Fully Open (by ValveMan)

Gilbert Welsford Jr. • ValveMan
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Management

Real conversations with the leaders who built this industry.Hosted by Gilbert Welsford Jr., third-generation owner at ValveMan. Fully Open shares stories, insights, and lessons from the people who’ve spent decades in industrial manufacturing, engineering, and plant operations — the ones who’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. It’s not about specs. It’s about perspective.You’ll hear how top performers make decisions, lead teams, earn trust, and navigate change in high-stakes environments. What you’ll hear: Wisdom earned through decades of frontline leadershipStories from those who shaped the industrial worldTimeless lessons on people, pressure, and performance Who it’s for: Industrial leaders, engineers, operators, and anyone who wants to learn from those who’ve actually done the work. Links.Follow the show on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fully-open-podcast Newsletter. The Line Doesn’t Lie: https://valveman.com/linkedin-newsletter

Episodes

  1. Aug 11

    The Wisdom You Can't Write Down | John Molloy

    "It's a lot of tribal knowledge that you can never seem to capture at all." That's John Molloy, Training Manager for Fluid and Motion Control at Emerson, on the hardest part of his job: getting 40 years of institutional knowledge out of the people who have it and into the people who just started. John has spent 28 years at Emerson, most of it split between selling valves and training the people who came in after him. He also sits on the VMA education committee. In this episode of the Fully Open Podcast, host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with John at VMA headquarters to talk about what actually works when a company tries to close the gap between its most experienced people and its newest hires, before that experience walks out the door. 💡 What you'll hear: - Why John believes sales is really just teaching, not convincing - The informal buddy system Emerson uses to pair new hires with veterans - The 90-day rule for what a new hire should realistically know, and the mistake of trying to teach everything at once - The one thing John tells every new hire on day one - What John sees engineers get wrong that no spec sheet can teach them - How John uses AI to build training materials today, and why human oversight still matters 🎯 This isn't just a conversation about training programs. It's a look at what it actually takes to keep decades of hard-won knowledge alive once the person who has it retires. 👤 Connect with John Molloy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpmolloy/ 🔗 Learn more about Emerson: https://www.emerson.com 🔧 Explore Valve & Actuation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com/ If something stood out or sparked a thought, I would love to hear it.

    The Wisdom You Can't Write Down | John Molloy

  2. Mar 3

    How AUMA Actuators Got 35% More Output With Zero New Hires | Matt Thiel

    Matt Thiel doesn’t see “employees first” as a slogan — he sees it as the engine for growth. Because in industrial, you don’t get to coast. You either build a culture that unlocks potential, or you fall behind. In this episode of the Fully Open Podcast, host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Matt Thiel, President of AUMA Actuators. Matt walks through the 9-year journey that led to a 35% increase in output with zero new hires, and how it all started with a simple, powerful philosophy. 💡 What you’ll hear: • The “Employees First, Customers Second, Shareholders Third” philosophy in action. • How to get the feedback you need to hear, not what you want to hear. • The practical steps (surveys, coffee meetings) that build real trust over time. • Why a long-term vision is the key to unlocking massive efficiency gains. • The “phone down” rule for protecting your family and your focus. • The story behind AUMA’s famous Heinz Field ketchup bottle actuators. 🎯 This isn’t just a conversation about actuators and valves — it’s a masterclass in modern industrial leadership and building a company people are proud to work for. 🔗 Learn more about AUMA Actuators: https://www.auma.com/ 🔧 Explore Valve & Actuation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com/

  3. Jan 13

    Grow or Die: Jeff Scott on Building NOSHOK for the Long Haul

    Jeff Scott doesn’t talk about “growth” like a slogan — he talks about it like a responsibility. Because in industrial, you don’t get to coast. You either build capability, or you fall behind. In this episode of the Fully Open Podcast, host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Jeff Scott of NOSHOK. Jeff has spent 51 years inside the business, starting in shipping and receiving as “the third man” in a 400 sq ft storefront, and helping it grow into a modern operation built for the long haul. 💡 What you’ll hear: • What “e-commerce” actually means in industrial (and why it’s not just “ordering online”) • Why product data, drawings, and speed-to-answer are part of customer experience now • How NOSHOK moved certifications from paperwork to process using ERP, serial numbers, and QR codes • Why quality programs and compliance are the real moat (not low price) • The stewardship mindset: “We serve the business. The business doesn’t serve us.” • The simplest truth Jeff repeats: you either grow or you die 🎯 This isn’t just a conversation about valves and instrumentation — it’s about building a company that stays credible, relevant, and trusted for decades. 🔗 Learn more about NOSHOK: https://www.noshok.com 🔧 Explore Valve & Instrumentation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com

  4. 12/09/2025

    He Bought His Grandfather’s Company — And Built It Into His Own Legacy

    He lost the family company.   Then he bought it back. Bert Lowden didn’t inherit Aquatrol — he had to fight for it.   This is the story of what happens when legacy slips through your fingers… and what it takes to rebuild it from the ground up. 🔊 In this episode of the Fully Open Podcast: • The pain of losing a family business   • What it takes to buy back a legacy — with no safety net   • The real cost of ownership (when you're the one on the hook)   • Why fixing a reputation takes more than capital 🎙 Hosted by Gil Welsford Jr., third-generation industrial entrepreneur and founder of ValveMan.com. — 📌 Subscribe for new episodes every month.   We go beyond the brochure — real stories from the shop floor, the boardroom, and the legacy left in between. #FullyOpenPodcast #FamilyBusiness #Ownership #ValveIndustry #LegacyBusiness — ▶ Watch all episodes of the Fully Open Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLExeHmRbu0ZY0aYxeR1-qYJxm9zB1-ZN_  🔗 Learn more about Bert’s company: https://aquatrol.com   🔗 Learn more about Gil & ValveMan: https://valveman.com

    He Bought His Grandfather’s Company — And Built It Into His Own Legacy

  5. 11/04/2025

    The Brutal Reality of Running a Family Business | Brian O’Leary (REOTEMP)

    Brian OLeary doesn’t just run a family business — he stewards a legacy. And that mindset has guided him through decades of growth, succession, and strategic ownership at REOTEMP Instruments. In this fourth episode of the Fully Open Podcast, host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Brian to explore the generational reality of industrial leadership — and why equity, stewardship, and long-term trust are still the foundation of resilient companies. 💡 What you’ll hear:What “ownership mindset” means inside a family-run manufacturing companyHow REOTEMP scaled while staying grounded in valuesWhy second-generation leaders face a different kind of pressureHow trust and training can build long-term wealth across teamsWhat it means to build things that actually last — not just for sale🧭 This isn’t just a business story — it’s about legacy, decisions, and what we owe the next generation. 🔗 Learn more about REOTEMP Instruments: https://www.reotemp.com 🔧 Explore Valve & Instrumentation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com  📩 Contact: info@valveman.com

  6. 10/14/2025

    Sales Isn’t Dead. But the Old Way Is — with Scott Grimes

    Scott Grimes doesn’t sell — he solves. And that mindset has carried him through decades in industrial filtration and process sales at Donaldson Company. In this third episode of Fully Open (by ValveMan), host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Scott to explore how sales has evolved — and why curiosity, empathy, and technical understanding are still the real differentiators in industrial markets. 💡 What you’ll hear: Why “listening” is the most underrated skill in modern salesHow to sell by understanding your customer’s process — not pushing productLessons from decades in filtration, reliability, and process industriesThe changing mindset of mentorship in technical salesWhy authenticity still closes more deals than strategy decks ever could🎙️ This isn’t just a talk about sales — it’s about what real connection looks like. 🔗 Learn more about Donaldson Company: https://www.donaldson.com  🔧 Explore Valve & Instrumentation Solutions from ValveMan: https://valveman.com  📩 Contact: info@valveman.com

  7. 09/24/2025

    Built It. Bought It. Grew It: Bruce Broxterman on Building a Valve Powerhouse

    Bruce Broxterman doesn’t just build companies — he builds billion-dollar exits. In this second episode of Fully Open (by ValveMan), host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Bruce to unpack how he built, bought, and grew one of the biggest names in the valve industry — and how his playbook still drives results today. 💡 What you’ll hear: How Bruce scaled a small business into a billion-dollar exitBuying Richards Industries and building culture through excellenceWhy leadership is about care, trust, and commitmentLessons from 3+ million miles of travel and decades of global experienceReal talk on legacy, grit, and growing through people🛠 This isn’t just a podcast about valves — it’s about what real leadership looks like.  🔗 Learn more about Richards Industries, the company Bruce scaled into a billion-dollar success: https://www.richardsind.com 🛠 Explore Steriflow Sanitary & Process Valves from ValveMan: https://valveman.com/steriflow-food-and-beverage 🔗 More from ValveMan: https://valveman.com  📧 Contact: info@valveman.com

  8. 08/27/2025

    How a Vietnam Vet Built a Valve Empire — Rick Wentzel on Legacy, Innovation & Grit

    Rick Wentzel doesn’t just sell valves — he helped shape the entire North American valve landscape. In this first episode of Fully Open (by ValveMan), host Gil Welsford Jr. sits down with Rick to talk about his journey from Vietnam platoon sergeant to co-founding Bonomi North America and launching game-changing valve and actuator lines across the country. 💡 What you’ll hear: How Rick pioneered the ball valve movement in the U.S.The Bonomi startup story and engineering principles that built trustWhy specs alone don’t sell — and what it really takesLessons on leadership, legacy, and long-term business growth🔧 This isn’t just a podcast about valves — it’s about the people who keep plants running. 🔗 More from ValveMan: https://valveman.com  📧 Contact: info@valveman.com

  9. Season 1 Trailer

    Trailer: A Life-Changing Call from Aldo Bonomi

    “I got robbed on Christmas Eve. That was my first day as a valve salesman.” Rick Wenzel’s story starts in chaos — and turns into a career that helped shape the U.S. valve industry. This is the official trailer for Fully Open (by ValveMan) — a show about the people who keep plants running. We talk to field engineers, plant managers, valve pros, and maintenance leaders.  Not about theory. About what it really takes to protect uptime, prevent failures, and spec smarter. 🎧 Subscribe to the show:  https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fully-open-podcast  📩 Get the newsletter (The Line Doesn’t Lie): https://valveman.com/linkedin-newsletter

Trailer

About

Real conversations with the leaders who built this industry.Hosted by Gilbert Welsford Jr., third-generation owner at ValveMan. Fully Open shares stories, insights, and lessons from the people who’ve spent decades in industrial manufacturing, engineering, and plant operations — the ones who’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. It’s not about specs. It’s about perspective.You’ll hear how top performers make decisions, lead teams, earn trust, and navigate change in high-stakes environments. What you’ll hear: Wisdom earned through decades of frontline leadershipStories from those who shaped the industrial worldTimeless lessons on people, pressure, and performance Who it’s for: Industrial leaders, engineers, operators, and anyone who wants to learn from those who’ve actually done the work. Links.Follow the show on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fully-open-podcast Newsletter. The Line Doesn’t Lie: https://valveman.com/linkedin-newsletter

Information

  • Creator
    Gilbert Welsford Jr. • ValveMan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fully Open (by ValveMan)
  • Show Website
    Fully Open (by ValveMan)