so it’s just about kind of trying to tackle that and it’s I think it’s great to be a part of that the mission so I love it. That’s awesome.

Curt Anderson  7:00

Sure, so Kaylea shirt a little bit so for your peers other folks millennials out there listening, you know, why should they go into manufacturing? Why should they be pursuing potential opportunities with MEP network or other agencies organizations that support us manufacturing?

Kaylea Pogue  7:16

Sure, so I mean you know millennials, there’s a lot of stereotypes but one of them is that we have to have a cause for everything right? Yeah. But this is the perfect place for that you know this is because there is a cause and and you know, for it’s helping grow you know, to help grow the economy it’s to help people’s lives be better you know, it’s it’s amazing I feel like the opportunities are kind of endless within manufacturing but I think the thing that’s kind of missed amongst that is the the education piece you know, probably to like my age group and younger but it’s kind of the the fact that manufacturing actually can be really fun I mean, the technology the the you know, the robots and cobots all of that automation and I don’t know some people fear you know, the whole fact that automation could potentially take a job or two right but but really what we see is that they that it just offers up new jobs, jobs that are perfect for millennials and Gen Z and all that kind of thing who were used to being surrounded by technology and having having that route you know, so it’s it’s kind of perfect really, in my opinion. Yeah, it’s great so yeah, trying to get that out there trying to help help people realize that there’s there’s great opportunities out there and you know, you’re seeing a big push towards flexibility and you know, everybody wants that so you know, for us as Mazar enterprising within the MEP network then that’s great for us because then we can help our manufacturers pivot to that right we can we can go in and help them put in the systems that need to be in place help them figure out how to tackle those kinds of things so so it’s exciting and it’s rewarding and it’s it’s amazing to be a part of it so that’s perfect

Curt Anderson  8:59

so let’s Let’s slide right into that Kelly so again, you know all the amazing benefits that go on at the MVP network and here we’re talking today about the Missouri enterprise specifically but you guys covered you know hot topics that are critical for manufacturers and like you said you know music to the millennials ears on from the tech side, cybersecurity, you know you and I talk about e commerce digital marketing you got you know, augmented reality AI you know, all sorts of different things. So I know you guys in guys encouraged you go to the MEP website, check out Missouri enterprise website and you’ll see a wealth of information. You know, you guys are the go to resource for manufacturers, right? That’s right. Yeah. So just just share a little bit Keighley about you know, some of the programs that you’re seeing some of the events was you know, some of these continuous improvement all sorts of different benefits and topics that you guys offer to help manufacturers.

Kaylea Pogue  9:50

Yeah, so you know, we we do kind of the manufacturing basics I guess, if you want to call it you know, there’s the lean and their Six Sigma continuous But then we you know there’s blue blueprint reading that we offer there is kind of industry 4.0 topics the the augmented reality virtual reality AI trying to you know help employers manufacturers you know see the importance of that kind of how to implement it we do cover the supply chain you know we offer kind of a Apex courses supply chain assessments that kind of thing but you know speaking of supply chain I can’t go let this go on unsaid we’ve got this new product I guess if you will yeah it’s amazing context Missouri you know in our in our supply chain program guy Jeff Wilkins he’s the one who’s kind of running that database but that opportunity in and of itself for manufacturers is just amazing you know, it’s the goal is to get everybody access to to American manufacturers you know, and kind of link them to new potential suppliers but then also on the other end of that you’ve got the fact that if you go in and you create a profile and all this then you’re automatically linked to people too so if you’re a business and or manufacturer and you’ve had like this one main cash cow you know product or you know customer for a long time there’s potential now that that you’re gonna have your next cash cow you know and so I think that it’s awesome for that reason and then there’s also access to a national database you know, like there’s context Missouri which gives connection with everybody in Missouri but then there’s also the national database which which is awesome and if you go to our website there’s a whole page about it and we could talk about it for days I’m sure especially not such a great job with it.

Damon Pistulka  11:46

I don’t think it’s an awesome thing because you know as as Kurt and I always talk with manufacturers manufacturers the best kept secret you know, you can have you can have you can be sitting here and I’m I’m Damon and my company looking for this specific thing know that Kaley down the street is making the thing just because we don’t we’re not that great manufacturing where we’re we’re doing this stuff making it doing right things we need to do and so great about something like the the national database to get these suppliers together because a lot of people can find what they need here rather than assume that they have to go offshore

Kaylea Pogue  12:26

right yeah so which is also you know timely and and yeah considering so

Curt Anderson  12:33

yeah it’s it’s it’s unfortunate took a global pandemic first. Like hey, let’s stay here let’s look around it like Damon st let’s look down the street. Let’s look next door. Yeah, let’s look within our state let’s neighboring states. But you know, let’s take a deep dive into this, Kaley, cuz I think there’s a lot to uncover with the contacts program. I’m glad you mentioned contacts you mentioned Jeff Wilkins. So what I did down if you guys are on LinkedIn, Christopher dropped a good morning. Good morning to you, Christopher, Happy Monday. Wherever you guys are coming from check out in the links below on the LinkedIn post I took you have a great video from Jeff describing the whole Kinect program. So that’s in the link in the comments below. If you guys get a chance, click on that. And now I think you also have an event coming up this week promoting the program Do you not that I see that on your show? Yes, yeah,

Kaylea Pogue  13:21

we do. So it’s kind of going to be like a coverage of of how to kind of use the database. Some of that suggests gonna I think he’s got quite a few signups he’s gonna walk people through that and awesome. Yeah, yeah, it should be exciting.

Curt Anderson  13:36

So again, guys, so check that link, if you’re on another, you know, finding us somewhere else, or you’re catching us not live. But afterwards, you know, again, go to the Missouri enterprise website, go to events, and you’re going to see that they have a great event coming up, I believe it’s Thursday, October 1, check out that. And again, if you missed that just go they have a one hour video just kind of justice walking through folks. And it’s just a great marketplace. So if you’re a custom manufacturer, you’re an OEM, whatever product service that you’re providing, you know, like Damon said, we want to stop being the best kept secret. Yeah, and it’s challenge you know, Google’s challenging we Dave and I, we preach that we do that in our trainings of like trying to show folks how to capture those first page rank, what have you. However, when we can get specific into a manufacturer’s database, like at Missouri enterprise, you know, now you’re going to exactly where those ideal customers are hanging out. Now you’re on a credible and reliable trusted source with the MVP network. And so it’s just it’s a great place to be. So again, check out the Kinect. So Kaylea, and again if we think more you know that we’ll come back and hit that through our conversation here but you’re talking about Jeff, you have an amazing incredible team I mentioned you know, April was on your team we know Jamie, I know Ducey you have an amazing director, just to draw you folks that I’m connected with like Stacey and Jeff Kathy, you have a couple Curtis’s, which of course, is a great name, you know, Sherry Daniel, so i j I just want to give a shout out to anybody that’s catching us today but you have an all star, all star team at the Missouri enterprise, all sorts of different walks of life. So when a manufacturer has that challenge, you know, they’re like well you know what I call them up they don’t know what I’m going through, you guys know what they’re going through because you have such a deep bench. Yeah, subject matter experts share a little bit about your team and how you guys tackle your projects.

Kaylea Pogue  15:23

So first of all, to that point, when I joined Missouri enterprise I was and still am amazed at the the knowledge and the people on staff and just the the expertise, which I know that that’s what you’re supposed to, you know, we’re all supposed to be about. But, you know, knowing it and seeing it and like realizing kind of different things, you know, no, no, we do have a great team and a lot of brilliant people really so you know, so for us, you know, we have area business managers, which is kind of, you know, for, we call them sales people, but it’s not even really about sales, it’s about building a relationship with with our manufacturers and, you know, maintaining that relationship and being kind of their go to person that they reach out that our manufacturers can reach out to, when they have a need, or a question or need direction towards a resource, whatever it may be, you know, and then we have our project managers who kind of go in and then they’re the ones who have the expertise in the background, you know, within a specific topic, whether it be you know, lean or six sigma or implementing any RP system, you know, maybe kind of some Workforce Solutions, those kinds of things. So, you know, we got to take it from that and and then, you know, and I’m actually part of the core operations team at Missouri enterprise, which is kind of you know, our internal team, kind of the we keep the wheels going and you know, it’s accounting it’s our internal IT department, it’s our program managers, you know, people who kind of keep keep everything flowing and go in and that kind of thing so, so it’s, it’s a lot of fun, you know, yeah, we’ve had some amazing projects come out of it, one of the things I love the most that we do is we actually kind of have some ag related programs that we folks I there’s a lot of producers and you know, food manufacturing is a huge deal in Missouri so so our guy Jimmy story, he’s, he’s pretty huge in the ag world, he helps people with their, with grants, you know, we do feasibility studies, marketing studies, that kind of stuff for them. For you know, if they get a grant, we kind of do that, but we’ll also help them write the grant if they need it, or they need direction on on how to best approach it. But some of the people that come out of that, and the ideas that you see people have for a business and that or a product or trying to, it’s amazing, I love it. So it’s amazing to see the ingenuity amongst so many people. So I think that that’s a great privilege of actually getting getting to be a part of the network is seeing those kinds of things, what people are coming up with, and what they’re what they’re doing. So and really, our our purpose is just to kind of help them see that, you know, to fruition and kind of help them make it happen, you know, be and be that resource and kind of guide to help them figure out what they need me to do.

Damon Pistulka  18:11

There really are some amazing food manufacturers. I’ve been in a couple that were actually there were processing corn in food grade products, and some of the stuff that they do is so incredible. It’s just absolutely incredible. When you see the vision systems and the automation and the all the other stuff that’s happening, we don’t even realize it and then then see the end product and what’s going into the foods that we eat, and you didn’t realize that it took all yeah. So cool.

Kaylea Pogue  18:46

It’s very cool to see it. And to be a part of some of it’s awesome. So yeah, yeah. And

Curt Anderson  18:53

that’s what’s awesome. Kelly’s like you have a front row seat and how many times I know Damon, you know, we talked about this all the time, like you look around your home, you’re like, well, somebody made everything around. Yeah, somebody sat there had an idea, a vision, like I’m gonna make this I can make it better than the next person. And it’s just this incredible product. And you have a front row seat where you’re like, well, I never crossed my mind. I guess somebody had to make that product. Here it is right in St. Louis, or right here in Missouri somewhere throughout the great state. And you know, just having a front row seat and the great thing is let’s talk a little bit further. Let’s take a little bit further. So let’s talk about that engagement. Okay, so I’m a manufacturer out there. I have 15 employees, man my noses to the grindstone, I’m trying to keep my employees safe. I’m trying to keep them busy. I have labor challenges just like everybody else. I’ve supply chain challenges, just like everybody else in the MEP network is new to me. Talk a little bit about like that engagement and because what I love about the NTP network is you come in objective, you know, you’re going to come in and say like, you know, I’m eager to hear you know, how you go through that process. But you can quarterback those, you know, to help them conquer those channels. Just just talk a little bit about when a foot I first reached out submit a form call how does that engagement work for manufacturer with your team

Kaylea Pogue  20:08

so firstly you know like I said so our area business managers they typically are our first point of contact you know that’s that’s typically who it’ll go through unless you know we or we at least get them to their business manager you know because our business managers are broken apart by region of the state so and then that area business manager I mean they essentially they just they have a conversation they start you know they say saying you know this is amazing what can we do to help essentially you know that’s where we’re we’re tackling it at it’s we’re trying to figure out what are their pain points what can we offer to help alleviate those pain points and you know and right now every I mean I’m sure you guys know this because it said all the time right now but the two biggest things main thing right now is labor shortage and workforce and all that but then and supply chain and then technology and so for us to be able to go in and help those people and our manufacturers with those things it’s it’s pretty rewarding but our area business managers they’re so good at developing those relationships with manufacturers you know, and our project managers to like there’s plenty of our project managers you know, like they’re going to birthday parties with clients you know for their kids and that kind of thing and it’s pretty amazing so it’s it’s really more about the the people in the relationship building How can we help and right now it’s kind of our manufacturers are so busy a lot of them are like we’re like they don’t even feel like they have time to really even sit down and have a conversation with us. So it’s kind of like trying to make them see that we’re probably even we can even be a bigger help thing right so versus like last Let us help you so and that’s kind of why I’m excited I think we’ve got some workforce we do work for stuff anyway you know leadership training that kind of thing but we’ve got some new products I think that are going to come down the line here soon you know, in terms of we’re really going to try to help manufacturers tackle their recruiting strategies and they’re you know, how are you onboarding you know even What’s your job description like are you because if you’re not if you got so many openings and you know what’s that job description look like trying to help them make that more appealing getting it on the right you know, getting it on the right formats so people see that and you know, can apply for and that kind of thing and then and then we can also help them you know once once we get through the onboarding and they’re they’re part of that then we can help them teach you know lean methods if they need it and that kind of thing. So it’s it’s pretty awesome the whole the whole thing is pretty awesome because we can just you know, kind of keep passing it over if they need us you know, that’s we really you know, but we really do like being a part of it and we like being able to help the manufacturers so that’s another amazing part about being here and I’d say probably most of the senators would agree with this is you do get to see so much so so many awesome things come to fruition and elfen through the process and so then at the end of it you know you kind of feel like it belongs to you too, even though it doesn’t but yeah, so maybe maybe the MVP network feels like the proud parents all the time I don’t know but

Curt Anderson  23:18

that’s right. Obviously the proud aunt and uncle right yeah, there you go. Because that entrepreneur it is their baby right? And so like to have that you know, I love what you’re saying let’s let’s let’s cover a few things you just said Kaylea just you hit so many points right here man you’re like giving me chills This is oh you know cuz you know seriously because like the manufacturers you know, Damon, we talked about this literally every week and why we love interviewing folks from an MEP network. You know, the common thing that we find every weekend week out is just that unapologetic passion for helping manufacturers helping entrepreneurs and again they’re just their noses to the grindstone and I just I have a few things hopefully I don’t forget all these things that I want to unpack because I know you have we’re tight on time Kaylea, but you know for on your events page again guys, check out the Missouri enterprise. I thought I saw that you had a recruiting event coming up you have a leadership event coming up. You have a great shop talk newsletter that you guys put out for your manufacturers keeping folks in the loop communicating and once again if you’re if you’re still like okay, hey, I’m kind of liking this I’m digging this but what you know this manufacturing extension partnership, you guys are mission focused, you know, it sounds a little different, you know, not necessarily profit focus, but your mission focus. When you hear that like your project managers are going to birthday parties and they’re celebrating you know, like you’re part of the family as your you know, your team are walking by that by the entrepreneur side as that trusted resource to help them you know, get through these challenges, supply chain labor, so on and so forth. But let’s talk I really want to talk about that from your from your millennial perspective. I know Kaylea, this is going to come to you as a surprise. I’m not a millennial. I know you’re shocked. I am I I know but I’m, I’m a little older. I’m a lot older. I’m an old dude. So, talk a little bit about why, you know, Steve and I, we our stick is we help manufacturers with e commerce digital strategy. That’s how you and I connected, we’ve had some great conversations. And when you talk to a manufacturer, they’re like, Man, I’m at capacity. I couldn’t take out another self, you know, if I could, they’re like, well, I but I need people. Why is that? You know, we hear that word social media, I’d love to get rid of that word, social media, go away. It’s relationship building, talk about, okay, we’re not looking for customers. We’re looking for ideal employees and teammates. Right? Right. At summit, we want to build that awesome team. From a millennial standpoint, how could these manufacturers help them speak to like, you know, I’m in my 50s, I’m Gen X helped me How could I attract millennials from your perspective as a manufacturer?

Kaylea Pogue  25:53

Yeah, from a millennial perspective, or at least mine anyway? You know, it is. So it’s kind of funny. You know, when I, when I have a question, or I’m looking for employment, I guess, or would be, you know, I do either go to social media, which, yeah, I mean, you know, YouTube’s the second largest, you know, search engine out there, right? googling you too. But then, you know, it’s also I think, when I think about it, I think about the companies that who, who’s out there in the community doing things, you know, that’s, that’s a huge thing for millennials and younger, you know, who’s out there, making them factories, making changes who’s right, he thinks, you know, seeing things through, you know, and so I think that that’s huge to the millennial audience, you know, we have such a crazy world, and it’s even more so you know, sense. And so social media, as, as much as it is such a, you know, a pain, sometimes it’s also such a great tool, because you can get the word out there, you can showcase what you’re doing, you can showcase the cool tools that, you know, the robots and the robots and what you’re airing, or what you’re doing, you know, and there’s like a big push for, you know, like, companies to have to show, you know, some authenticity, you know, so they want to see their people, you know, we want to see, what are your people doing behind the scenes, you know, what we’re, you know, what, are they a part of, what are they seeing through and, and what are they? What do they care about, you know, because maybe I care about that, too, kind of thing. And so it’s interesting, because, yeah, like, social media, you know, it’s, but those are things we can help with to, you know, we can help them come in and kind of develop the strategies, you know, to best do that to get get out there, not only for consumers, but also for potential employees. Yeah, you know, help them see things a little differently. Because when you are in the middle of that world, and you’re so busy, it’s hard to kind of take a beat and just, you know, be able to breathe and say, what were what do I need to do? So that’s really where kind of we can help and help them strategize? Essentially,

Curt Anderson  28:00

that is awesome. And Christopher says, recruiting from colleges is a great place to start GRI 100%, check out your local universities, community colleges, all you know, even your high schools, you know, and Kaylea, I love what you’re saying right there, you know, he and Chris were just dropping out, you know, in high school as well. And I love what you’re seeing there. Because, you know, again, when I’m around about the social media thing, you know, so for, you know, for, say, a manufacturer, they’re like, Well, I’m not going to post on social media, I’m not going to post on Facebook that it’s like, let’s get rid of social media. And let’s call it relationship building. I’m going to be posting on Facebook for relationship building, I’m going to be posting on Twitter, or LinkedIn, or a YouTube video game. And I know you do a great job preaching about why you need, you know, people love to even geek out on like a CNC machine running. Nobody’s even speaking, a printed circuit board, you know, surface mount is just running for hours, you know? Yeah.

Kaylea Pogue  28:53

Yeah. That’s the

Damon Pistulka  28:54

thing. I mean, it’s just sharing what you’re doing. And as Kurt said, that the term social media gets a bad rap. In terms of we think of, you know, putting our cat pictures on there, yeah. Crazy memes. But, you know, really, it is about building relationships with people and and something we’ve been doing forever. It’s just a different way of doing it. And really, when manufacturers look at it that way, and you do have a picture of just your CNC machine running or something like that, or something cool that you made in your facility or something neat, that’s happened. That’s a great thing that helps you engage with the community. It helps you engage with your employees, and also helps you engage with potential customers in the future when they see what you’re doing. And just just as Kurt said, I think building the relationships is so key. And I think a lot of what happens is manufacturers are busy, as you said, cailli and they don’t understand how are we going to do all this? Yeah,

Kaylea Pogue  29:55

I mean, and I think that that’s fair, you know, and it’s over and overwhelming and things like that, you know, And they they are overwhelmed and and rightfully so and in a way that’s great right because it’s job security but also it’s like you know that’s that’s why we want to be able to kind of sit down and have conversations with them and build a relationship with them because then it’s like we get that you’re really busy right now but how can we help you kind of look out you know this this far down the road you know and or you know, adapt to a new method of technology or a different way of thinking essentially you know, kind of oh yeah you know what open mind so open that your brain falls out but is it essentially you know, opening your mind a little bit so you can pivot and do what you need to do to stay sustainable and be prosperous in the future

Curt Anderson  30:41

and that’s a phenomenal point and that’s you know, you know, again for that business owner they’re out there busy grindstone you know in their changing hats every hour on the hour you know one hour I’m going to be my HR director next I’m doing finance Next I’m going to try to do five minutes of marketing and now a machine just broke down now you know and then now I just found out my supply my main part has a 96 week lead time How do you know now sit back and say like man we’re gonna post something on Facebook Are you kidding me? Or you know but again we want to focus on you know, Stephen Covey great book Seven Habits right and we all know that book have the end in mind you know end in mind of what is the goal in kale I just mean I just feel like you’re just absolutely crushing it with you know, engage in that community and as a as a millennial, I want to know what does what’s going on in the team? Are you doing things within the community? Are you involved in nonprofit work or what what’s happening what’s going on? I bought a company picnic you know, right through the great state of barbecue or guys at least having a barbecue there. Right? So these are great tips. I also wanted to do a shout out on your website I noticed that you had a manufacturing data dashboard we do yeah, you’re a little bit man. I thought that was just a wealth of

Kaylea Pogue  31:57

information. Yeah, it’s pretty awesome because yeah, you can go check out kind of the state of things you know, like where where is the economy right now for manufacturing How well are we doing you know, kind of gives employment rates and that kind of thing by sector? Yeah, it’s it’s pretty neat. It’s very very informative so I think it’s a great tool so it’d be great for great for manufacturers to check that out definitely so so well

Curt Anderson  32:23

so i think you know so we’ll wind down in this a great you know, again kind of conclude your hearing you know, we’ve talked cybersecurity food technology, continuous improvement you know, social media marketing you guys offer a wealth of information resources, trusted guide so even for that manufacturer like if you feel a little bit of overwhelm or overload just take a step back close your office door and maybe just engage with your local MEP and just like hey you know and half the time you might you know, maybe even play therapist Kaylea right?

Kaylea Pogue  32:53

Sometimes that’s exactly what it is. It really is and that’s what we want to be you know that’s what we need to be that’s what we want to be so

Curt Anderson  33:04

that that’s a source of just like hey dumped the problems on us Let me just hear objective and again what I love you know your you know, your team is not out there you know, obviously you have accountability I’m sure you have goals benchmarks that you have to hit I don’t want to discount or diminish that you don’t however when you come in it’s objective and you’re like okay, I’m listening to the sitch the situation what are they going to you said pain points challenges frustrations and then okay who do I need to quarterback the ball to or you know we’ll use our patents you know our pet summit you know, yeah, analogy who we’re going to pass a ball to and how can we get some slam dunks going here right so kill any other parting thoughts any last words that you want to say as far as the Missouri enterpriser out for our manufacturers on this wonderful Monday in October

Kaylea Pogue  33:49

said yeah, no, I mean Mason mainly just if they have a need they need to reach out so because we’re chomping at the bit to help we want to help we you know, we’re ready and and we know that they you know, kind of need some alleviation for some of those things. So anything that we can do we want to write so yeah,

Curt Anderson  34:08

well right in the heart of our country, so again, great State of Missouri. You guys do amazing, amazing work. And so while I grabbed one more quote for you, since you’re a big pet summit fan, so we’ll close it out on this today. attitude is a choice. Positive thoughts daily Believe in yourself. So Kaylea, this was just absolutely wonderful. What a delight. guys check out the Missouri enterprise you want to check out your if you’re coming from a different state check out your local MEP manufacturing extension partnership, and they are there to help you Kelly we wish you just continued success, you know more national championships here at the Missouri enterprise. And so thank you for everything so Damon, Hey dude, I wish you a wonderful Monday. Kaylea, I wish you an awesome Monday guys go out there and absolutely crush it this week. On Friday daymond you ready for this? So you guys sitting down. I don’t know if you’re saying that. We have a guy from Forbes. We have Buddy Jim is the beat writer on manufacturing from Forbes magazine as our speaker on our webinar this Friday. You guys don’t want to miss it if you want to hear what’s going on in Forbes magazine great perspective. We’re going to talk about e commerce on Friday. So guys have an awesome week. Kaley, hang on one second and wish everybody an awesome, awesome day. Thank you.