AYNA INSIGHTS Ayna.AI (an affiliate of Fernweh)

In this episode, host Gaurav Batra welcomes Paul Reitz, President and CEO of Titan International, to discuss Titan’s unique niche in the industry and how a focus on the end-user drives their value creation in products and services around the globe. Mr. Reitz shares his journey at Titan’s helm and offers a wide-ranging discussion on several critical topics including business resiliency through challenging periods, talent acquisition and retention, Board makeup and management and the overall outlook for the agriculture and construction industries. 
Paul Reitz joined Titan International, a leading global supplier of off-the-road wheel and tire products, in 2010 as CFO. Prior to Titan, Paul was Chief Accounting Officer at Carmike Cinemas, with previous roles at Yellowbook USA and Deloitte & Touche.  Paul earned an MBA in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Iowa.
 
Discussion Points

Titan offers a unique value proposition in a truly niche industry, while placing strong emphasis on connecting with their end customers as the pillar of the company’s strategy.
Titan remains bullish on the long-term growth potential of the agriculture and construction industries, despite today’s challenging economic dynamics.
A timely restructuring program in 2019 bolstered the company’s resiliency through the forthcoming COVID-19 pandemic and attendant global supply chain challenges.
Patience and a commitment to invest time and resources in due diligence are the hallmarks of a winning M&A strategy.
A diverse Board of Directors can be a meaningful tailwind for corporate decision-making.
Industrial companies are not “stodgy old places that run down” but rather are a shining example of where technological innovation can have a significant impact.
Successful talent acquisition and retention in the industrial sector requires identifying people who really buy into the company’s mission and objectives.

 
Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna.AI—a managed service provider that combines domain expertise and transformation capabilities to create alpha—performance superior to market indices—in the industrial and industrial technology sector. Ayna.AI is an affiliate of Fernweh. The host of this episode, Gaurav Batra, is the President and CEO of Ayna.AI. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create “segment of one” leaders in the industrial and industrial technology sector.
 
For More Information
Paul Reitz LinkedIn
Titan International Website
Book: The Titanium Economy
Ayna.AI Website 
Fernweh Group Website

Amelia.AI Founder and CEO Chetan Dube joins us again on the podcast, this time for a discussion of the meteoric rise of generative AI tool ChatGPT. Mr. Dube explains what ChatGPT can do well, and the scenarios in which you would not want to use it. He explains that even in the last 30 days, this tech has improved exponentially - with its open and free use enabling its data points and resources to increase and expand with lightning speed.
Chetan Dube is the founder of New York City-based AI company Amelia, a deterministic model AI whose conversational technology provides customer service for about 500 corporate clients, including Telefonica, BNP Paribas, and Nordic Bank.
 
Discussion Points

In the state of AI today, ChatGPT is the best generative AI product in the market.
ChatGPT does have its own strengths and shortcomings, but with its rise, the world now acknowledges that AI is “real”.
The brilliance of ChatGPT’s creative output is changing the game for certain industries that require massive and factual content creation, including reporting, legal writing, writing code, etc..
The generative AI of ChatGPT vs. the deterministic tech of Amelia - each serves a certain purpose but can be mutually beneficial.
The tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, etc and their uses for, and investments in, technology like ChatGPT
We are now in the “Spring of AI” and quickly moving into the Summer…signaling a surge in investing, use, awareness, and appreciation of the many applications of ChatGPT tech.

 
Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna.AI—a managed service provider that combines domain expertise and transformation capabilities to create alpha—performance superior to market indices—in the industrial and industrial technology sector. Ayna.AI is an affiliate of Fernweh. The host of this episode, Nidhi Arora, is Vice-President of Ayna.AI. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create “segment of one” leaders in industrial and industrial technology sector.
 
For More Information
Chetan Dube LinkedIn
Open AI - ChatGPT
Amelia.AI
Ayna.AI Website 
Fernweh Group Website

Omar Asali, Chairman and CEO of Ranpak, shares his viewpoints on the increasingly transformative role of technology in the industrial space. As head of Ranpak, a global leader in environmentally sustainable, protective packaging solutions, Mr. Asali is convinced that automation, digitization, robotics, and other enabling technologies will propel his and other large-scale industrial companies to provide higher-value, compelling, efficient and sustainable solutions for their customers.
Since 1972, Ranpak’s mission has been to deliver sustainable protective packaging solutions that reduce costs, reduce environmental impact and support global business needs. Omar Asali became CEO in 2019 and has leveraged his broad industry background into the often siloed industrial sector.  One of his primary focus areas is bringing the best talent and technology to Ranpak, bolstering its reputation as an innovative leader in sustainable industrial supply chain solutions. Prior to Ranpak, Mr. Asali was CEO and President of HRG Group and Vice Chairman of Spectrum Brands.
 
Discussion Points

The five-decade history of Ranpak highlights a consistent focus on both sustainability and automation / technology deployment.
The impact of transforming internal and external systems into an updated technological mentality can be challenging, but certainly not insurmountable, in an industrial complex, where digital is “non-native”
Ranpak is managing change by setting realistic timeline expectations and justifying the financial impact for customers.
Focusing on the “E” of ESG is critical for the next few decades, and imperative if we are to be true stewards of our earth, its climate and the environment.
Accessing talent in the Ranpak orbit includes partnering with smaller tech companies, investing strategically with VCs, along with incubating and retaining organic talent.

 
Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna.AI—a managed service provider that combines domain expertise and transformation capabilities to create alpha—performance superior to market indices—in the industrial and industrial technology sector. Ayna.AI is an affiliate of Fernweh. The host of this episode, Gaurav Batra, is President and CEO of Ayna.AI. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create “segment of one” leaders in industrial and industrial technology sector.
 
For More Information
Omar Asali LinkedIn
Ranpak Website
Ayna.AI Website
Fernweh Group Website

Brian Ryks, Executive Director, and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), offers his firsthand view of the challenges airports face as they modernize infrastructure while meeting sudden shifts in passenger demand. Mr. Ryks lays out the current state of the aviation industry, the many opportunities to meet sustainability goals, his engagement with stakeholders to make airports customer centric, and reasons why he is optimistic about the future of airports and air travel.
Mr. Ryks has been working at airports since 1986, when he started his career with a position as noise technician. He was involved in the expansion of the Denver International Airport and then moved to his first job managing an airport, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. After managing airports in Duluth, Minnesota, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, he accepted his current position at the MAC, where he is responsible for the administration and management of the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and the MAC’s six reliever airports.
 
Discussion Points

Recent challenges—of which the COVID-19 pandemic was the most drastic—forced airports to live with uncertainty but also spurred a significant investment in technology and people.
The future of airports will involve innovation, data, and technology, including real-time management of passenger flows.
Sustainability is a key issue that airports, airlines, and their suppliers are addressing; the MAC, for example, has a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2030.
Important sustainable technologies at airports include electrification of vehicles, renewable-energy generation, and sustainable aviation fuels, combined with efficiency solutions such as performance-based navigation.
Government support for infrastructure is broadly popular, but the CEO still needs to build trust with governments, local communities, and other stakeholders.
Along with infrastructure needs, airport management must meet other key challenges—for example, talent development and supply chain management—to ensure the best possible service.

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna.AI—a managed service provider that combines domain expertise and transformation capabilities to create alpha—performance superior to market indices—in the industrial and industrial technology sector. Ayna.AI is a subsidiary of Fernweh Group. The host of this episode, Akshay Sethi, is Chief Transformation Officer at Dabico, a Fernweh Group portfolio company. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create “segment of one” leaders in industrial and industrial technology sector.
 
For More Information
Metropolitan Airports Commission website: https://metroairports.org/
Brian Ryks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianryks/
Fernweh Group: https://www.fernweh.com
Akshay Sethi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-sethi-527a1a20/

Bill Johnson, President & CEO of Welbilt, a global food service equipment company, shares his experiences of driving transformations during his many senior-level stints at various industrial companies. Bill highlights the importance of leadership engagement, creating financial transparency or “keeping score” on the impact of initiatives, upgrading talent, and embedding the new practices in day-to-day business, as key enabling factors for successful and sustainable transformations.
As COVID-19 and labor shortages accelerated technology disruptions in the food service industry, especially with cloud kitchens, contactless food delivery, and smart kitchens coming into play, Bill discusses the need for traditional industrial businesses like food service equipment companies to transform into industrial technology-focused companies. 
Tune in as Bill reflects on his learnings not only from leading successful transformations in the industrial equipment industry but also as a former nuclear engineer in the United States Navy.
Discussion Points: 

Welbilt’s recent sale to Ali Group
Supply chain challenges due to the pandemic and Welbilt’s response
Digitization of food service businesses during and post-pandemic
Welbilt’s transition from traditional industrial to industrial technology company
Bill’s path from a nuclear submarine in the Navy to the industrial equipment industry
Learnings from Bill’s transformation efforts at various companies:

Have big ears – listen 
Right-size first and change processes after
Upgrading talent – hire well and move transformation blockers
Leadership engagement and presence – show up and make it important to you
CFO as the scorekeeper on P&L impact 

Bill’s interests outside work – golf and big game hunting
Next steps in Bill’s career

Fernweh Insights is brought to you by Fernweh Group. The host of this episode, Shekhar Varanasi, is Chief Operating Officer at Fernweh.
This episode is part of Fernweh’s Industrials podcast series which focuses on transformational journeys of companies in the Industrials Sector, one of the most prominent sectors and the bedrock of the U.S. economy. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create alpha – performance superior to market indices – in the industrial and industrial technology sector.  
 
For More Information
Bill Johnson at Welbilt
Bill Johnson on LinkedIn

Lewis “Lou” Von Thaer is President and CEO of Battelle, the world’s largest independent nonprofit applied science and technology organization. With a team of over 40,000 highly skilled and trained employees, Battelle provides companies and governmental agencies with comprehensive scientific solutions, serving multiple markets, including health care, industry, national security, infrastructure, and the environment. 
Mr. Von Thaer describes what’s next in the R&D landscape as companies recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic citing examples of practices that have contributed to Battelle’s success. He describes how small and midsize companies can get help in establishing a focus and thriving as the economic landscape changes. He also outlines the many ways that Battelle is working to develop the next generation of thinkers and doers through its education programs that mine talent from underserved populations in the community. In addition, he shares stories of his remarkable career path, innovations he has fostered, and challenges he has met.
Discussion points:

Greatest challenges in the innovation/R&D landscape, especially post-Covid
Battelle’s dual mission set by its founder 100 years ago – research and giving back to the community
Lou’s journey from blue-collar Kansas town to CEO of Battelle
Battelle’s role in helping companies drive focused innovations
The current talent gap and how Battelle is addressing it
Lou’s perspectives on key innovations five or ten years down the road

 
Fernweh Insights is brought to you by Fernweh Group. The host of this episode, Paolo Baldesi, is a Senior Vice President at Fernweh. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create alpha — performance superior to market indices — in the industrial/industrial tech sector. 
For More Information
Battelle website: https://www.battelle.org/
Lou Von Thaer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-von-thaer-1848b411/
Fernweh Group: https://www.fernweh.com
Paolo Baldesi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolo-b-a47b344/