Angela Rakis is the Founder of Metis Sales Solutions, a consulting firm focused on helping companies create sales growth strategies and implement sales teams. With over 25 years of experience in sales, she has sold for IBM and Xerox and served as a sales leader at various midsize companies. Angela is also the Outsourced VP of Sales at Sales Xceleration, where she helps business owners drive sales growth.

Sales leaders at growing companies often struggle to keep pace with rapid changes in technology, evolving buyer behavior, and revenue growth. Without a clear strategy or cohesive team structure, even well-intentioned initiatives can falter. How can businesses create sustainable growth while navigating a modern sales environment?

According to seasoned sales strategist and consultant Angela Rakis, today’s sales environment requires more than just meeting quotas; it demands alignment, technology integration, and leadership development. She recommends beginning with a clear sales strategy and aligning it across departments before implementation. Sales strategies often reveal gaps in lead generation and compensation plans, so leaders should implement tailored sales training for various roles. Developing coaching skills, such as patience, motivation, and emotional support, is crucial when training new sales reps.

In this episode of Industry Edge, Angela Rakis, Founder of Metis Sales Solutions, joins Michelle Keckler to talk about building and scaling high-performing sales teams. Angela talks about implementing new technologies like RevTech, mentoring promoted sales reps, and achieving lasting revenue results.

Mark Carlton is the Director of Operations at Schaefer’s Electrical Enclosures, a leading manufacturer of customized electrical enclosures. In his role, he oversees daily operations and strategic initiatives to ensure the efficient production and delivery of high-quality products. With nearly 20 years of manufacturing experience, Mark has held various roles at Schaefer’s, including Project Manager, Plant Engineer, and Operations Manager.

Building a high-performance team in manufacturing requires navigating fast-paced environments, evolving technology, and retaining top talent while fostering growth. Leaders often struggle to balance operational demands with the human element, like keeping team members engaged, providing meaningful feedback, and navigating tough conversations. How can manufacturing leaders create strong, resilient teams while driving performance and continuous improvement?

According to manufacturing leader and operations manager Mark Carlton, effective leadership begins with understanding each team member’s strengths, fostering honest feedback, and creating an environment of trust where leaders approach difficult conversations with empathy and candor. He recommends using assessments to understand team dynamics, maintaining proactive maintenance systems to handle technological shifts, and encouraging open dialogue to prevent blind spots in decision-making. Managing emotions and prioritizing self-care are also crucial for high-performing leaders.

In this episode of Industry Edge, Michelle Keckler hosts Mark Carlton, Director of Operations at Schaefer’s Electrical Enclosures, to discuss building strong manufacturing teams. Mark talks about providing direct feedback, balancing technology and people, and using failure as a learning tool.

Cathy Rinne is the Co-founder and President of Flex-Line Automation, a family-owned industrial automation company. Under her leadership, Flex-Line earned the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification. Cathy also creates content on TikTok as The Conveyor Cougar, where she shares her 40 years of experience in the factory automation industry.

Many industrial businesses struggle to stay relevant as markets evolve and younger generations enter the workforce. Leadership often clings to outdated mindsets, rigid processes, and traditional marketing, which limit innovation and employee engagement. How can companies embrace change without losing their identities?

According to automation veteran Cathy Rinne, embracing authenticity, flexibility, and generational collaboration has helped her build a business that stands the test of time. She recommends generating real, unpolished content, like in-the-moment TikTok videos, to boost brand visibility and humanize company culture. She emphasizes trust-based leadership, avoiding micromanagement, and fostering a workplace where people feel valued and free to contribute new ideas. Cathy also advocates for proactive outreach to schools to attract and inspire the next generation of talent.

In this week’s episode of Industry Edge, Danielle Neely hosts Cathy Rinne, Co-founder and President of Flex-Line Automation, to discuss building a legacy business through authenticity and adaptability. Cathy explains how working with younger generations altered her leadership style, the importance of rebranding for relevance, and how to collaborate with younger generations.

Greg Richards is an Independent Consultant and Project Manager for the Kitchen Innovation Awards at the National Restaurant Association Show, a network for food service innovation and inspiration. He is also the Founder of GBR Consulting, where he advises on food service technology and equipment strategy. With over two decades of experience in food service equipment and technology, Greg focuses on enhancing operational efficiency, automation, and sustainability within the industry.

The food service industry has long grappled with high stress, labor shortages, and a reluctance to adopt new technologies. As kitchen staff face increasing demands with fewer resources, how can innovation and thoughtful leadership transform operations to meet evolving customer expectations?

According to food service equipment and innovation expert Greg Richards, emerging automation technologies can reduce stress, improve efficiency, and elevate overall kitchen performance. Tools like AI-powered monitoring systems and robotic fryers can automate repetitive tasks and provide real-time support to kitchen staff. Greg stresses the importance of embracing change, supporting frontline workers, and prioritizing customer needs.

In this week’s episode of Industry Edge, Danielle Neely chats with Greg Richards, Independent Consultant and Project Manager for the Kitchen Innovation Awards at the National Restaurant Association Show, about the future of food service innovation. Greg explains the significance of the Kitchen Innovation Awards, the evolving food service landscape, and the influence of strong mentors.

Lauren Rinne Van De Mark is the Sales and Project Manager at Flex-Line Automation, Inc., a family-owned industrial automation company. Born into the business and growing up alongside the company, she is the third generation of her family to work in automation. Lauren played a key role in Flex-Line’s evolution from conveyor systems to advanced robotics and end-of-line automation solutions.

For many manufacturers and industrial businesses, adopting automation and robotics can feel overwhelming, expensive, or even threatening to their workforce. A common concern is whether these technologies will replace jobs or require complex skills beyond their team’s capabilities. How can companies bridge the gap between innovation and employee trust while maintaining operational efficiency?

According to sales, marketing, and project management expert Lauren Rinne Van De Mark, automation is becoming increasingly accessible for businesses looking to innovate and professionals entering the industry. She encourages businesses to start small with scalable automation projects and emphasizes empathy and employee training to ease fears about job loss. Companies can reframe automation as a supportive tool to boost workplace satisfaction. By offering hands-on support and empowering employees through training, businesses can take ownership of new systems and embrace change.

Join Danielle Neely in this episode of Industry Edge as she chats with Lauren Rinne Van De Mark, Sales and Project Manager at Flex-Line Automation, Inc., about breaking down barriers to automation in manufacturing. Lauren discusses how growing up in a family-run business shaped her leadership approach, how to build a supportive workplace culture, and how to break into the automation industry.

Tom Camacho is the Chair of C12, the nation’s leading peer advisory forum for Christian CEOs and business owners. He served as a US Army Officer and helicopter pilot during Operation Desert Storm before holding manufacturing and organizational development roles at General Electric. After transitioning into ministry, Tom served as a church planter, ordained pastor, and national leadership coach, developing Christ-centered leaders through coaching and writing. He is also the author of Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching.

Many business leaders struggle with balancing professional ambition and personal fulfillment. In high-stakes roles, it's easy to become the bottleneck, lose sight of purpose, or feel isolated at the top. How can leaders stay grounded, lead authentically, and integrate faith and values into their business?

After losing his son in a car accident, leadership coach and military veteran Tom Camacho leveraged his grief to lead with authenticity and encourage other leaders to build resilience. Faith-driven leaders should embrace their God-given identity, prioritize emotional connection, and delegate effectively. To integrate faith into the workplace, Tom recommends clearly communicating your organization’s values and approach to customers and employees while making faith-based elements voluntary and inclusive.

In today’s Industry Edge episode, Danielle Neely sits down with Tom Camacho, Chair of C12, to discuss navigating faith and grief in the workplace through authentic leadership. Tom explains the importance of aligning leadership with faith, the value of peer accountability, and how to create a workplace culture rooted in care.

Randy Rozema is the Director of Applications Engineering and a Principal at ACS, which delivers equipment, controls, and facilities solutions to the automotive, aerospace, energy, and industrial manufacturing industries. In his role, he develops design criteria and oversees the construction and testing of advanced test facilities. As an acoustics and vibration engineer, Randy specializes in product development and health and safety requirements. He is also a thought leader in systems integration and speaks about topics like NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) testing and facility performance optimization.

As manufacturers and engineers design testing facilities that can adapt to industry changes, traditional methods of building prototypes and collecting real-world data are costly, time-consuming, and often fail to anticipate future needs. How can companies create flexible, future-proof testing environments that balance physical testing with digital innovation?

Acoustics and vibration engineer Randy Rozema urges industrial companies to reimagine how they design testing spaces. He presents an “inside-out” approach that begins with the product’s testing requirements and data needs and then designs the facility to fit those parameters rather than retrofitting a preexisting space. Randy also recommends leveraging digital models alongside physical tests to improve efficiency while maintaining accuracy. By anticipating future industry shifts, such as quieter electric vehicles and stricter sound regulations, engineers can design with adaptability.

In today’s Industry Edge episode, Danielle Neely sits down with Randy Rozema, Director of Applications Engineering and Principal at ACS, to discuss creating cutting-edge NVH testing facilities. Randy shares case studies of unique facility challenges, advice for young engineers, and how to future-proof testing facilities.

Angie McKuin is the Business Development Manager at PMS, Inc., a custom steel fabrication company serving industrial and agricultural businesses. She is a fourth-generation employee of the family business.

Family businesses face a unique challenge to honor long-standing legacies while evolving for future growth. Balancing tradition with innovation can feel like a gamble. How can the next generation bring new perspectives without disrupting what already works?

Fourth-generation employee Angie McKuin has brought diverse viewpoints and a customer-first mindset to her family’s industrial business. She emphasizes the importance of improving internal culture through enhanced employee benefits, fostering a family-like work environment, and embracing technology to double production capacity. By maintaining the company’s service-based mission while innovating for the future, Angie has created intentional change.

In this week’s episode of Industry Edge, Michelle Keckler chats with Angie McKuin, Business Development Manager at PMS, Inc., about blending legacy and leadership in a fourth-generation business. Angie discusses the value of patience in driving lasting change, how she learned to navigate a male-dominated industry, and the importance of building a strong internal culture.