Episodes

What happens when a young troublemaker with a love for computers and cars finds himself at the forefront of the robotics and machine vision industries? Nikki and Courtney chat with Erick Collins, owner of Rockport Integration and Automation. Through a significant change in career direction and the influence of pivotal figures, Erick's path was anything but ordinary. Discover how a friend's advice led him from auto mechanics to computer science and ultimately into the captivating world of automa...

Ali and Nikki sit down with Kathy Rinne, the Conveyor Cougar from Flex-Line Automation, and Ed Garstkiewicz, Sr. Industry Segment Manager of Automation and Robotics from HARTING. They touch on how in the ever-evolving landscape of industrial automation and marketing, collaborating with experts is more important than ever. And ever wondered how a 12-year-old can transform a Gen Xer's approach to B2B marketing? Kathy shares how their TikTok skyrocketed Flex-Line Automation's web traffic by a who...

Join the Automation Ladies once again at Automate 2024 as they chat with Corey Jenkins from HARTING and Ale Walker from Gray Solutions. Corey dives into the engineering magic behind HARTING's plug-and-play solutions, while Ale brings a personal touch, giving a heartfelt shout-out to her mom, Kathy Walker, the CEO of eCami. They share how these connections aren't just mechanical but deeply personal, enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of modern automation systems. Explore the future of auto...

Join the Automation Ladies as they chat with Casey Spitz, the VP of Development and Innovation at HARTING. She takes us through setting up product development teams in the US, all things connectors, and customer engagement strategies. Discover the role of connectors in transforming data centers and AI technologies, and learn how these small components continue to drive technology forward. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineerin...

Join us as the Automation Ladies sit down with McKenzie Reed, President of Single Paired Ether Standards Development / CLN of South Florida, and Ed Garskowitz, Business Development Manager at HARTING. Mckenzie shares his journey from working at Harting to acquiring his own industrial machinery company. Alongside McKenzie, Ed reflects on their collaborative history, and their innovative office. They talk all about SPE's, their IoT integration, and empowering smaller systems. Send us a text wi...

Ali and Nikki speak with Chris Luecke from Manufacturing Happy Hour and Amanda Marx, Senior VP of Marketing Digital Strategy & IT at HARTING. This minisode goes from casual LinkedIn conversations to establishing a dynamic community for women in industrial automation. They uncover the secrets of building niche communities, the importance of multi-generational workforces and the unique approaches younger generations bring to learning and collaboration. Send us a text with questions or comments...

Ready to revolutionize your approach to automation and connectivity? Join us on the show floor at Automate, where Nikki and Ali sit down with two industry powerhouses, Sandro Quintero from Festo and Lucas Knapp from Harding. You'll uncover the secrets behind Festo's groundbreaking transition from traditional pneumatics to state-of-the-art electric automation solutions. Sandro delves into his fascinating background in mechatronics engineering and the rapid growth of educational programs in this f...

In this second "minisode" from the floor of Automate 2024, Nikki and Ali sit down with Ed Garstkiewicz, Senior Industry Segment Manager at HARTING, and Luis Narvaez, Automation & Marketing Specialist at Siemens. We unpack the modernization trends reshaping the landscape of PLCs, automation, and manufacturing — the move to decentralized automation, the rise of modular connectors, the shift to virtual PLCs and digital twins, and hardware-agnostic solutions! Send us a text with questions or com...

Send us a Text Message. In this first "minisode" from Automate, Nikki and Ali sit down with Srna Okukua, Head of Marketing at OTTO by Rockwell Automation, and Edmund Garstkiewicz, Senior Industry Segment Manager at HARTING. We'll explore how AMRs are making waves in industries ranging from automotive to consumer goods, offering unparalleled flexibility and efficiency over older AGV systems. Srna shares insights on the evolution of AMRs, capable of handling payloads from 300 to 4,000 pounds, and...

In this season 3 finale, the Automation Ladies have a chat with Founder and CEO of Valoy Automation, Vanessa Loiola. They discuss and emphasize the importance of training and troubleshooting skills for operators to reduce downtime and improve efficiency, proper programming and maintenance, and intuitive coding. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam Follow us on Linke...

In this week's episode, Nikki and Ali chat with Technical Sales Executive at Inductive Automation, Phil Seboa. They discuss the importance of IT and OT, his journey from electrician into the IT-centric world of automation, the impact of Ignition software, and some tips for content creation. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam Follow us on Linkedin for live videos, ...

In a previous Linkedin Live, Nikki and Ali recap the AHTD Spring Meeting with founder of QuoteBeam, Roman Piszcz. They discuss the importance of the Association for High Technology Distribution (AHTD) and encourage others in the industry to join. They also touch on the need for dynamic websites that provide relevant content and build credibility, the challenges of recruitment and retention, and the role of AI in customer interactions. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of...

In Automation Ladies fashion we had some technical difficulties during this episode, but the Ladies and Hassana Abubakar, a SCADA engineer at Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, had a great time. Hassana presented an amazing slideshow to show all the projects her and her team have accomplished and will achieve. They discuss hydropower plants, work in Nigeria, and the resilience of people. Interested in seeing Hassan's slideshow? Check it out here. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gil...

In this Linkedin Live, Nikki along with a pop up from Ali, interview Preston Hadley, President and Founder of Envision Automation & Controls. Preston starts with his introduction to automation with working in a family business, and continues into the challenges and benefits of going to networking events and the authenticity of marketing. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Qu...

In this special episode, Nikki and Ali speak with Ed Garstkiewicz (Business Development Manager) and Goda Inokaityte (Product Manager) at HARTING. They talk about the challenges of selecting and designing connectors, the benefits of using connectors in machinery and automation systems, and the innovations in connector technology, including modular connectors and single-pair Ethernet. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC...

In this previous Linkedin Live episode, Nikki catches up with Andy Stump (Director of Business Development at Rockwell Automation), and Vitória Régia Oliveira (Lead in Maintenance, Facilities, and Project Engineering at Magna International). They discuss the current state of smart manufacturing, the challenges of integrating technology, and the importance of cybersecurity. Check out Vitória in a previous episode to learn her amazing journey. Support the Show. Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Dir...

Nikki and Ali had the chance to speak to Dale Parker, Design Engineering Manager at Keystone Gas Services. Dale talks about his interest in getting UL 508A certification, sharing knowledge and mentoring the next generation of automation, as well as, some new exciting updates about Keystone's future. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam Follow us on Linkedin for live ...

In this previous , Nikki and Ali talk to Jason Bean, founder of M-Path Consulting and IIoT Market Specialist at Pepperl+Fuchs Group. Jason discusses working in various industries, his own experience with being neurodivergent, and the stigma behind individuals who fall under that. Learn more about Harnessing Neurodiversity for Organizational Excellence at https://www.manufacturingpath.com/ Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering L...

In this pre-recorded episode, all the Automation Ladies chat with Vitória Régia Oliveira, Lead in Maintenance, Facilities, and Project Engineering at Magna International. The ladies get the chance to discuss creating women in automation groups, overcoming challenges as a black woman in the industry, and the process of moving abroad for career opportunities. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of...

This week Nikki and Ali speak with Sarah Sonnier, Data Scientist and Jessica Williams, Controls Engineer at BBP. They discuss the challenges of integrating IT and OT, AI's usefulness in tasks like programming (with some human intervention), and the story of the dynamic duo's origins. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam Follow us on Linkedin for live videos, demos, a...

Insights into Machine Vision with Yamini Vattipalli In this episode, Nikki interviews Yamini Vattipalli, Director of Operations at EZ Automation Systems. Yamini shares her journey from being an image processing engineer to her current role. They discuss the challenges and importance of vision applications, the transition to system integration, and the role of AI in machine vision. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC,...

Nikki and Ali G sat live with Linda Freeman, an Industry Manager and longtime employee at Rockwell Automation. They look at the importance of functional safety and cybersecurity skills in the industry, the need for continuous learning, and using traditional gender roles to one's advantage. Check out the original live episode here. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam...

This week, Nikki gets a one on one interview with Startup Mentor, Dyci Sfregola. Nikki and Dyci discuss mentorship, starting her own venture, supply chain management, and her brand new book. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and Controls Engineering LLC, and Nikki Gonzales Head of Partnerships at Quotebeam Follow us on Linkedin for live videos, demos, and other content Music by Samuel Janes Audio Editing by Laura Marsilio Leave us an audio messag...

In this LinkedIn Live, Nikki and Ali G (and a little bit of Courtney) speak with student PCE employee Kortni Pendon. Kortni began her journey into automation thanks to her dad and time in the Navy. She discusses her military experience and the soft skills she developed, the importance of playing into your strengths and working on your weaknesses, as well as, how being a mom has helped her in the technical world. Support the show Co-Hosts are Alicia Gilpin Director of Engineering at Process and...