Join hosts Jennifer Palumbo and Jackie Slaght for a special year-end episode of Beyond Tech, featuring returning guest Matt Wise, CEO of E Tech Group, and Fred Fontaine, President of E Tech Group. Together, we’ll look back at the biggest shifts, surprises, and innovations that shaped automation and system integration in 2025, and explore what’s ahead for 2026 and beyond.

From AI and machine learning to IT/OT convergence, cybersecurity, sustainability, and workforce transformation, this conversation dives into the trends redefining automation and control. Hear leadership insights on how manufacturers are balancing flexibility with speed, leveraging data for smarter decisions, and preparing for the next wave of digital transformation.

If you’re curious about the future of automation, this episode is packed with perspectives you won’t want to miss.

Industrial networks are no longer flying under the radar. In this episode of Beyond Tech, hosts Jackie Slaght and Jennifer Palumbo sit down with cybersecurity experts Eric Medecke and Brian Gifford to explore why OT (Operational Technology) networks have become prime targets for cyberattacks, and why many manufacturers don’t realize how exposed they really are.

From legacy systems and unpatched vulnerabilities to the growing risk of cyber-espionage, we unpack the hidden dangers lurking in industrial environments. Learn how IT/OT assessments, cross-functional collaboration, and a phased approach to modernization can help manufacturers protect their operations, intellectual property, and bottom line.

Whether you're in operations, IT, or leadership, this episode will open your eyes to the critical role OT security plays in digital transformation.

When the lights flicker and the HMI starts acting haunted, who you gonna call? In this spooky-season special, Jackie and Jen sit fireside with E Tech Group’s Bill Backinger and Tony McAuliff to share real-life 24/7 support horror stories. From Frankenstein systems stitched together with sticky notes to cursed software updates and ghost meters, these tales from the field are as chilling as they are enlightening.

Discover the four “usual suspects” that haunt industrial operations—and how expert support can bring systems back from the brink. Whether it’s a midnight shutdown or a wrath-of-nature disaster, this episode proves that with the right team, even the scariest support calls can have a happy ending.

Grab your flashlight and settle in. You won’t want to listen to this one alone.