The Concept to Creation Podcast: Recent Episodes
Reliability Matters
Welcome to Concept to Creation, a podcast featuring entrepreneurs who share their business journey. We’ll hear what motivated them to turn their dreams into a business. They’ll share stories from the trenches of business, from raising capital, creating products or services, navigating regulations, hiring employees, and managing competition end growth. We’ll discover their successes and failures, and they’ll provide advice for budding entrepreneurs.
Your Host:
Mike Konrad began his career in the electronic assembly equipment industry in 1985. Mike founded Aqueous Technologies in 1992 in response to the Montreal Protocol and the resulting international treaty banning most popular cleaning/defluxing solvents.
Mike is an internationally known speaker on the subject of increasing reliability through contamination removal and cleanliness quantification techniques and procedures. Mike was awarded “Distinguish Speaker Status” with SMTA in 2018 and received the “Rich Freiberger Best of Conference Award” in 2019.
Mike was recently elected to the SMTA Global Board of Directors where he chairs the SMTA Training Committee and is also a member of the SMTA Strategic Devolopment Committee. Mike is also Vice President of Technical Programs for the Los Angeles / Orange County SMTA Chapter.
Mike is also the host of the popular Reliability Matters Podcast.
Zachary Green, founder of LumAware (manufacturer of innovative safety products), shares his experience as a US Marine and the warrior mentality he brings to business. After Zachary left the Marine Corps, he became a firefighter, politician, author, podcast host, and entrepreneur. He has spoken before Congress, was appointed to a special White House panel on entrepreneurship by President Obama, was a Cincinnati Ohio city Councilman, and authored the book Warrior Entrepreneur. Zachary is also the co-host of The Warrior's Voice Podcast.
Zachary shares the challenges, struggles, and successes building a business based on passion, experience, and a warrior mentality.
Zachary Green may be reached here:
zacharylgreen@gmail.com
Zachary's Company:
LumAware Safety
https://lumawaresafety.com
Zachary's Book:
Warrior Entrepreneur
https://tinyurl.com/f8xusz37
Zachary's Podcast:
The Warrior's Voice
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNKTQaBSt1ZwaJNoCo6K1gg
My guest today is Larry Welk, co-owner of Smart Splice. Larry is a business owner with a history of working in the electrical and electronic manufacturing industry. Skilled in sales, business management, business development, business process improvement, and sales management, Larry says he obtained a Master's degree from the school of hard knocks. After getting knocked down, he says he always focused on learning and getting back up again, a valuable lesson we can all learn from!
We’ll talk to Larry about his “up and down” journey and learn what knocked him down and, more importantly, what his inspiration and techniques were to get back up again.
Larry Welk may be contacted here:
lwelk@smartsplice.com
https://www.smartsplice.com
Christine Davies is the Founder and CEO of Poligage.
Poligage is the world’s first online marketplace for public policy insights and government affairs services, providing efficient virtual connection with a carefully vetted network of world class experts who are available for flexible pay-as-you-go consultations, content, and projects.
Founded in May of 2020, Poligage is still in its infancy. I spoke with Christine about the her journey operating a business startup, why she choose to start a company, her vision, and strategies for growth.
Christine may be contacted here:
cdavies@poligage.com
https://www.poligage.com
Dr. Harald Wack earned his PHd in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 2002. He began his career at Zestron’s American headquarters, reporting to his father in Germany, Dr. Oscar Wack. This was the beginning of Harald’s long journey with Zestron culminating in his ascension to President of Zestron’s parent company, Dr.O.K. Wack Chemie GmbH. I spoke with Harald from his headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany.
Zestron
Europe:
Bunsenstr. 6
85053 Ingolstadt
Germany
USA:
11285 Assett Loop
Manassas, VA 20109
USA
www.zestron.com
infousa@zestron.com
Terry Munson is the founder and president of Foresite, Inc. He founded Foresite in 1992, then known as CSL (Contamination Studies Laboratories, Inc.).
Terry has extensive experience with how cleanliness issues are affecting product reliability for electronic hardware. He is the primary developer of ion chromatography analysis for use in the electronics manufacturing industry and is an active member of IPC. Terry’s insights have been seen in various industry trade publications, as well as at technical conferences.
It can be said, Terry marches at the front of the band, using his unique experience and cleanliness testing methods, many of which have made their way to internationally recognized standards. Terry has been quoted saying “Everything is fixable, you just have to understand what’s causing problem.” Today, we’ll attempt to understand Terry Munson as he joins me on this episode of the Concept to Creation Podcast.
Terry's Contact Info:
Terry Munson
Foresite, Inc.
1982 S. Elizabeth Street
Kokomo, IN 46902 USA
1-765-457-8095
www.foresiteinc.com
terrym@foresiteinc.com
STI Electronics (formally Soldering Technology International) was founded by the late Industry icon Jim Raby. Soldering Technology International became STI Electronics and was operated by Jim, David, and Ellen Raby.
Jim and Dave Raby both were awarded the prestigious IPC President‘s award. This is the first and only time a father and son have won this award.
David recounts the founding of STI and the challenges along the way. David also provides valuable advice for new entrepreneurs.
David may be reached here:
draby@stiusa.com
STI Electronics website:
https://stiusa.com
My guest today is Bob Black. I first met Bob back in the late 1980s when he was selling drag soldering machines made by Zeva. while Bob has been involved in several businesses, he is perhaps best known for his work with Juki importing and selling component placement equipment.
Bob has imported and sold equipment from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and Italy. Bob shares his journey of entrepreneurship through several companies. Bob shares what he has learned working with international companies and even what he has taught his international colleagues. And, just in case anyone thinks owning your own business allows one to leisurely lounge around he talks about his years of spending 27 days a month traveling for his business.
Bob may be reached here:
rjblackjr1@gmail.com
Welcome to episode 6 of the concept of creation podcast. While I am the host of this podcast, interviewing entrepreneurs within the electronic assembly industry, several people have asked about my story of entrepreneurship.
I was recently interviewed by Dr. Mike Stull from California State University San Bernardino where he is a, School Director, Professor, Department Chair, and Program Director of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship. Dr. Stull recently had me on his hot-seat program where we discussed the founding of my company and the nearly 30 year journey since day one of my company.
Mike Konrad may be reached here:
mike@mikekonrad.com
Welcome to episode number 5 of the Concept to Creation Podcast. I’m so glad you’re here. Today, my guests are Robert Boguski and Regina Lathrop. They are the husband-wife team behind Datest, a Fremont California based company which provides advanced, integrated PCBA testing and inspection services, serving the CM and EMS industries as well as the OEM community since 1984.
Robert and Regina purchased Datest in 2005 with business partners then bought out those partners in 2009. I think in many ways, purchasing a company is perhaps even more challenging than starting one from scratch. Rob and Regina describe their early venture as a rehabilitation project.
Datest Contact Info:
Robert Boguski rboguski@datest.com
Regina Lathrop rlathrop@datest.com
http://www.datest.com
Dr. Mike Bixenman and Tom Forsythe talk about the founding of Kyzen Corporation, a multi-national chemical manufacturer for the electronics cleaning and metal cleaning industry. They discuss the early days and challenges they faced along the way. They even disclose the "secret" meaning of an early ad campaign featuring the cryptic message "2LG2Q"!
Dr. Mike Bixenman
mbixenman@magnalytix.com
Tom Forsythe
tom_forsythe@kyzen.com
Mike Scimeca founded his first business in 1991. Today, he owns nine businesses units. Mike shares his successes, failures, challenges, and advice for budding entrepreneurs.
Mike may be reached at:
mscimeca@fctassembly.com
Allison and Chad Budvarson are a husband and wife team that founded and operates Out of the Box Manufacturing, a Renton Washington-based contract manufacturer. They share how they founded their company, their challenges, successes, and what motivates them. They also provide sage advice for navigating both business and home life.
Out of the Box Manufacturing
1600 SW 43rd St, Ste 200
Renton, WA 98057
Office: (+1) 253-214-7448
https://obmfg.com/
Allison Budvarson: allison@obmfg.com
Chad Budvarson: chad@obmfg.com
Dr. Bill Cardoso earned his AA degree at the age of 13. He went on to earn his BS, MS, and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as an MBA in Economics, Strategic Management, and Entrepreneurship.
In 2008, Dr. Cardoso founded Creative Electron, a manufacturer of X-ray equipment. Bill discusses his journey of concept to creation including his success, failures, and challenges along the way.