Faces of Manufacturing is a brand new show to Michigan Business Network. Cindy Kangas, Executive Director, CAMC, Capital Area Manufacturing Council, Lansing, Michigan, co-hosts with Joy Wagner, HR Manager of Granger Waste Services, also Lansing.

In their inaugural episode, they get welcomed, following tradition, by MBN Founder/CEO Chris Holman. He finds out about Cindy and Joy, then they turn the tables and find out from him his perceptions of manufacturing in Michigan and across the world in their interview of him. 

Hear Cindy, Joy, and their various guests discussing manufacturing and more on this brand new show on MBN in the 6-segment SoundCloud Podcast episode shared below.

From there the ladies spend four segments finding out about the Waverly Robotics team and program.

Here's a rundown of their first episode:
Segment 1
Chris Holman interview of Cindy.
Cindy's snapshot career path.
What CAMC IS, does, and what area is served?
highlights of what Cindy has done at CAMC, especially if it has changed things from the past.
Cindy - Premise of Show

Segment 2
Chris opens and hands the show off to Cindy
Cindy becomes the host and turns the questions back to Chris.
Given his decades in Michigan and International Business, what has he seen in people and manufacturing -- where does he see the state of things today?
Cindy Introduces Joy to Chris
Chat about the "faces of manufacturing" and the narrative we are hoping to change.
Review of the talent pipeline
Joy elaborates on her role during the segments that include mental/physical wellness, employee financial literacy, employees being a most valuable asset, etc --

Segment 3
Cindy Chats with Jeff Parks - Waverly Robotics Coach
What was his dream as a kid? What brought him to Waverly? How has he grown the program? What trends has he seen with students going into skilled trades/manufacturing? What demographics does he serve in the program?

Segment 3
Student interview
demonstration of robot
What skills have they learned related to manufacturing/engineering?
What has robotics taught them about career choices?

Segment 4
Student Interview
What does it mean to be a part of the team? talk us through competitions. What do you know about college programs that may lead to stem jobs? do you have relatives that work in local manufacturing and what have they taught you? Sponsors/volunteers that help the program.

Segment 5
Cindy Chats with Jeff Parks - Waverly Robotics Coach
What was his dream as a kid? What brought him to Waverly? How has he grown the program? What trends has he seen with students going into skilled trades/manufacturing? What demographics does he serve in the program?

Segment 6
Jeff interview part 2
How has Covid affected school and robotics
How did Jeff get the kids to come back
How does he keep his kids motivated even if they have a challenge or lose a match?
What mental health benefits has he seen offering after-school programs, especially to kids that have no other place to go?
Quick wrap-up - how can others get involved, etc.

» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX…
» Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork
» Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/
» MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/