People in Production Podcast with Ryan Nelson
Join host Ryan Nelson as he explores the DNA of thriving manufacturing operations. As founder of Circle of 5, Ryan delves deep into how successful organizations build high-performing teams and create empowering cultures that drive excellence.
Each episode features dynamic conversations with manufacturing leaders and cross-industry innovators, uncovering strategies for talent development, organizational growth, and future-focused leadership. Whether you're a manufacturing executive, team leader, or passionate about building strong workplace cultures, this podcast delivers practical insights to transform your organization.
The Kansas City Chapter of NTMA and Circle of 5 present this exclusive series starting January 2025. Subscribe now to learn how today's visionaries are reshaping the future of manufacturing and organizational excellence.
People in Production Podcast with Ryan Nelson
Episode 8 - Katherine O'Toole: February Preview for KCNTMA
This episode highlights the exciting initiatives at the Kansas City chapter of NTMA for 2025, focusing on community building, empowerment through events like She Leads, and collaborative opportunities with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers. Katherine discusses January's activities and plans for February, emphasizing the core mission of supporting manufacturing professionals through strategic networking and advocacy efforts.
• January's focus was on laying groundwork for 2025
• February events including She Leads and Member Appreciation Night
• Discussion on empowering women in manufacturing
• Importance of community engagement for collective success
• Upcoming Missouri Association of Manufacturers event
• Announcement of joint event with the St. Louis chapter
• Encouragement for member involvement and collaboration
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Welcome back to the People in Production podcast. I'm thrilled to have Catherine back this week from National Tooling and Machining Association. She's the executive director for the Kansas City chapter. Catherine's going to share with us a little bit about what January has looked like and what February is starting to look like. Check it out, get in the know about what's happening in KC and TMA so that you can be a part of it. So, with no further ado, here's my interview with Catherine. Catherine, welcome back to the podcast. How are you doing?
Speaker 2:Hey, I'm doing well. How are you, Ryan?
Speaker 1:I am doing well. We are a month into 2025. How are you doing? Does it feel like it's fast-paced or does it feel like it's just getting going? What's your mindset right now?
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, I feel like there's been a lot, a lot of listening and taking in and now it's go time. So rolling out strategic plan for the year, tomorrow at our Intimate Kickoff at WebCo. We've got a SheLeads event coming up on Friday. We roll right into our first official SheLeads meeting then the following week. So definitely a lot of preparation off and running now.
Speaker 1:So let's let the audience kind of know what we are thinking we're going to try to do Each month. We would like to kind of do a review of the month we're just coming out of and a preview of the next month, so that people can kind of anticipate what's coming up, and we will try to be faithful in doing that. But in that spirit of review, let's talk about how 2025 has started out. You've been busy, I see. You've been in a lot of places and stuff like that doing a lot of things. What's been going on in KCMTMA?
Speaker 2:I feel like we've been laying a lot of groundwork in preparation for this is what we're really working towards this year. Right, I feel like we have some big events upcoming and I would say this January. Oh, Ryan, I feel like we're going to have to edit that. Sorry, I'm stuttering here. Okay, can you edit us out? Is that okay?
Speaker 2:I feel like the first part of 2025 was just laying the foundation for all that is to come really, and we have several big events on the horizon for us as a local chapter doing a joint event with the St Louis group, having them come visit us here in Kansas City for a business summit. We're going to Branson and, Ryan, you're going to be a part of that great event there with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, and that is in preparation for a manufacturing expo that we are going to have here in Kansas City in late fall 2025. So we have some really big events that we're working towards, and then we have a lot of in between, which is, you know, to focus on our three main pillars networking, advocacy and workforce development.
Speaker 1:Well, so let's talk about this, and a lot of people don't necessarily understand how active the board in KC and TMA is. And so this foundation yes, you are doing a lot of work, but you've got a lot of volunteer power working at these things too. So tell us a little bit about the board, and I mean you guys. I know I've just been on a thread or two with you guys where you've been talking about some of the things coming up that I'm a part of, and just the participation of your board has just been awesome to me and I love to see how they're taking ownership and keep in mind, guys, the board, they're all volunteer members. Catherine's the only paid person. That's a part of that team and stuff. But these guys have signed up and they've committed themselves to making great things happen in the Kansas City tooling and machining market. What would you add to that?
Speaker 2:I would say absolutely so thankful for their support and their leadership and their collective participation in wanting to grow manufacturing in Kansas City. So they are definitely a part of our board with a mission and with a purpose and that is to draw more business into the greater Kansas City area and in doing so, we see individual businesses succeed and able to meet. You know their milestones and their accomplishments, but it is definitely collective mindset, collective group power and so thankful for them and their willingness to get busy because there's a lot coming up in 2025.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So that kind of makes me think about this, because you and I, we both exist to serve the manufacturing community.
Speaker 1:And so you and I, once in a while we'll connect with each other, talking strategy about how do we serve people, what days of the week work for you and that type of thing. And so sometimes people think is there anything happening on the calendar right now with KC and TMA? And we're walking that fine balance as to how to provide value with activities but not become burdensome that it takes people off their mission of what they need to do as an organization. Would you agree with that sentiment about walking that balance?
Speaker 2:Well, absolutely, you know, membership in our association is something that should complement daily business activity and there should be a value add to everything that we're doing. So absolutely I do not want to come across as pushy or that annoying. You know, ding, ding, ding in your inbox. And God love the schools. I think I got 16 dings yesterday just from my kid's school. So I know what that is like and I know again, it's all with a purpose and absolutely what we're doing with it is with a purpose and it's for the purpose of bettering manufacturing in Kansas City and supporting our local businesses. So that's why you get those emails. But everything that we're doing is not for me, it's not for Ryan, it's not for the board, it's for the businesses that we represent here collectively within the NTMA National Tooling and Machining Association.
Speaker 1:So, before we talk about February, I think it's really helpful to remind people that our expectation isn't that, hey, we're putting on an event, everyone has to be there. But we also want to communicate to people that every event we do is intended to add value to them, whether it's create network connections for them for developing strategy, or understanding something about the industry, or educating or whatever.
Speaker 1:I think sometimes people are like do I have to go to everything? We encourage you to go to everything you can go to, because it's all for members, but what do you want to say to people about just when they're? Hey, how do I prioritize this in my busy schedule?
Speaker 2:Well, first and foremost, I would say the events that I plan are based upon the feedback that I receive, or the tidbits of information that I pick up on conversationally.
Speaker 1:So that's the important thing that if there's something people want from Casey and Timmy, they need to talk to you and say, hey, that falls in our wheel with an intent, excuse me, to serve the members and to meet their needs.
Speaker 2:So, yes, this I would say our events are planned with a purpose. Even when we network, we're networking with a purpose, and that is to explore, you know, what individual businesses are best at and for them to be able to showcase that and then look for other businesses that can compliment that, or businesses that they can serve, you know, with their specialties.
Speaker 1:Yeah, love that. And you're doing a great job, and I know you've been available for so many people just to hear what they're processing and what they're trying to think. And you're also doing a great job filtering what is the value add here to make sure that it's not just busyness but it serves the goal of the organization. You're doing a great job. So let's talk about February. The first thing coming up in February, february 5th. You've got she Leads. Tell people about why they need to send people from their shop to that event.
Speaker 2:Okay. Well, february 5th is our first official she Leads meeting. Now, that said, we do have a ladies networking night. We are having a wine night this coming Friday, the 31st, so that's our first event that is not necessarily education focused. Typically our events happen during the day. The wine night is just for us as ladies to get together, kind of let down and just reflect on, you know, what's going on in our day-to-day lives and really build those relationships. February 5th, we are going to focus on overcoming imposter syndrome and in doing so, we're going to talk about growing self-confidence, increasing our decisive action, improving strategic thinking and eliminating self-doubt.
Speaker 1:Great, and so who from the shop should be there? Cause I think some people think, oh, that's for owners or that's for a certain type, but who do you want in the industry to be at that event?
Speaker 2:All of our she Leads events are open to any female that works in or around manufacturing. So that could be an individual from the shop floor, that could be an office manager, that could be an upper level, c level decision maker. So she Leads is really for the empowerment and education of all females and and for us to build our networks. We know how important that is when we are seeking job advancement, looking at career opportunities and just seeking support. So we want to be there for females within all areas of the manufacturing industry.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. I love it. Thank you for sharing with that. Then, february 20th, we have a Member Appreciation Network Night. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Speaker 2:yeah, we are very excited to welcome to our member appreciation night an individual, kari Marciko, from the national chapter, and she is the membership and relations manager, so she's a great person that could answer any questions that members at large, potential members, have about their membership, be that NTMAU, getting involved in national level conferences, leadership training, that type of thing. So we're glad to have her and we're just glad to celebrate those that have a similar commitment to manufacturing.
Speaker 1:That's awesome, love it. And then moving ahead, february 24th through the 25th and this is a two part conversation because there's what's happening on the 24th and 25th- but, then there's what's happening in the fall that I think I'd love to just tease a little bit. So tell us a little bit about the Missouri Association of Manufacturers event you're going to.
Speaker 2:We are very excited to partner with MAM for an upcoming event this fall in Kansas City and, in preparation, we are going to be attending their trade show in Branson, missouri. So that kicks off on the 24th and continues through the 26th. So we will be attending all of the activities that are offered and if you want to sign up, you can use our NTMA rate. So reach out to me if you'd like to join us. We have a great group of about a dozen going down so far and Brian, you're going to be presenting, which is amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm excited about that, yes, but a part of what we'll be doing will be a growing together as a group, coming together as a board of directors and membership at large, really defining our vision for our manufacturing expo. And then we'll end, on Wednesday, as that event concludes, by meeting with the executive director from Missouri Association of Manufacturers and really laying out the particulars of the event that we're going to host here in Kansas City.
Speaker 1:That's great and, yeah, I'm excited for those who may not know this, but the night before that event, I'll be down in Branson with the executive board or the board members for the KCNTMA, just doing some workshop with them to help them just be able to thrive at what they're doing collectively and just a way to invest in them.
Speaker 1:And then, yeah, as you mentioned, I'll be doing a workshop that they've asked me to be on the workforce and HR track, where we're going to be talking about developing leadership within your organization. So I'm thrilled to be a part of that. One other thing that I might just mention if you back rewind in the month a little bit February 6th, I'm actually kicking off an intensive with manufacturing leaders where I'm helping people focus on developing the ownership mindset in your organization and the leadership mindset, as well as transforming culture, and that's going to be a very intensive thing. The people that are investing in this are investing dollars and they're investing time and we're going really deep in this series, and so I'm really fired up and people can reach out to me about that as well.
Speaker 2:But I think I was gonna say I'm gonna interject and I love your monthly calls that you do as well. Oh, thank you. I love when I have the opportunity to participate with a comment, but I also love just being a part of those with listening ears and hearing what's going on in our manufacturing community and again being able to apply some of the things that I'm hearing to potential events or to speakers, to things that I am planning for the NTMA. So thank you for including me in that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I got to tell you. I received a call from one of the people that have been a part of that free manufacturing peer advisory group and he just said listen, I brought an issue that I was dealing with to that group and the group just said you got to deal with it. And he said I just had a meeting this past week where I dealt with it the way the group told me I had to deal with it and the meeting I was dreading it but it turned out to be a real strong point of my week and it's great to hear how leaders from different organizations can help share perspective that empower us to go take action. So that's.
Speaker 2:I'm going to say props to you, ryan, and props to that group, and I see very similar synergies with the NTMA, building relationships based upon trust, and I know the calls that I've been on, which I believe is three of them. I mean people share pretty open and honestly issues that are going on and there is that mutual trust that you know professional boundary, where when someone is seeking feedback or guidance, you know others want to be there, they want to support that and they want to see it through successfully for that individual. So I think you've got a great thing going on.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. It's so cool just to see people for each other and champion one another's success. Hey, I want to zoom ahead a little bit because we've also got something in April coming up that I think people need to get on their calendar now and I'm looking. I believe it's the 24th and 25th of April. We've got a combined NTMA event with the St Louis chapter and I'd love to even though you and I didn't talk about this ahead of time, but I'd love for people to get that on their radar to start clearing their calendar for that date, because St Louis has a lot going on in manufacturing and it's an opportunity where many of their people are going to be coming over here to be a part of a collective event and participate in the BOTS KC event. Is there anything and I know there's still details being ironed out about that but just to help people understand why they should clear their calendars for that date, what can you share with them about the event to prioritize that?
Speaker 2:Well, sure, yeah, we're calling this the Joint St Louis and Kansas City Chapters Business Summit and it's going to be happening here in Kansas City.
Speaker 2:We are working to confirm venues and hotels this week, so hopefully we'll have an event flyer out very soon. But absolutely, ryan, you're right. I would recommend that people place hold their calendars for that Thursday and Friday. We'll kick off about noon on Thursday and a big focus of Thursday is going to be getting to know the members from the St Louis chapter as well as introducing ourselves. So we are expecting great turnout. You know, hopefully we'll get about 20 different companies represented from the St Louis area and really we want to hear from them who they are, what they're doing and what types of individuals that they want to interact with here in the greater Kansas City area. We're going to explore different ways to interact with them socially, through networking and then through shop tours as well, and we're going to have different ways to interact with them socially through networking and then through shop tours as well, and we're going to have some great breakout sessions and just time to be together professionally and then also just to build some personal relationships.
Speaker 1:And these conversations are strengthening manufacturing in the Midwest and it's helping people to realize that the Missouri and Kansas area and Illinois area, those are places that need to be recognized for being great production areas, and so it's a great opportunity to grow the reputation of our region.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And if we can do it here, why send it somewhere else? Right, let's make ourselves known as a place that greater Kansas City, kansas, missouri and, as you said, illinois we can get it done, so why be sending it to the coast when we can make it happen here and we can utilize one another? We just have to know who we can turn to. We've got to bring down the barriers of competition. We've got to open our eyes, open our ears and be willing to interact with one another with purpose.
Speaker 1:Love it, love it. Hey Catherine, you are doing a great job. If people want to see the latest going on, I think probably the best place to stay in touch with it is just to make sure they're following you on LinkedIn. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 2:Yes, I would definitely agree with that. I will always, yes, accept a connect. I look for others to connect with as well. That could be beneficial to our association. I connect, I look for others to connect with as well. That could be beneficial to our association. I try often to put my email out there as well. I'd love to add you to our email list so you could attend an event, check us out, you know, if it's right. You feel that you know you want to come and collaborate with our community. Hey, let's make that happen. Let's talk about a way we can get that done. But, yes, I would say LinkedIn is a great step. We are working on some revisions to our website and we hope to have that done by spring. But, yep, we try to post about what's going on, just to share that so others can be involved.
Speaker 1:So good. And I think, the last thing that I just want to encourage people to understand that you guys are very strategic about you want manufacturers who are going to come and be an invested part of our community to be part of it, and then you're very strategic about the number of vendors you allow to be a part of this event so that it doesn't become this saturated marketplace where everyone's just trying to sell to you.
Speaker 1:Every time you go to an event and I appreciate your diligence of protecting the shop members but also communicating to people like me that are partners in the industry but I don't necessarily manufacture myself you make sure that I really understand that this is for the manufacturing community, it's not specifically for me, and I just love how you lead in that way and I think February is going to be an awesome month.
Speaker 2:Yes, thank you so much. Yeah, and we do. We want all of our events to stay manufacturing focused and of course, as we mentioned earlier, we want that value add. But the underlying tone of everything is manufacturing first. So we do. You know I hate to say no and I'm sorry you can't come, but there there are events where you know, even if somebody might be a great industry partner, unfortunately that event might not be just right for them. We'll seek to find an opportunity, so please do reach out via email, follow us, we'll find a way to make it happen, but in the meantime we're working on supporting manufacturing.
Speaker 1:You know what you're about and I love how you're leading in it. So, everyone that's what's coming up in February Be sure to get involved. Don't stand on the sidelines. You get the best value for your investment of both your dollars and your time, by being at events and having conversations that are gonna better you and better your company. So, catherine, thanks for being with us today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, in closing I would say I'm thankful to see all 100 of our guests at WebCo tomorrow as we lay out our strategic plan for the year. It's going to be great. We are thankful for everybody who wants to be involved and who wants to benefit manufacturing in the greater Kansas City area and grow our footprint.
Speaker 1:Love it and by the time this gets out, that WebCo event will have already happened and I want people to know. Hopefully that is the first event of the year that's completely sold out and we don't have any more capacity. We want to do that multiple times over the rest of the year. So keep signing up, keep registering. We'll look forward to seeing you guys at other events coming up soon.
Speaker 2:Yes, thank you so much, ryan. Thanks Catherine, bye-bye, bye.