It’s the Season 1 finale of The Manufacturing Shake-Up! 🎉

This week Jenny Drescher and Ellen Feldman Ornato enter the studio to look back at a year of powerhouse guests and unforgettable insights from women changing the face of manufacturing in Connecticut. Whether you’re early in your career or already climbing the leadership ladder, this highlight episode is packed with career-changing wisdom, real talk, and inspiration to take into your next chapter.

In this special wrap-up, Jenny and Ellen revisit some of their favorite guest moments:

⭐ Christine Marcin (Stifel Marcin) gets real about networking fears and how to overcome them. https://youtu.be/sJou3arO51E

⭐ Beatriz Gutierrez (CONNSTEP) reminds us that mentorship doesn’t have to be internal—and that fear is a terrible advisor. https://youtu.be/fB0Zvi3TQxg

⭐ Mia Merrel (Assa Abloy) shows how simply asking, “Can you help me?” can change your whole career trajectory. https://youtu.be/IyuPoS18LTY

⭐ Lisa Brown (EBAD) champions the courage to seek out your own mentors. https://youtu.be/r43rM4rfXGU

⭐ Hannah Belmont (Westminster Tool) gives us the “hire for character” blueprint and redefines onboarding. https://youtu.be/WWjtBSWNfPk

⭐ Lee Ulinskas (EBM Papst) shares how treating coworkers as internal customers builds a collaborative culture. https://youtu.be/-bTEIk5uN40

⭐ Gina Greco (PTA Plastics) illustrates how investment in people—especially through training and connection—pays off. https://youtu.be/NqZ6XSMHLKk

⭐ Monica Hilgarth (Hampford Research) reframes “no” as an invitation to get curious and persuasive. https://youtu.be/ehSSJsEQpSg

⭐ Alethea Shaeffer (Form All Plastics) drops a truth bomb: perfectionism might be holding you back. https://youtu.be/bUmQNBTgFBQ

⭐ Lena Geliga (Hygrade Precision) explores the delicate power of boundaries and discernment in leadership. https://youtu.be/k-8pUHLpKbM

⭐ Cindi Bigelow (Bigelow Tea) gushes over her love for manufacturing and the project-based joy it brings. https://youtu.be/qfWvLPn6qXo

This episode is more than a recap—it's a roadmap for bold moves, brilliant ideas, and a better future in manufacturing.

Leah Rumore, Safety Manager at Goggin Safety Services, never set out to work in manufacturing, but when she accidentally discovered the field of ergonomics, everything clicked. Today, she brings empathy, intelligence, and creativity to her work helping teams stay safe and thrive.

In this episode, Jenny and Ellen explore Leah’s journey as a safety professional in the manufacturing and construction industries. Leah shares the secrets to successful a safety culture: connection and collaboration.

This episode is packed with insight on how to have a successful career keeping people safe, and how to implement effective safety strategies that people will actually adopt. Leah explains that coaching, not policing, is the key to long-term success.

Where you can find Leah: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-f-rumore-csp-138b2516/ Company: https://www.gogginsafety.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Kamila Allen believes that great manufacturing is like a symphony—every department playing its part in harmony. In this episode of The Manufacturing Shake-Up, Kamila shares her unique perspective as a Quality Assurance leader at Click Bond, where she ensures processes and people align with excellence.

Kamila’s story starts on the factory floor. As a high schooler needing money for college, she skipped retail jobs and entered manufacturing, first packing needles, then moving across sectors including medical devices, automotive, aerospace, and even working with explosives. These diverse experiences gave her a horizontal view of manufacturing and a deep appreciation for the universal language of quality.

Listeners will hear how relationships helped Kamila grow and how a key mentor even saw her potential before Kamila saw it in herself. Kamila then talks about her advice to people new to manufacturing… “Be a sponge!”

Where you can find Kamila: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamila-feitoza-allen-71248a108/ Company: https://www.clickbond.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

What does it take to lead in today’s manufacturing world? According to Alex Hatem, it takes trust, humility, and hands-on learning.

In this episode of The Manufacturing Shake-Up, hosts Jenny and Ellen speak with Alex Hatem, Manager of Enterprise Learning Programs at General Dynamics Electric Boat, whose career path has taken her from engineering to supervising operations on nuclear submarines...and now to leading enterprise-wide learning initiatives.

Alex shares how her early experiences laid the groundwork for a career based on curiosity, connections, and problem-solving. She dives into the evolution of her work, from hands-on operations to designing programs that teach others how to lead, and why hands-on learning isn’t just for the shop floor anymore.

We explore Electric Boat’s supervisor training programs that build essential leadership skills like trust-building, delegation, and communication and how Alex’s own career has mirrored the journeyman model she helps others follow. Alex also opens up about the challenges and rewards of being a woman in a male-dominated field.

Where you can find Alex: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-hatem-washakowski/ Company: https://www.gdeb.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Kelli-Marie Vallieres, PhD learned first-hand – at her family’s manufacturing business – that leading well means learning first and then supporting her team from a place of understanding. That approach, rooted in humility and curiosity, became the foundation for a remarkable career journey.

In this episode, Kelli-Marie shares how the power of applied learning, genuine collaboration, and relationship-building led to national best practices like the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative. And how that initiative led to her role at Chief Workforce Officer with Connecticut’s Office of Workforce Strategy.

Kelli-Marie talks about:

• Asking questions before trying to lead
• Collaboration across industry and education.
• Building relationships to transform Connecticut’s workforce development model.
• Being “comfortable with being uncomfortable” and how it impacts change.

Her story is a powerful reminder that real leadership starts with learning, and that shaking up traditional systems requires courage, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous growth.

Where you can find Kelli-Marie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-marie-vallieres-phd-9959a96/ Office of Workforce Strategy: https://portal.ct.gov/gwc/ows-initiatives ------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Jacqueline Gallo’s career path in manufacturing is nothing short of inspiring. From a small town in Rhode Island to EVP at Pursuit Aerospace, she climbed the ranks by saying “yes” to the toughest challenges. Then she built a leadership style grounded in compassion and continuous improvement.

In this episode, Jacquie shares how her team pioneered second chance employment programs that provide training and jobs to formerly incarcerated individuals, which cuts recidivism rates dramatically. Her work is a bold example of what’s possible when manufacturing leaders look beyond traditional pipelines.

Jacquie also explains how Kaizen and people-first process improvements are making Pursuit’s shops cleaner, safer, and more welcoming places to work.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about building inclusive teams, rethinking workforce development, and leading with purpose.

Where you can find Jacqueline: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-gallo-25220912/ Company: https://pursuitaero.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Jennifer Anderson, Vice President of Human Resources at Whelen Engineering, is proof that HR can be as innovative and essential as any technology. With Whelen boasting a workforce that’s 39% women - well above the national average - Jen joins Ellen and Jenny to share the human-centered strategies that are reshaping the workplace.

This episode dives into Jen’s journey as an HR innovator, and how Whelen’s deep culture of inclusion, connection, and long-term employee investment has built more than just a loyal workforce, a thriving one.

You’ll hear how Jen reintroduced engagement surveys that have worked…leading to meaningful changes that are simple yet effective at boosting morale. She also shares her commitment to psychological safety, leadership support, and making changes with a crawl-walk-run mentality built on trust.

Where you can find Jennifer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-anderson-2371603b/ Company: https://www.whelen.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Marietta Lee never imagined she’d one day run the family business. With a law degree and a thriving career in legal journalism, manufacturing was nowhere on her radar. But when she moved back to Connecticut to be closer to family, the opportunity to join the Lee team changed her path.

In this episode, Marietta shares how The Lee Company has remained innovative by being intentional about its future. She details their unique family employment policy, which sets rules for family members coming into the business. It’s about protecting and respecting the business, its employees, and its culture.

Marietta dives into how Lee is developing talent from within. They have a generous tuition reimbursement program and an in-house, paid training program for employees at all levels, Lee University. They are well-situated to build a workforce that’s skilled, loyal, and ready to grow.

Finally, Marietta talks about the Innovation Center currently under construction and why it was important to their company.

The Lee Company is proof that thoughtful planning and people-first development can keep a legacy business alive and thriving.

Where you can find Marietta: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marietta-lee-17729410a/ Company: https://www.theleeco.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/