298: Exploring Massachusetts' Aerospace & Defense Industry, LIVE in Canton, MA

When Massachusetts shows up for something, it's rarely small, and this live show was no exception.

Over 100 people packed into Canton to join Chris as he sits down with Megan Glidden, Michael Tamasi, and Joe McCadden to talk about the people and organizations keeping the state's manufacturing scene strong.

That starts with the workforce building the next generation of submarines. Joe explains what that takes on the ground, Michael has built his own talent pipeline training adults on the autism spectrum for careers in manufacturing, and Megan walks us through the upsides of employee ownership, including the chance to retire as a millionaire.

From there, the conversation covers trade schools, automation, AI, and the challenge of changing manufacturing’s “dark, dirty, and dangerous” reputation.

In this episode, find out:

What Massachusetts' small size means for manufacturers trying to get products to market quicklyHow Massachusetts manufacturers rallied during COVID to make gowns, masks, and ventilators in daysWhy the submarine industrial base needs 100,000 people over the next 5 to 10 yearsThe role local vocational schools play in building Globe Composite Solutions' next generation of employeesWhy employee ownership changes the way people think about waste, improvement, and staying with a company for decadesWeb Industries' approach to weaving AI into its broader Industry 4.0 strategy

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Tweetable Quotes:

“For too long, and still in many places, people look at manufacturing as dark, dirty, and dangerous, when in fact it's safe, smart, and sustainable.” - Michael Tamasi, Owner & CEO of AccuRounds“The biggest challenge that we face is people, and how do you get good people.” - Joe McCadden, President of Globe Composite Solutions"What makes Massachusetts attractive to us is the depth of experience around the aerospace, defense, and medical industries - these are industries where you can't take this work offshore." - Megan Glidden, CFO of Web Industries

Links & mentions:

AccuRounds - a precision contract machining company based in Avon, Massachusetts, providing high-end mechanical components for the aerospace, defense, medical, semiconductor, and robotics industries.Globe Composite Solutions - a Stoughton, Massachusetts manufacturer of urethane, rubber, and synthetic foam products for defense, submersible, and industrial