A CIRAS podcast to help Iowa businesses and communities prosper and grow. The Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) is part of the College of Engineering and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations (EDIR) at Iowa State University.
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In this episode of Industry Iowa, host Steve Wilson sits down with Melissa Burant — supply chain specialist and CMMC navigator at CIRAS, Iowa State University — to break down what the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification means for Iowa manufacturers. If your company touches defense contracts in any way — even as a subcontractor — CMMC is no longer something to watch from the sidelines. As of…
What do a documentary filmmaker, a surgeon, and a combine harvester have in common? They all show up in this week's episode of Industry Iowa. Host Steven Wilson sits down with Teeg Stouffer, founder and executive producer of Fascination Film Studio in Marion, Iowa — a heritage and legacy documentary production studio serving companies, communities, and families across the United States. Teeg…
Artificial intelligence is moving fast, but many organizations are discovering that technology alone does not create transformation. In a recent conversation with Susan Frew on the Industry Iowa Podcast, we explored how leaders can apply AI in practical ways that actually improve workflows, decision-making, and business results. Learn more about the Ivy Sales Innovation Summit .
In this episode of Industry Iowa, host Steven C. Wilson (CIRAS/Iowa State University) sits down with Bill Schmarzo for a candid pre-event conversation tied to the 5th Annual Ivy Sales Innovation Summit (Bill’s closing keynote on April 7). Together, they explore why the real power of AI isn’t replacement—it’s amplifying human domain expertise and accelerating professional growth. Schmarzo breaks…
In this episode of Industry Iowa, Steven C. Wilson sits down with Ann Buck, Continuous Improvement Manager at Helena Industries in Des Moines, to explore their evolving TWI journey and how they are intentionally blending Job Instruction, Job Relations, and robust work standards with Kata-based scientific thinking. Rather than treating improvement as a “flavor of the month,” Helena is building…
In this episode of Industry Iowa, Steven Wilson talks with Mike Wagner of the White Rabbit Group about how leadership must evolve as workloads grow and teams shrink. Drawing from real-world experience, Mike explains why leadership today is less about pushing harder and more about building capacity, clarity, and trust — and why organizations that lead people well will be the ones that sustain…
Paul Gormley from CIRAS discusses the strategic implementation of artificial intelligence in Iowa manufacturing organizations. With nearly 27 years at CIRAS, Paul explains that AI has been around for decades but became more accessible with tools like ChatGPT in late 2022. He emphasizes that AI should be treated as a strategic business decision rather than just a technology implementation,…
In this insightful episode of Industry Iowa, Steven Wilson sits down with Andrew Pfeiffer, founder of the Process Innovation Lab, to explore the evolving world of intelligent automation—and why it’s about far more than just bots and workflows. Andrew unpacks the integrated capabilities behind intelligent automation—from process analysis and user-centric design to AI, case management, and chatbots.…
In this episode of Industry Iowa, Steven Wilson sits down with Chad Cooper, copywriter at de Novo Marketing, broadcaster, and storyteller, to explore the power of brand storytelling in what he calls the “Age of Average.” Together they unpack why so much of branding has become bland, safe, and forgettable—and what it takes for businesses to stand out. Chad shares memorable examples of creative…
In this powerful conversation, host Steve Wilson sits down with Billy Ray Taylor, CEO of LinkedXL and author of The Winning Link, to unpack what it really takes to align people, purpose, and performance—and why most leaders miss the mark. Billy shares leadership gold from decades of experience leading operational excellence at Fortune 500 companies. We dig into: - The real drivers of ownership and…
