In the second installment of our Workforce Special Series with AFFOA, host Robert Finnegan, Director of Education and Workforce Development at AFFOA, leads a compelling discussion with industry leaders and technologists about how digital engineering and automation are transforming the textiles manufacturing industry. Join us as we delve into the workforce implications of these cutting-edge advancements. Our guests include Gabrielle Ferrara, President of Ferrara Manufacturing; Christine Spiegel, Director of Marketing at Parkdale Mills; Caitlin Knowles, Senior Textiles Engineer at AFFOA; and Jon Zornow, Inventor and Founder of Sewbo.

Next generation leader Donato Fraioli is joined by Kyle Van Damme, James Dillport and Jason Storozum to discuss running a textile product company. Listen in as they share previous experiences and how they entered the industry, from joining the family business to running a company for silent partners. They discuss finding new talent through word of mouth, challenges with HR and discovering success through an employment agency. The conversation leads to team motivation and the leaders share how they create a strong workplace culture with examples. They touch on current obstacles such as navigating tariffs and end with experiences at the Advanced Textiles Expo.       

In this episode, Robert Finnegan, [Director of Education and Workforce Development], hosts a discussion on best practices for recruitment, retention, and workforce development, including work-life balance, company culture, training younger staff, onboarding, automation, government involvement, and engaging local academia to attract the next generation of textile manufacturers. Guests include Rachal McCarthy, [Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner of NTI Global]; Nicole Holroyd, [Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner of Spiritus Systems]; Bill Ackerley, [Director of Sales and Operations at Bearse USA]; and Michael Woody, [CEO of Trans Tex and author of American Dragon: Winning the Global Manufacturing War Using the Universal Principles of Fewer, Faster, and Finer].

Listen in as Jasmine Cox interviews Eleanor Enochs, Kathryn Kittrell, Max Ring, and Preston Bullock have a discussion on how they transitioned from college life to professional careers, highlighting the challenges, growth, and experiences they encountered as they adapted to the workforce.