Made in Iowa, The Manufacturing Podcast

The Made in Iowa podcast celebrates the people, products and power behind Iowa’s manufacturing economy. Each episode brings together the state’s most innovative makers, manufacturers and business leaders to share their stories, strategies and visions for the future. From factory floors to classrooms, Made in Iowa honors our makers, elevates their stories and powers the future of Iowa’s largest industry.

  1. Made In Iowa: Open Books, Open Minds - The Culture Behind Paul Mueller’s Performance

    3d ago

    Made In Iowa: Open Books, Open Minds - The Culture Behind Paul Mueller’s Performance

    Amy Starlin of Paul Mueller Company offers a compelling look inside a highly specialized manufacturer that has built its reputation on precision, customization, and long-term customer partnerships. Serving industries like food, beverage, and pharmaceuticals, the company doesn’t just fabricate stainless steel equipment—it engineers solutions that are critical to its customers’ operations. Amy emphasizes that their success comes from deeply understanding each client’s process and delivering tailored systems that perform at the highest level, reinforcing why customers return generation after generation. What truly sets Paul Mueller apart, though, is its commitment to open-book management, inspired by The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack. Amy explains how this level of transparency—sharing financials, teaching employees how the business runs, and giving them a stake in the outcome—creates a culture of ownership across the organization. When employees understand how their daily decisions impact the bottom line, trust deepens, innovation accelerates, and productivity follows. It transforms the workforce from task-doers into problem-solvers who are actively engaged in the company’s success. In an industry facing constant pressure from supply chain shifts and evolving customer demands, that culture of accountability and shared purpose is a powerful competitive advantage. Presenting sponsor: Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://wellmark.com/MadeinIowa

    36 min
  2. Made In Iowa: Reinventing the Trades - AI, Apprenticeships, and the Future of Furniture

    May 7

    Made In Iowa: Reinventing the Trades - AI, Apprenticeships, and the Future of Furniture

    This episode of Made in Iowa dives into one of the most fascinating intersections in business today: skilled trades, technology, and human resilience. Leisa Fox sits down with Riana LeJeune, who never expected her path would lead from the police academy to becoming an award-winning upholstery innovator, apprenticeship advocate, and technology founder. After an injury forced a major life pivot at age 24, she found purpose in a trade that quickly became an obsession in the best possible way. What followed was the creation of businesses designed not only to preserve craftsmanship, but to modernize and future-proof an overlooked industry through AI, visualization technology, and workforce development. The conversation moves beyond business strategy into leadership, family, and identity. She shares how being AuDHD has shaped the way she approaches innovation, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, while also opening up about co-parenting and running a business alongside her former spouse—who also happens to be her first apprentice and master craftsman. From launching Iowa’s only Registered Apprenticeship program in upholstery to challenging the culture of “fast furniture” and advocating for a circular furniture economy, this episode is packed with insight about reinvention, unconventional leadership, and why the skilled trades may be one of the biggest opportunities of the next decade. The Made in Iowa podcast, a Des Moines Business Record product presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, from the Iowa Everywhere studio. Presenting sponsor: Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://wellmark.com/MadeinIowa

    32 min
  3. Made In Iowa: The Science (and Business) of Making Systems Work

    Apr 23

    Made In Iowa: The Science (and Business) of Making Systems Work

    Jim Hall built Systems Management & Balancing (SMB) into a quiet powerhouse in a niche most people never think about - but rely on every day. What started in 1967 as a small Des Moines operation grew into a multi-state firm focused on testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) HVAC systems to ensure buildings actually perform the way they were designed. Jim shares the bet he made when he acquired the company in 2002, leaning into independence and precision as their differentiator. In an industry where comfort, safety, and efficiency are on the line - especially in hospitals, schools, and complex facilities - SMB has become the “truth-teller,” identifying problems others miss and ensuring systems function as intended. Joined by consultant Erin Rollenhagen, the conversation shifts to what it takes to evolve and scale a highly specialized business. Erin brings a strategic lens to leadership, growth, and positioning, highlighting the opportunities - and risks - that come with complexity in today’s built environments. Together, they reflect on Jim’s succession plan, the importance of developing talent in a technical field, and why this behind-the-scenes work offers meaningful, high-impact careers. It’s a conversation about legacy, precision, and the kind of Iowa-built business that quietly keeps the world running. Presenting sponsor: Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://wellmark.com/MadeinIowa

    33 min

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Made in Iowa podcast celebrates the people, products and power behind Iowa’s manufacturing economy. Each episode brings together the state’s most innovative makers, manufacturers and business leaders to share their stories, strategies and visions for the future. From factory floors to classrooms, Made in Iowa honors our makers, elevates their stories and powers the future of Iowa’s largest industry.

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