Live in Chicago with Pedoc Power Solutions

Curt Anderson  00:01

Hey Damon, what’s up? Dude? How are you?

Damon Pistulka  00:04

I’m great. Curt. Do you have a good Father’s Day?

Curt Anderson  00:06

Oh my goodness gracious. Any better you would have had to call 911 Absolutely amazing. How was your father’s day?

Damon Pistulka  00:14

It was cool. It was very cool.

Curt Anderson  00:17

Like you deserve. Yeah. Good. Okay. Well, hey, I hope things are great in Seattle because we are in I do notice, like, I have a little bit of a different background than I normally it looks a little bit

Damon Pistulka  00:27

different than than the normal. Yeah, and

Curt Anderson  00:29

I’m not in my pajamas today, either. Did you notice that? Yeah. I had a shirt on. I have my pajama bottoms. But I have a dress shirt on today. So okay. Okay, so guys, we have an amazing, incredible we’re live in Chicago. I’m so thrilled. so fired up. So excited. Can you can you? Can you feel it? I can’t. Man, it’s just so Okay. Let’s go down the line. So I mean, I think you know, this young lady and I have my gosh, I guess. So. Nicole, who hails from the great, you know, Washington DC area is hanging out with like, she’s hanging out with me. I don’t know if she needs a better judge of character or something. Right. So hey, we’re at Pedoc Power Solutions in Chicago. Great, incredible manufacturer goes back. 50 years. 40 years. I can’t do them. 45 years. Almost almost as old as I am maybe close as old as Jason right. Jason right. Just right about there. Right. I’ll

Jason Deering  01:30

be turning 45 will later. Right. Okay. All right.

Curt Anderson  01:35

So guys, I’m gonna reduce you to Marlene. We have Marlene Palmer here today President and powerhouse at paddock Power Solutions. Marlene Good morning. How

Marlene Palmer  01:43

are you? I’m doing very well. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming out here and having a son. We’re excited to be here. Oh, thank you.

Curt Anderson  01:51

Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss this. And then I have my dear friend Melinda Marks. Jason I think you know this person. Just a little bit. So. Okay, so Marlene is president of paddock and you are a powerhouse marketer. Right? What’s What’s

Melinda Marks  02:07

your director of project management and operations for

Curt Anderson  02:10

packet now, before we get the I have a couple of questions before we get things started now. Marlene, how did you find Melinda? Like, where did you find

Marlene Palmer  02:19

it was really really tough. Melinda is my sister. Oh, she’s

Damon Pistulka  02:29

was wondering that. Yeah.

Curt Anderson  02:34

I thought we had like a successful LinkedIn story or like, maybe like, a deed or like, but you know, she was at Thanksgiving next. So, okay, so we’re gonna dig in Jason during my dear friend I met you like two weeks ago. Jason, how are you? Welcome to the program.

Jason Deering  02:50

Long, two weeks.

Damon Pistulka  02:57

long and painful.

Curt Anderson  02:59

Alright, long, two weeks. So I think about 20 years or so that we’ve been together. So ecommerce guru SEO extraordinaire, and so you came in and say today we’re going to dig into that in a little bit. So Damon, are you sitting down? Are you? Okay, everybody sit down. Everybody ready? Okay, let’s, let’s get this party’s. Okay. So ladies, as we get into this, we’re gonna talk about manufacturing women in manufacturing, marketing and manufacturing, all sorts of good stuff. We’re here in a great city, Chicago. So Nicole, I have to go there. I have to go there. The first question, Damon, I have to go there. My first question. Yep. Right. You got to know I since I have to, I just found out they’re sisters. I didn’t realize that. So they’re sisters. And so I’m gonna have two different questions for them. Okay, because I have a question because then you know, to me, you know, survivor. So Marlene question for you. I’m going to ask you a completely different question now. Okay. All right. So Marlene, when you were little girl growing up, yes. A little girl growing up here in Chicago. Yes. Who was your hero? My dad your dad. Dad. Your dad was 100% My dad was my hero. Your dad was your girl and as a proud girl, dad, man that just warms my heart.

Nicole Donnelly  04:12

Yeah. My dad was my hero when I was a kid too. So I can totally relate to that.

Curt Anderson  04:17

Damon Don’t you just love these answers. Now Jason, he just has three sons. So like he can’t chime in on this one vote but okay, so I have a totally different question for you. And we’re gonna dig deep into debt. We’re gonna get into debt in a minute and he amazing, incredible, wonderful Father’s Day. We just got a tour of this place. Man, are you I’m sorry to make you jealous, but you should be so. Totally different question. Are you ready? Are you sitting down? You’re a little girl growing up. Yeah. Who was your girl? Their dad. Okay. So they’ve got a plus on.

Damon Pistulka  04:52

That was good. Okay,

Curt Anderson  04:54

let’s dig into debt. Let’s hear I want to hear about this story. And there’s a great history Hear let’s Can you share a little bit with us Marlene,

Marlene Palmer  05:02

I’d be happy to. Melinda and I both I mean, I think we both tear up just thinking about and what a great guy. He immigrated from Germany. He he came here in the late 50s met my mother who immigrated from Croatia. They started a family right away. We are to have four sisters who have all at one time or another worked here. Yes. My

Curt Anderson  05:33

author LinkedIn Damon

Damon Pistulka  05:37

found the jobs Yeah,

Marlene Palmer  05:39

my dad learned the metalworking trade in Germany. He was a coppersmith by trade, and loved the field came to the United States and continued working in metal fabrication, worked for a business that he he was appreciative of a job but didn’t really particularly care for the way that it was run. So in his spare time out of his home, he started working with one of the customers who was so upset with the current owner for not being able to supply in parts that he started working nights. I don’t think he really intended to build his own business, but it happened to be that he was the only one that was willing to help this man. And Mark, Chris was founded by my dad and a partner at the time. Back in 1978 was the official start date of the business. And the the company that that they started working with at the time was scaled. tronics and they are to this day, one of our largest customers, one of our largest customers still 40 Some years later. Yeah.

Curt Anderson  06:48

Yeah. And I have all sorts of pictures of product for that exact customer. Jason, anything happened in 1978 that year, anything else that was born in 1970 that you’re familiar with?

Jason Deering  06:58

Oh, I think I came along about that time. Yeah.

Curt Anderson  07:01

Massive events here in this company and the birth of Jason Deering. So I think was a great, wonderful year. David, that was a good year wasn’t it was like, right. Okay. All right. So let’s dig in dad’s name is

Marlene Palmer  07:15

Oelrich Oelrich marks. He went by Ali for short, because no one could pronounce the German. The German Oh, yeah, that was good. So,

Nicole Donnelly  07:24

yeah, leave, right. Yes. Yes. Cool. Name. Yep. So

Marlene Palmer  07:28

so he slowly built this business up. They started in Rosemont, which is not far from here, in a tiny little shop and eventually moved into our space here in Mount Prospect. His partner unfortunately, passed away early on in the formation of the business. So it was my dad, just really wearing all the hats of a small business owner for many, many years. A lot of frustration, a lot of a lot of achievement, though. And we’re, we’re just so proud of what he did, and so grateful to have what we have now. And think, thank goodness, it all worked out as good as it did.

Curt Anderson  08:12

Yeah. So Damon, very excited. So there’s two facilities, we’re actually in their assembly plant right now. And I walked in like, there are all sorts of handsome dudes over here, like, I’ll tell you. So we’re at two different plants. And they have pictures of like ollie up on the wall. And there’s a there’s a an employee that we just met, it was like one of their first early employer. I know first time employees been here for over 40 years, Hector. Hector, there’s a picture on the wall. He was 19 years old. And we just got to meet him that he worships third dad. And so just you know, again, just great meeting USA. Wonderful manufacturing story going on here at paddock. So Melinda, let’s talk about like your perspective, from, you know, being a little girl watching dad just working relentlessly as an entrepreneur, building this company up like what was your perspective?

Melinda Marks  09:03

Yeah, for sure. And so when you asked me earlier, how long ago the business started, the way I calculated is I was one years old, were you wanting to go see was 45 years ago? You so yeah, so our father and I think anybody that knew him would test you know, testify that he was just a hard working, honest, fair, man with who had a big picture mindset, attention to detail. And I think you saw that as you walk through the shop. That’s one of the unique things about Mark crests and paddock is just the cleanliness, you know, how meticulous things are and that’s just how we’ve been able to keep that legacy. That alive and over at Mark Chris. Yeah,

Curt Anderson  09:54

just wonderful culture. And so Nicole, you grew up with a dad, his manufacturer and you got to tour this morning and like what was your impression? I mean you’re just beaming walking around the block again

Nicole Donnelly  10:04

it was just like my face lit up just to see so much energy and to see everything that was happening and just just the technology that you have to be able to create these these these power pedestals is amazing

Melinda Marks  10:18

and I liked it as we were walking through Nicole kept asking well wait a minute when your dad was alive, how were you able to make these parts? Because now you see that high tech equipment? The ways are that are you know, parts are being cut in seconds. Yeah. How it used to get done so that was cool question that I asked him

Marlene Palmer  10:40

you know, we certainly I and our father loved that he loved technology he always wanted better and and faster and to be on the cutting edge. So I think you’d be really proud of what we have over there now. Yeah, and we’re continuing to add new equipment we have a new robotic laser welder coming at the end of this month so yeah, it’s

Nicole Donnelly  11:02

what if so legacy to carry on that innovation that I love what you said how your father had this big picture mindset but was also very attentive to detail and being able to do both of those things. Wow. That’s a special skill and to be able to carry that legacy on I could see it when I was walking through the plant all of those things yes, it was really powerful. Yeah,

Curt Anderson  11:21

they were the equipments I just stated the art and just the place is just buzzing just fantastic. It’s just it was just so awesome. Watching everything but let’s dig into that for a minute really. So the thing is, you go back to the 70s where he didn’t quite have that state of the art equipment and dad was every entrepreneur was on multiple different hats you know, I need to do my own HR my own finance was dead more like engineering side more like real perceives operations. He was Was he a sales guru? Oh,

Marlene Palmer  11:48

he was he was everything. Surprisingly, though, not much in sales, because he never had to be. Yeah. So the customers came to him when you say you’re tracking his weight to this day. Don’t have a sales team. We have. We have word of mouth. So

Nicole Donnelly  12:05

amazing. Yeah. Built your business.

Curt Anderson  12:08

Just like Ali just made great quality, and just kind of stood for itself. And word got out. Yeah, go and you need to go to

Melinda Marks  12:17

Absolutely. Yeah. And you knew who you are as a person was going to take care of you. Yeah. If you needed help with engineering, you’re not quite sure. Who was there to help you. Yeah. So quality of the product for customer service from the get go.

Curt Anderson  12:34

Yep. And I did a tour today we saw the engineering team, we went into the quality department and or ISO 9000. So just a lot of really good exciting things. So let’s get in. So unfortunately, dad is no longer with us. And so let’s talk about I wanted to go back a little bit in time, what attracted you to the business and like we’re trying to do manufacturing,

Marlene Palmer  12:53

there was no attraction.

Curt Anderson  12:58

I’m bringing into work today,

Marlene Palmer  12:59

there was nothing exciting about sheetmetal it was, it was dirty, it was it, there was nothing, there was nothing attractive about the business at all to me, until the day I needed a job. It got really ugly, wow, things looked a lot better and brighter over there. So But thankfully, you know, thankfully, times were tough back when I graduated from college, it wasn’t that easy to get a job. And my dad created a spot for me. I don’t think he ever imagined it would blossom into anything, but he knew that I needed a place to be. And there I was, and lo and behold, I actually really and truly loved it.

Nicole Donnelly  13:45

Really just right off the bat. What was it that you love,

Marlene Palmer  13:48

I just loved every bit of it. I loved working with him. He was such a wonderful teacher. Just always always there to help and explain and, and and just his kindness it was just something very nice for me to be able to have a work relationship with my dad and I treasured it up until up until he died. It really was very special. So so to have a job working with him and to suddenly be in a field that I really never gave any real serious thought to I didn’t understand it. It was it was men’s work. It was dirty it wasn’t it there was nothing exciting about it. So do then be forced to understand it and be put in that environment and learn about it. It was very enlightening. To the point where I spent three years in trade school I learned the trade from the ground up Wow, I’m I am a degree sheet metal modelmaker Are you really Oh yeah. Wow. So I know it so I started I started running the equipment right out of college my dad put me on the machines because you really need to understand Yeah, the core basics, how machines function and what they do and what the different materials are, what the tolerances are, what the capabilities are, need to really know all of that in order to go out and generate sales in order to put together a quote. That makes sense. Yeah. And, and I learned I learned from the ground up and it’s really been, it’s really been wonderful. Really has been

Curt Anderson  15:26

okay, Nicole Cole has an aunt Barb. Okay. But Aunt Barbara is in her 90s and Aunt Barb made the best eye hi and so we’d like to see in our little show is like man somebody just dropped like just such golden nuggets right there. It’s like an five stronger Damon was delicious but I

Damon Pistulka  15:49

was I was going back to feeling the cut sheet metal parts of my hand going into the press brake bending you know, oh, man. Welders welding the seals up all?

Curt Anderson  16:03

Yeah, dude, you need to come.

Damon Pistulka  16:06

We’re talking my language. breaks and

Curt Anderson  16:12

we got to dig into this for a second. So Merlini college when you went to college, go like college age goals. Dreams. Like Jason, your son just graduated from college. You don’t that age? Yeah. You know, I think a couple of young guys out here might be college age like yeah, what were you what aspirations did

Marlene Palmer  16:26

you have? I wanted I really truly wanted to be a child psychologist did you?

Damon Pistulka  16:37

Probably

Nicole Donnelly  16:42

picture you as a metal worker, as a woman. Baller. We have some good

Curt Anderson  16:49

psychology to sheet metal, like so quite a change. out of college 20 Something you’re coming into the shop. We’re like, when you get up in the morning. Like, you know, like I’m really digging this.

Marlene Palmer  17:02

I really did enjoy it I loved learning about it was it was just something that made sense to me. It really did. It was it’s part art part science part. All of that. Yeah. It’s part psychology having to work with different personalities. It’s all of it. Yeah. So and when you own a business, it really it really do you have to wear a lot of hats and you need a big skill set. And

Nicole Donnelly  17:29

I have a question. What is it that you feel like, you know, your dad obviously has just created this beautiful legacy. And I love to see how you continue that legacy on as the daughter of I’m a fourth generation entrepreneur myself, and I just love that. Like, I feel like I just want to carry on that legacy entrepreneurship. What is it that you feel you bring you brought to the business like, that is like your own legacy? I guess? Boy.

Curt Anderson  18:03

We’ve done like 200 episodes, that was like our first draft of my question.

Marlene Palmer  18:08

I don’t know what I have brought. But what I’ve carried on, I feel like is just that sense of it has to be done. Right? We have to customer, customer service is paramount for us. And that was what my dad believed in and to this day, everyone in our company knows that this is that this is utmost important that we that we satisfy our customers that good products go out the door. We stand by them. We’re good to people.

Melinda Marks  18:39

And security with jobs. Yes. Yeah, for sure. I mean, yeah, just you’ve been able to maintain that. For sure. That’s for so long, even during challenging times, and COVID. And you put

Nicole Donnelly  18:52

your employees first

Marlene Palmer  18:54

are, you can really feel that

Nicole Donnelly  18:57

when when I was walking through the plant, you can feel the sense that there’s a culture here where the people can you can tell they enjoy working there, and just the quality of the craftsmanship. You can see it’s pretty remarkable. So

Curt Anderson  19:13

that’s keep this Hardy rolling. So yes, if you could share a little bit about your involvement. I think like my understand what you kind of came and went, you’ve been involved back. What’s your story?

Melinda Marks  19:26

Yeah, so I mentioned to you before that I was one year old when my dad our dad started the company. And so I grew up as a young girl coming to the shop working in the shipping department. One thing about our father too, that I adored is he like advocated for women in this industry. Yes. And that long ago, which not many people were advocating that, you know, he like yeah, I want you to learn this. I want you out there. You can do it. And so Just that was was pretty great. So growing up I remember I used to ask him, can you bring some parts home? I friends and I want to work. And so it was the it was this material that you had to pull this adhesive off of. And I think we got three cents per part. That’s you entrepreneurs. Oh, yeah, yeah. And so we all I think we all spent our summers at the business or in the office, in the shop wherever needed to be. And so Marlene actually helped me I don’t even know if you remember this. Me decide on my major. i Wow, I

Marlene Palmer  20:39

don’t remember.

Melinda Marks  20:41

We narrow in. So I received my bachelor’s in industrial technology. Yeah. And so very cool. Well, I’m not as proficient with manufacturing things. I had exposure to it, at least I hit a welding class. I did it. Not skilled, you know, but, so I had clumps of that as well. And then I moved around a little bit throughout the country and came back about seven years ago now and primarily focus on paddock.

Curt Anderson  21:18

Man, yeah, just, you know, just, you know, Dad comes in four daughters, just treat some, you know, equal and just say, Guys, you’re gonna business and just, you know, look at others legacy. Let’s get into this going into the transition. Okay, so 2005 Yes, you know, let’s, let’s, let’s hear about to whatever you’re comfortable sharing, how did that what was your role prior to 2005. And then what occurred and then moving forward. So

Marlene Palmer  21:43

my dad had been sick for several years. And, and But thankfully, during that time, we knew enough about the business to maintain it and keep it going. When he, when he did pass on, I took I took on the role of president of the company, and just pretty much assumed all of the responsibilities that he had had. So that would be all the quoting all of the production type management, employees, human resources, quality system, all of that. But what I did have a helper, I married I married. I

Curt Anderson  22:23

married to help her she married ball, Damon. Yeah, we

Damon Pistulka  22:26

just tried to help her. I like that all the time this

Curt Anderson  22:29

morning. So we can drag in your buddy, her husband’s here somewhere?

Nicole Donnelly  22:33

Yeah, he’s a helper.

Marlene Palmer  22:35

That responsibility is now shared by by myself and my husband. He runs a lot more of the production floor. And and I’m much more office coding and sales and HR.

Curt Anderson  22:47

How long? How long have you been here? When my dad moved on?

Marlene Palmer  22:50

So he he passed in? 2005. I’ve been here since 1989. So I had a lot of years under my belt with him. Yes.

Curt Anderson  23:00

So I’m gonna let’s dig into that for a little bit. So you know, again, so Damon, your exit strategy specialist here. So I just I feel compelled. And please chime in with any questions that you have here. But as you’re you know, were you Was there a lot of prep time was or, you know, like, Dad, like, hey, Marlene, sit down. I needed like, let me show you how the finances let me take you to economy hands. Let me show you the HR side. This is how I measure, raise. It’s like just all the little things that like when dad’s gone. You’re like, ah, Dad, what do you know? How do I handle this?

Marlene Palmer  23:28

He had been teaching me for years. Yeah, so yeah. Yeah, I did feel pretty well prepared. Yeah. Yeah. And there were there were times where, you know, there were we had a lot of doubts, you know, are we going to be able to do this? Do we really know? And, and we did. We did pull it off.

Curt Anderson  23:48

Yes. And again, I you know, I you know, it’s always a tough subject. 18 years ago, you know, because you’re dealing with the grieving. Yeah. You know, that’s excited businesses, like, you know, you know, cheap steel. We lost the president of our company. Oh, I just lost my dad. I just lost. Yeah. Yeah. Now, like, you know, the show’s got to go on. Right. Yeah.

Damon Pistulka  24:06

Actually, I’m actually posting about that this week. And it’s weird that we’re talking about this today, because so many times, people like your Father, don’t take the time to express teach somebody else express their wishes. And businesses fold. They just fold when when the owners pass, even if it’s even if it’s not sudden, but you’re you’re so blessed to be able to have worked with your father long enough and for him to be able to mentor you to be able to continue on it’s very cool.

Marlene Palmer  24:38

And one of the key things in that regard is is also that I had a lot of exposure to our customers. And the employees knew me right so so they were you know, they already had a face for Mark crest that while my dad was gone, there was someone else there that was still family and still knew the business.

Curt Anderson  24:59

There was Fox News. Yes, yeah. And somebody that’s willing to roll up their sleeves, take the metal working classes and like get out on the floor and like, you know, blood sweat and tears with with folks on the floor. Exactly. Yes. Okay. Okay. So Damon, you we talked about Jason, I’ll get into in a minute. Right there. Yeah. I know, like you dug deep. And you I know you had a special time with Melinda. We’re going to get things from your perspective. But Damon, we talked about this, you know, thought four out of five businesses fail in the first five. And then when you go in every five year increment past that it plunked like so at the height of a business surviving 10 years 1520 20 It goes on expediting around 80%, right. So if you do the math, a business to survive for 45 years, like I can’t do that, but it’s like, it’s less than like, what? 2% 1% Yeah. So not only will you take like what David just said, you know, Dad comes in, and we’re, you know, we’re just someone last night, starting a business from zero. Yeah. And turn it into a million dollar business is a gargantuan accomplishment. Huge. Survive my first five years go my next five my next year, you know, like you keep going in those buckets. You’ve accomplished that nine times. That cycle. on your own without dad for poor? Yeah. So like when you put it in, like I’m getting chills even think about like, yeah, like, think about the accomplishment of like, you know, how you’re in like such a rare breed of like entrepreneurs that can survive unless we should get that number. So I don’t

Damon Pistulka  26:43

know, but you’re about right. You’re about right, I think. I think it’s like one or 2%

Curt Anderson  26:48

Nicole throughout a said on Friday, when somebody in the comment section was like, Hey, where’d you get that stamp? So I’m waiting for somebody famous. Yeah, the comments are coming up on our end. So if you could just check out LinkedIn if there’s any comments or any questions, I will do that. Okay, so let’s get into let’s get let’s speed up we’ll go to the mark let’s get to the marketing side. Okay, so you came into the business seven years ago was Was there an outreach I cases I need help? Or what was what was that that look like? Or like, you know, geez, we pens a screen business. We don’t have a sales department. Yeah. What inspired you that all sudden, we needed marketing? I need some I need some Melinda time. Like, how did that what what was that transition?

Marlene Palmer  27:25

So I was Yeah, we did need help.

Melinda Marks  27:28

And I had just moved back from I was living in Alexandria, and so had just just moved back and yeah, that was an opportunity. And then yeah, so, so rejoined.

Marlene Palmer  27:40

We are we’re cut mark, Chris is a contract metal fabricator. Yeah. So So our business is really there is no sales or marketing of its own product. So when we acquired this paddock lined, we were like, what do we do now? Right. And Melinda has been instrumental in helping us get all of that off the ground, get the website rolling, working on all of our marketing, how to do this, this selling online stuff that I don’t understand and all that gets my head spinning.

Curt Anderson  28:16

Yeah, so that’s alright, so we’re gonna dig deep. Alright, so Jason, you’re gonna get a minute here my friend and so we’re gonna dig into paddock. So share a little bit custom manufacturer for decades you know, don’t have your own proprietary product, your finished goods. You know, you’re always making something for somebody else, you know, like, hey, Marlene, here’s a drawing. Can you do this for me? Yes, we do skip and you should see the finished product. Some of the finishings we were we might have to dig into that but just sure a little bit about like the relationship dad had with the company paddock and how this came to fruition.

Marlene Palmer  28:50

So So Pedoc was one of the last big projects that my dad worked on before he passed. And the product line was developed by an electrician who saw a need for for the types of pedestals that are used that are that could be utilized outside in a safe in a safe manner. What he saw out there he didn’t like so he and my dad worked extensively developing the paddock pedestal line. After my dad passed, the gentleman that he had been working with was still in contact with us. We were still making pedestals for him but he was getting towards retirement age. And we thought, wow, this is a chance for us to fulfill another one of my dad’s dreams, which was to have our own product that’s every truck manufacturer has their own product line, right. It really is. So we we worked with the gentleman that the founder of paddock, we acquired the line from him. And that was in what year 2008 Yes, yeah. So about a year after my dad passed, we acquired the product line and he would have just been so darn proud. Yeah, I mean, it was it’s truly something that we wanted from day one, to just have something of our very own. Yeah. So so we’ve been working and growing and doing the engineering to finesse the product and, and get it to the state where it’s it’s, it’s got a nice customer base already but you know more players are getting into the market things are feeling a little bit more intense and we need to step up our game. Perfect.

Curt Anderson  30:27

Okay, so that’s what they did. And so Damon we’re gonna get into the product. You see these wonderful products?

Damon Pistulka  30:33

I see him back there.

Curt Anderson  30:35

Here. So let’s take a look at some I’m going to sneak up in between how’s this? Yeah, so excuse my for

Damon Pistulka  30:41

a lot while you’re moving around. Kurt. I’m gonna say hello to Whitney. We got Gwen here today, Diana. We’ve got Diane buyer. We got June. We got Inger we let’s see who else if I missed that it’s rolling through this. David Smith. Yeah, Dan bigger said lots of people commenting. It’s just not we’re not seeing it on our end. Thanks so much, everyone. On your account Friday. Yeah, I think I think they might be having a glitch. But I’m watching it. So to keep commenting. And I’m, I’m doing it.

Curt Anderson  31:13

Thank you, brother. So we normally would be seeing all the comments. So Whitney Houston, Dan, bigger. Everybody out there, guys. Thank you, Diane Dyer. Thank you guys for joining. So you’re just at the top of the hour, I think whatever time zone you’re in, we’re in a great city of Chicago, or just outside of Chicago today. And we’re with Pedoc Power Solutions. And if you’re just joining us, we’re with my friend Melinda over here. We have Marlene over here. And so we’re gonna dig in, we’re gonna take a talk about some of their products right here. Who wants to who wants to go through? Do you want to give us a little tour of the product? Absolutely. What’s, what’s going on here, let’s talk to us about this product.

Melinda Marks  31:50

So pack stands for pedestals for outdoor circuits. And so it is essentially a housing for electrical wiring and components. And so which, of course, it’s electric city, so there’s got to be some type of regulation involved. And so all of these products had had to go through rigorous underwriter laboratory testing. And so the we have chosen a material, these are all made of a heavy stainless steel, look at

Curt Anderson  32:28

how solid it is just saw. This is Made in USA. This is

Damon Pistulka  32:36

metal goodness, right

Curt Anderson  32:37

there know what I’m talking about?

Melinda Marks  32:41

Yeah, yeah, nothing’s gonna break off. Promise, well, completely welded. So, anyway, if those folks don’t really know what a pedestal is, so they’re designed to be outdoors, and so they’re for rugged conditions. So specifically, we have two main types. This is a direct bear model. So half of this would sit below grade. So I only see this, this will be visible. And let’s say your city are in you have holiday lighting all up and down your your streets. And you don’t have a good way to plug in typically with

Marlene Palmer  33:24

a US stubbed up conduit, and it’s hot. It’s very unsafe. And you’ll see Yeah, and over on the on the side of the street.

Melinda Marks  33:32

So yeah, and so this, this particular model has our cover on it, it can it can be whacked while it’s in use. So essentially what happens under Grade, below grade here is this heavy stainless steel is protecting from shifting ground conditions and everything to because all that is just going to mess with conduit that’s just running, you know, non protected. So. So yeah, we’ve become I mean a choice. We get specified on projects. We have folks looking for quotes on large projects. We’ve seen quotes come in for Google Ritz Carlton, it’s really cool to get a drive asking you to vote and it’s got a Ritz Carlton loan.

Curt Anderson  34:21

Demon what Linden really do, they’re like, well, we’ll deliver it oh by the way, can you know, can we get a real job? Yeah, this is just and we had the privilege and pleasure of watching these being produced this morning in different stages. And Nicole, what did you Oh,

Nicole Donnelly  34:42

that was amazing. Well, you can see the quality and the fact that like brands like Ritz who is known as being like a very great brand, yeah. And Google are coming that just I think speaks to the reputation that you’ve built and that they’re, you know, those brands are looking for something quality luxury for Word application is so I think it’s definitely what we saw was pretty cool to see the laser Gino stamp it was. I’m speechless.

Curt Anderson  35:07

Steve, like, you know, each phase of the product of this being produced. And again, right here in Chicago, American hands making these great rugged, durable products and it’s just so cool. Jason rumor has it like you came in and saved the day one day. Does that how? Sorry, let’s share a little bit. We’re gonna give a big shout out to our friends at IMEC. So anybody out there from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, they are here in Illinois, they’ve had the honor and privilege of connecting with IMEC we’re going to dig into that, but just share a little bit of your experience of this wonderful human being on the virtual.

Melinda Marks  35:51

You’re not, that’s not a stretch for sure. So yes, Jason. So I had come to IMEC I think I as a smaller business and I was really mentioned lots of competition in the marketplace. Now, with a heavy online presence. We recognize that we really need to up our efforts and capturing more online traffic. And so that’s googling SEO and the Illinois and you popped up

Curt Anderson  36:22

I’m sorry, who? I’m recording that for my mom. Yeah.

Jason Deering  36:29

Google this IP.

Melinda Marks  36:31

So I joined the one of your sessions and you reached out to me a free SEO report. I think it was my

Curt Anderson  36:42

little freebie. No wonder over I was Nicole and I were doing a little jam session at IMEC. We call it SEO made simple for manufacturers. That was our goal in Melinda came to one of our little webinars and we got there coming to our webinars. You know, we have a great time in our gym session. So Melinda came in and we connected we just totally hit it off. And so she applied for little grant program through IMEC the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Partnership, our dear friends out there so we’re going to be with Jacqueline tomorrow. We’re hitting Illinois manufacturers tomorrow in Wednesday. Super excited about that our dear friend raise a guide all day belay miserable was a fossa, giant Zara. Czarna. Everybody out there, Cameron, big shout out to our friends at iMac. So okay, so you and I are on a call one day. Yeah. And so she’s burst chat, and we’re geeking out about SEO and then also have a little website issue. And Jason What happened that day?

Jason Deering  37:40

jumps on the text me I think he texted me Hey, can you jump on this call was

Curt Anderson  37:46

like at the DMV or like you were somewhere. I’m like, Hey, dude, what are you doing right

Jason Deering  37:49

now? I was like five minutes from home or something like that. Pulling the driveway ran upstairs real quick jumped on, on the Zoom call. And then we had

Melinda Marks  37:59

some glitches, we had a glitch. So Kurt had been showing me SEO and ways to improve the site, I have a little bit of knowledge of web, I don’t even know WordPress and things like that. And so I had made some other changes which might have caused a little lag time in the website. Point being Jason was there to save the day and was quickly able to restore us. So nice, you Jason

Curt Anderson  38:27

the hero. JASON So you know, you’ve been working with manufacturers matter of fact, we were just at a manufacturer Friday afternoon. And this is a longtime night from the 1985 contract manufacturer in we’ve been working with them and diligently on converting into that proprietary product. Just share a little bit on like your experience working with, you know, Mundo the team here at paddock, like your perspective of what’s going on the shirt. Let’s hear your story.

Jason Deering  38:54

So yeah, I am helping Melinda. She’s battling through the website trying to figure out how to do all these different things in the website. And again, she’s it tells me that she doesn’t know how to do all this and, and then I’m getting into it and she’s like, well ahead of where I’m trying to get her and explain something to her. And next thing I know she’s doing it and she comes back and so I mess with this. I played with this and, and and got this to go but I’m having this issue and then you know, we’d jump on the phone or call. I’d help her through it. She’s picking it up so quickly. It was amazing to me. It’s the exact type of clients I want. So yeah, it’s fantastic. Just the way she just wants to go get that website the way she needs it. Getting her hands deep into that website into the content, the SEO. You know, it was it’s just a fun I’m gonna thing to watch. And then, you know, coming to me ask me a couple questions and then going and doing exactly what I explained to her and coming back with another one few days if she had any issues, Fantasticks experience, like I said, it’s one of those clients that I absolutely dream of. Every time you call the phone rings, I’m hoping it’s that type of client and yeah, necessarily get that all the time. So again, that was much appreciated. That’s awesome.

Melinda Marks  40:32

Yeah, good, cuz I thought maybe I was bugging

Jason Deering  40:37

me up. If you’re calling me up every other day with a problem, I’d rather deal with you than someone

Curt Anderson  40:47

just kidding, just kidding. So any advice suggestions and you see a trend or Daymond? Where, you know, Marlene comes in, she’s like, Man, I need to learn this. I’m gonna go to trade school. I’m gonna take you know, in Linda, same thing like she’s I’m, like, I need to understand this SEO thing I need to dig in, connects with IMEC. And so the couple let’s hit a couple couple of points here. So IMEC your experience with IMEC other manufacturers and like, you know, if you’re a manufacturer, you’re coming to us from a different state by there’s an MEP near yours. In here in Illinois, there’s a manufacturing such a partnership program in all 50 states, let it what’s been your experience or like, how would you what, what’s your what’s your testimony towards IMEC?

Melinda Marks  41:31

Well, it’s huge. So I’m happy to be happy to share. So like I said, I joined that short webinar that you all had, which was awesome. I learned all about Rick’s. Rick’s ridiculously important keywords

Curt Anderson  41:50

are ridiculously important keywords man that just warmed my heart. Like man.

Melinda Marks  41:57

I did. I did. Yes. Yes. So anyway, I learned a lot just from that. And then you sent me that report. And I was like, wow, we have room here for improvement. So you are awesome about just reaching back out. instrumental in helping us go through iMac to iMac to get that. That grant, which was great. That was a seamless process. And then just a few weeks, you and I were on our kickoff call and nice. Yeah. And then a couple of weeks later, Jason is Jason saved the day. Yeah. Jason saved the day.

Curt Anderson  42:32

So you know, it’s just a great team effort. And so I think any I’m gonna I’m gonna hit both you with this question from a mark, you know, thrown your marketing hat on what you know, any words of advice, words of wisdom that you would share from manufacturers out there that maybe like where you were a few years ago, or just kind of, like, hey, we need to start marketing journey. Any words of advice that you would share for a manufacturer?

Melinda Marks  42:54

Now is the time No, I haven’t started now start now. You’re here? Yes.

Marlene Palmer  43:01

I have to agree. I just I’ve learned so much just from Melinda. And I’m, if you’re not in it, it’s, it’s you’re going to struggle. I mean, realizing how how much our sales depend on a good web presence. It, you have to have it, you simply have to, I think this, the paddock line, I think would fold. If we just didn’t keep after constantly trying to improve and get position it just get visibility online, you have to, you have to be very proactive in that. And that was something I didn’t realize, I just thought, hey, you get a product out there. It’s a good product, people are gonna want it, but they gotta find you. And that’s what that’s the tricky piece of all of this is, is that ability to have a product that people can find.

Nicole Donnelly  43:55

Yeah, and I mean, the way buyers buy now is different. It’s changed over the last two decades. So you know, when your dad was building his business, it was a very different process. When people went about they would pick up the phone and call now people spend so much more time just research where they are ready to do that. Yeah. And you do you have to show up and you have to educate them and be there for them before they’re even ready to pick up that phone and make it as easy as possible.

Damon Pistulka  44:22

Yeah. Well, it’s, there’s an interesting fact about this really, is that most of the people that are in business now, I think it’s over 50% Even now, I grew up as a teenager with Google. Yeah, no kidding. You know, so because like, like, I believe it was I went did this long time ago on a presentation that Curt heard me say it before it’s, it’s like, yeah, I think it’s like 60 or 70% of the people now in business grew up with high speed internet and Google, right. So they’re used to searching for products. Yes, that has driven so many, many changes. Just like you were talking about, Marlene, you know, word of mouth has gotten great manufacturers a long way. Yes. But as but as the the older people are, are moving into different things in the business or into management and the younger people are doing the buying or specifications for projects. They’re looking on Google, they’re looking on a website to try to find products.

Nicole Donnelly  45:22

Yeah, they’re looking for that social proof. They want to see people are saying about the brand. And that’s, you know, that’s important. That’s huge.

Curt Anderson  45:29

Yeah, yeah. Especially like doing live stream statement. And you’d like these two, were just so ecstatic. It’s just everybody chill out a second.

Damon Pistulka  45:48

of you, and I can do it. Anybody? Immigrants can do it. Yeah.

Curt Anderson  45:55

And I didn’t even know. Okay, so let’s go here. Marlene, did you have an aha moment? Or like, you know, a word of mouth sales. Old school, like was there all sudden, it was like a gradual, mandus online thing, I guess isn’t a fad anymore. Like,

Marlene Palmer  46:09

it really hit me when Linda showed me some of the reports of where we were ranking. And I mean, there’s there are large companies out there who are getting into this space. And they’re so far ahead of us already. And I just feel like it’s not fair. Yes, we’ve been there for years and years. And we’re, we’re in danger of not being found, right. If we don’t keep after it.

Nicole Donnelly  46:34

Yeah. I mean, I would just say like this, you going on this live stream. Now that is cutting edge. You’re laughing but it’s you know, it’s so true. Because 90% of buyers today want to buy from a brand that shows authenticity, they don’t. They want to feel like they know the people behind the brand. And being on a show like this and being live like this is just such a great way for people to see the people behind the brand rather than what you It’s so different than if you’re reading a blog post or, you know, looking at a product page or sales sheet. People get to experience your stories, your authenticity, people connect with that. So I think you guys are on the cutting edge, right.

Melinda Marks  47:21

We’re looking forward to continuing Yeah, yeah, we see your passion and your knowledge. Yeah.

Marlene Palmer  47:26

That’s the market. It’s a big thank you. To you folks. Yes. Really Melinda’s told me so much about what you’ve done, and we really appreciate it.

Curt Anderson  47:38

Just absolutely. You know, we got to stop being the best kept secret. And one of the big takeaway today I love instead, Marlene, is like having that competitive edge having that entrepreneurial spirit and like I don’t want to lose, I don’t want my competitors ahead of us. Jason lenders tool when you and I were hitting, you know, we were knocking on manufacturers doors, like literally physically, you know, literally knocking on doors, and I would on my laptop, I would have like keyword setup. And you know, I’d be like, Hey, Mr. Manufacturer, you know, you know, the oh, you know, I don’t need this Google thing. I did a Google search and like, you know, are these one of your keywords? And they’re like, Yeah, and I’m like, well, who’s this? Like, well, that’s my competitor. That’s my competitor. I’m like, I’m like, Are you mad? You’re like, Yeah, I’m like, God, I want you met. And so that’s what I love that you have that sense of urgency of like, this isn’t acceptable. Like, you know, our people work hard. And you know, in so we’re going to step up our game. So I mean, how about is everybody just juicer Wi Fi or Chicago? And all the fun.

Damon Pistulka  48:37

Good stuff. Yeah, deep dish pizza in the conversation. Or ribs? You know, there’s two things I know. But I didn’t want to tell you oh my goodness. Don’t

Curt Anderson  48:54

it’s no fun here

Damon Pistulka  48:55

whatsoever. Rooftop. Oh my goodness, time. Okay.

Curt Anderson  48:58

Let’s start. We’re gonna start winding down. Daymond. So we’ve got all sorts of pictures. I got videos of the product. We’re gonna be posting that. Oh, awesome. You’ve just done an amazing job. Let’s Let’s go here. What are you excited about for the future? Where’s paddock wood, we’re gonna come back here for our five year anniversary. Right? Back here do another really

Nicole Donnelly  49:17

before five years, right?

Curt Anderson  49:19

What’s what’s the future look like here for paddock.

Marlene Palmer  49:21

It’s exciting. It’s exciting. And I see growth provided we can we can keep our presence up there. It’s, you know, we our our growth has been steady and significant year over year. So if we’ve got more interestingly, more competitors coming into the market, which kind of makes me feel like okay, now there’s more opportunities because if they’re recognizing that this is an area for growth, then then dang it. We’re on a good path,

Curt Anderson  49:54

you know? Yeah, great. points have been Nevermore strawberry rhubarb. I agree. Because no cooling it off. Because like competitors, you know, like the shave like, you know, it’s flattery, it’s product market fit. It’s like proof of concept. I’m putting out a great product. In other your big competitors are like, Hey, wait a minute, who are these guys that are not enough? You know,

Nicole Donnelly  50:20

there’s a market for more.

Curt Anderson  50:23

And there’s diversity opportunities here with a product line. So we are ecstatic. So, Linda Future here at paddock for your perspective, which would any any thoughts that you want to share?

Melinda Marks  50:34

Oh, a lot of great time, Jason. me just be ready for me. Ready?

Curt Anderson  50:46

Ready, Coach during Are you ready?

Jason Deering  50:49

I’m ready. I’m always ready. Like Hey, Coach

Curt Anderson  50:51

says Bring it on. So. Okay, well, we start winding things down. Nicole, any any words of wisdom, hearty thoughts, too?

Nicole Donnelly  50:59

I don’t have I mean, I think they’ve had so many words of wisdom. It’s, I would just say what an honor to get to the year and see the what you guys have built what your dad’s built and see that legacy being carried on. Like I said, as a, as a daughter of a entrepreneur, it’s just really inspiring to see how you think about legacy on and think how you’re adding your own part to that legacy is really cool, you know, and it’s such a great product, I mean, being able to watch them hand polished. So not only are they using this incredible technology to create this product, there’s still some really cool manual hands on work that’s being done that makes I think, what makes this product really special, the hand polishing that’s being done everything. I don’t know, I’m going down the rabbit hole, but I think it’s like it’s just really great what you’re building and it’s really nice to be a part of American manufacturing.

Curt Anderson  51:49

Yep, yeah. This is Damon, what’s that guy’s name does that diners drive ins and that dives into like, like, start doing that because I get you know, we need to show everybody the tour. We’re gonna have to do that next time I get I need to get a little bit more high tech with our equipment. Yeah, we could have had a tour you could have just seen some of the product made here. But Jason coach during my friend any words of wisdom, what you’re fired up about excited your paddock would be recorded does.

Jason Deering  52:18

I again, I’m I’m impressed with the vision that Melinda’s Melinda has and what she’s doing with all the marketing, just continue to keep doing it. Keep doing exactly what you’re doing, because it’s fantastic. Great company, great stories. Great direction. Just keep going. It’s fantastic to see what you’ve been able to do. So far. So nice. Wait to see where it goes from here.

Curt Anderson  52:45

Keep going.

Nicole Donnelly  52:48

That is marketing. Another strawberry rhubarb.

Curt Anderson  52:54

Keep going, David, what are your thoughts here other than like you’re missing out on the pizza? And I thought, but what’s your take?

Damon Pistulka  53:01

Oh, no, I mean, for me really that pizza and a hot dog or pizza and hot dogs and stuff have been cool. But seeing the manufacturing that what I’d be there for? Because that’s you know, I geek out on that stuff, man. And Curt seen it. And he was embarrassed by it, I’m sure but but it’s so it’s so great to see the here about another US based family grown company that’s making good stuff, high quality stuff, using technology to stay competitive. And just just win in the marketplace. I mean, that’s this. That’s so cool to hear that and see people doing it.

Curt Anderson  53:41

And I don’t know if these guys probably noticed and just didn’t want to same thing, David but you know why? You know you want to talk anyway, I really needed you here in Chicago

Jason Deering  53:55

so we were just in the last with the last

Curt Anderson  53:57

game up. We were being interviewed manufacturers, you know we did on my ironing in Alaska he said he goes he goes

Damon Pistulka  54:12

I didn’t believe him at first he said I don’t I don’t know how to iron I said

54:17

why? Like I’m like man, I’m like man.

Damon Pistulka  54:20

I lived in a hotel.

Curt Anderson  54:22

I’ve got pictures and videos of him I

Nicole Donnelly  54:25

was like starch.

Curt Anderson  54:31

He said it’s all about the steam. Like some a pitcher was burning of me ironing this year and they goes dude, it’s all about the steam that’s weighing things down. Words of wisdom, parting thoughts, anything you want to share with our wonderful audience. Thank

Melinda Marks  54:54

you. I really thank you. It has been yeah Yeah,

Curt Anderson  55:00

okay good parting thoughts was it was Arlene anything that

Marlene Palmer  55:03

we’re gonna keep keep after it but after?

Curt Anderson  55:05

Are you guys baseball fans benches?

Melinda Marks  55:08

I am. You have to

Curt Anderson  55:11

take it or leave it. Yeah, okay. You’re

Melinda Marks  55:13

gonna quiz me please

Curt Anderson  55:20

there. I got two questions for these guys. Right. I’m going to hit.

Damon Pistulka  55:25

Yeah, you gotta hit it anyway.

Curt Anderson  55:28

Totally. I got a different I got a totally totally different question. I’m going to hit okay. Read the Cubs game. Okay, okay. It’s bad mother night. There’s a person on second base. Yes. High score high scores by midnight. There’s somebody on second base. Yes. Manager standard there. And you have a great manager. The old catcher right the catcher. Oh, yeah, right. So Dana’s the manager standing there looks down the bench and who does he who does he want to have the pinch hitter? Right, so he says, mark a marks get up to the plate. Okay, we’ve got we got a game to win here. Right? Okay, so right you get that call? You’re walking up to the plate. What song?

Melinda Marks  56:12

Oh, yeah. Empty dynamite

Marlene Palmer  56:31

Oh, Thunder we haven’t had that one. That’s

Damon Pistulka  56:39

a good one. That will do it.

Marlene Palmer  56:43

I’m not a big baseball fan. So

Curt Anderson  56:45

what’s your favorite song? What’s the song that like juices you up? Do you have one that like just you’re gonna crank

Marlene Palmer  56:50

period? fireworks? Fireworks yeah there we go. There

Curt Anderson  56:57

you go. I’m a huge Katy Perry. You know what, Damon we’re gonna get off this call. We’re gonna be jamming some Katy Perry. Deep Dish mana you miss it out around.

Nicole Donnelly  57:09

Eating it on the live demons. eating all the deep. savor the flavor.

Curt Anderson  57:16

So okay, Damon we’re gonna cut was this fun or what? Yeah.

Melinda Marks  57:25

Damon, what’s your song? And Jason? Oh,

Curt Anderson  57:30

1. Yeah. Jason What’s your welcome?

Damon Pistulka  57:31

Let’s see Jason

Jason Deering  57:34

Pentair a walk

Curt Anderson  57:35

airwalk he’s having he went heavy. Damon What do you got? Ted Nugent Stranglehold? Crowd Okay, all right, we’re gonna wind down so Damon any other comments in the chat?

Damon Pistulka  57:53

No good stuff. Good stuff. I just that we just saw a lot. A lot from Dan. Just thanks so much. Everyone is Dan and Inger and Diane and Whitney and oh, man, I’m missing a whole bunch because I don’t have it pulled up on my phone now. But well, thank you so much. Thank you guys for joining everyone.

Curt Anderson  58:09

Join us tomorrow, Nicole different time we’re going to be I think we’re live at 930 Central time here again on Wednesday so Damon before we wrap up? How about if you got an everyman sit down, let’s give a big standing ovation. ovation for these to such an inspiration here. And so boy, if you are a young lady and you’re thinking about a career, look at this right here, right when we need more women in manufacturing and voice ration, go check out check out Pat Power Solutions, and boy, this was just this. We’re gonna go get our pizza. So

Marlene Palmer  58:47

thank you guys.

Damon Pistulka  58:50

Have a great day.

Curt Anderson  58:51

Beautiful day, guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. God bless and we’ll see you soon. Thanks, Damon. Thanks, Jason. Hang on one second.