Fully Open (by ValveMan)

Gilbert Welsford Jr. • ValveMan
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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. He Bought His Grandfather’s Company — And Built It Into His Own Legacy

    DEC 9

    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

    44 min

  2. NOV 4

    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

    1h 1m

  3. OCT 14

    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

    44 min

  4. SEP 24

    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

    39 min

  5. AUG 27

    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

    41 min

  6. 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

    1 min

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
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Fully Open (by ValveMan)
  • Show Website
    Fully Open (by ValveMan)