BPC Streaming Network

From business headlines to inspiring stories of courage and community, the BPC Streaming Network brings together Iowa’s most trusted voices. Featuring original video podcast series from Business Record and dsm Magazine, the network celebrates the people, ideas and developments shaping our state's future. Watch, listen and discover what drives Iowa forward.

  1. Made In Iowa: Precision Under Pressure - Inside Iowa's Defense Manufacturing Powerhouse

    -1 J

    Made In Iowa: Precision Under Pressure - Inside Iowa's Defense Manufacturing Powerhouse

    When LMT Defense made the move from Illinois to Eldridge, Iowa five years ago, they didn’t just relocate a factory—they planted a mission. “We provide tools for individual soldiers to protect themselves and to try to come home at the end of their mission,” says Mike Neff, VP of Operations. That sense of purpose isn’t marketing language; it’s lived every day inside the walls of LMT, where one in five employees is a veteran or active reservist. The work is personal, the stakes are real, and the responsibility—to the people who will carry their equipment into harm’s way—drives every decision they make. That responsibility shows up in uncompromising standards. What once passed as elite performance in defense manufacturing has been redefined. Endurance expectations have tripled, weapons are tested across brutal temperature extremes, and reliability isn’t optional—it’s assumed for decades of service in sand, mud, cold, heat, and chaos. LMT has scaled alongside those demands, growing from 85 employees in a cramped facility to 215 people in a state-of-the-art operation, supported by a strong Iowa workforce and a community that believed in what they were building. Today, their precision-made products serve nearly 40 countries around the world. Yet what truly sets LMT apart isn’t just growth or global reach—it’s how they treat their customers. While larger competitors push one-size-fits-all solutions, LMT builds relationships through customization, flexibility, and service. They’ve never lost a military customer to a competitor. Even in an industry marked by volatility and uncertainty, the company’s north star remains clear. “Integrity is the foundation of our moral structure,” says COO and CFO Jim Jestile. Doing right by the customer. Doing right by employees. And ultimately, doing right by the soldiers who depend on them. That’s the heart of this Iowa success story—and why it’s worth listening to.

    40 min
  2. Made In Iowa: Small Parts, Big Impact - Inside Accumold’s Global Manufacturing Story

    15 JANV.

    Made In Iowa: Small Parts, Big Impact - Inside Accumold’s Global Manufacturing Story

    In this episode of Made in Iowa, Leisa Fox sits down with leaders from Accumold to explore what modern manufacturing looks like in today’s business and cultural climate. The conversation begins with Accumold’s evolution as a company and its role in serving highly specialized global markets, including medical technology, micro-electronics, optics, and emerging technologies. As products continue to get smaller and more precise, Accumold’s capabilities—and the demand for them—are only expanding, even as advancements like additive manufacturing reshape the broader industry landscape. A significant focus of the discussion centers on people and workforce development. Accumold leaders emphasize that their success is driven by culture, long employee tenure, and intentional career pathways—standing in stark contrast to national manufacturing turnover trends. The episode candidly addresses the challenges facing the skilled trades, including the aging workforce, skills gaps, and outdated perceptions among younger generations. Accumold’s response is proactive and hopeful, highlighted through programs like Accumold Scholars, Iowa Learns, and deep partnerships with schools such as DMACC. Together, these initiatives showcase manufacturing as a viable, future-proof career path offering strong wages, hands-on learning, educational support, and long-term opportunity—right here in Iowa.

    40 min

À propos

From business headlines to inspiring stories of courage and community, the BPC Streaming Network brings together Iowa’s most trusted voices. Featuring original video podcast series from Business Record and dsm Magazine, the network celebrates the people, ideas and developments shaping our state's future. Watch, listen and discover what drives Iowa forward.

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