Keepin' The Lights On

Graybar
  • 5.0 (34)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

Connecting with the owners and pros who design, build, and maintain our electrical, communications, and industrial world. Join us for a quick podcast you can listen to over your lunch break. We'll discuss new solutions to your project and facility problems over the one thing that brings our crews together: lunch. We'll talk with industry leaders from electrical construction, communications, smart manufacturing, municipalities, building owners and managers, electrical and communications manufacturers, consultants, and anyone else we think can bring new ideas to the challenges we face today.

  1. 5d ago

    EC Construction Tech Workflows w Melissa Dixon

    Unlock the secret to transforming the construction industry—where communication silos and outdated workflows are holding everyone back. Melissa Dixon, shares her grounded insights on how digital workflows are reshaping project efficiency from the field to the office—and why adapting now matters more than ever. Construction projects often still rely on scribbles, phone calls, and guesswork, which creates delays, rework, and frustration. Melissa explains why digitization has been slow to catch on, and what’s finally helping teams move toward smarter, more connected ways of working. From field-to-office collaboration to AI-assisted invoice matching and site mapping, she breaks down the practical tools that are making a difference. You’ll discover: How systems thinking is changing the way construction teams approach the full project lifecycleWhy digital tools need to fit existing workflows to actually get adoptedHow better content, metadata, and data quality strengthen AI and connected workflowsReal examples of AI helping with search, matching, and documentationWhy construction leaders need both top-down support and field-level buy-in to drive changeMelissa also shares her perspective on BIM, model-based procurement, labor data, pre-construction planning, and the importance of balancing detailed data with simplicity for the people using it every day. If you work in construction, project management, or any role touched by workflow efficiency, this conversation offers a clear, practical look at how digital transformation is unfolding in the real world. It’s not about hype — it’s about making work easier, faster, and more accurate across the entire supply chain. Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe. Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app. Learn more about Trimble: https://www.trimble.com/en/industries/construction Gino’s On the Point: https://ginosrestaurants.co/gino-at-the-point/ YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/6fPk92sTLks Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Panduit

    EC Construction Tech Workflows w Melissa Dixon

  2. Jul 8

    Economics and the Electrical Supply Chain w Chris Sokoll

    In this episode, guest Chris Sokoll, president of DISC Corp, a leading provider of electrical wholesale industry economic forecasting discusses the critical role of electrical distribution in the US economy. He also covers the importance of data integrity, and future trends like clean energy and infrastructure upgrades. Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe. To reach Chris Sokoll on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiansokoll/ Learn more about DISC Corp: https://disccorp.com El Tiempo Cantina: https://eltiempocantina.com/ Ninfa’s: https://ninfas.com/ Truth BBQ Houston: https://truthbbq.com/

    Economics and the Electrical Supply Chain w Chris Sokoll

  3. Jun 24

    Going The Middle Mile w Walt Donovan

    Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe. In this episode, Walt Donovan, VP of Strategic Partnerships at DYCOM Industries, explains the concept of the middle mile in data infrastructure, its challenges, and future prospects. Discover how this critical component impacts data flow across the country and what the industry is doing to overcome current obstacles. Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app. To reach Walt Donovan on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/walt-donovan-36a9063/ DYCOM Industries: https://dycomind.com/ The Sicilian Butcher: https://thesicilianbutcher.com/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/z6H8MwCkGig

    Going The Middle Mile w Walt Donovan

  4. Jun 10

    Industrial Business Insights with Anne Vranicic, Valin Corporation President

    Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe. We talk about how retiring talent, supply chain chaos, and digital transformation create opportunities for innovation. We also discuss strategies to adapt workforce gaps, optimize automation, and maintain customer service without sacrificing profitability. Take a listen on your favorite podcast player or right here on YouTube. Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app. To reach Anne Vranicic on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/annevranicic/ Learn more about Valin: https://www.valin.com/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/Lh-TK_U7zOU To learn more about the sponsor, nVent, please visit here: https://www.graybar.com/manufacturers/nvent-group/c/sup-nvent-group?utm_source=sponsor link&utm_medium=sponsor_link&utm_campaign=keepin-the-lights-on-2026&utm_content=anne v

    Industrial Business Insights with Anne Vranicic, Valin Corporation President

  5. May 27

    Industrial Automation Trends w Brian Crawford

    Explore the world of industrial automation with Brian Crawford on "Keepin' The Lights On." Discover insights into manpower challenges and innovative solutions. Tune in to learn how industries are evolving. Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe. Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app. To reach Brian Crawford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-crawford-92b92018/ Learn more about Shingle And Gibb: https://www.shingle.com/ Franklinville Inn: https://www.thefranklinvilleinn.com/ Photos of Franklinville Inn from Franklinville.com  To see the show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VqtKX4OMfYU

    Industrial Automation Trends w Brian Crawford

  6. May 13

    The Future of Independent Electrical Reps with Jim Johnson, NEMRA CEO

    Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe. We explore the vital role of manufacturer reps in the electrical industry, their evolving responsibilities, and future trends including technology, demand generation, and strategic planning with Jim Johnson, CEO of NEMRA. Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app. To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: podcast@graybar.com To reach Jim Johnson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcjohnson/ Learn more about NEMRA: https://www.nemra.org/ Columbia Club: https://columbia-club.org/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/vlmz5dTPHTM

    The Future of Independent Electrical Reps with Jim Johnson, NEMRA CEO

  7. Apr 29

    Mastering the 8-Day Renovation with the Renovation Hunters Showrunners

    In this episode Todd speaks with Hal Shaffer and Chris Filardi, creators of the inspiring show, Renovation Hunters. The show focuses on outdoor family property renovations, community impact, and the importance of relationships and teamwork in complex projects. I’m creating a show newsletter to help me communicate with you the listener/viewer. Please click on the link to sign up for the newsletter: https://www.graybar.com/podcast Thank you for listening and please take a moment to rate, and review our show on your favorite app. Renovation Hunters: https://www.renovationhunters.com/ Submit a cabin for possible renovation: https://www.outdoorchannel.com/content/renovationhunters/459762 Find Renovation Hunter network: https://app.myoutdoortv.com/series/renovationhunters Hal Shaffer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hal-shaffer-70b28457/ Chris Filardi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherfilardi/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/rz3FDvFBJJE B-Roll Photos and Video are from Renovationhunters.com 2026

    Mastering the 8-Day Renovation with the Renovation Hunters Showrunners

  8. Apr 15

    How Foremen Shape a Culture of Learning Ep073 w Heath Blackburn

    Heath Blackburn from Wheeler Electric reveals how foremen are pivotal in transforming company culture. By engaging foremen in the Foreman Academy, they fostered a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, proving that foremen are key to driving meaningful change and growth. Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give your insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe here on Graybar.com. To reach Heath Blackburn on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-blackburn-23804a213/ Learn more about Wheeler Electric: https://www.wheelerelectric.com/ 7N Ranch Resort: https://www.7nranch.com/farmhouse-table-restaurant YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hgf36-a9vv0

    How Foremen Shape a Culture of Learning Ep073 w Heath Blackburn
See All (81)

Trailer

5
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

Connecting with the owners and pros who design, build, and maintain our electrical, communications, and industrial world. Join us for a quick podcast you can listen to over your lunch break. We'll discuss new solutions to your project and facility problems over the one thing that brings our crews together: lunch. We'll talk with industry leaders from electrical construction, communications, smart manufacturing, municipalities, building owners and managers, electrical and communications manufacturers, consultants, and anyone else we think can bring new ideas to the challenges we face today.

Information

  • Creator
    Graybar
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023-2026
  • Show Website
    Keepin' The Lights On