WiLLcast: Recent Episodes
WiLLcast
WiLLcast™, Wisconsin Lighting Lab's multimedia brand, is committed to not only our partners, products, customers, and the lighting technology industry – but all things Wisconsin. With content and conversations covering everything from brewing to farming to race cars to manufacturing and technology, WiLLcast is dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on the latest happenings and innovations from WiLL and our Wisconsin community. And, of course, you'll hear all about the quirky interests and musings plaguing Host Adam Rupp and the WiLL team. Recorded at the WiLL Lighting Campus in Fond du Lac, we'll explore not only what it means to be Made in Wisconsin, but also work and live in the Badger State, too. Subscribe today!
Laconia High School students Evyn, Oliver, and Wyatt joined WiLLcast host Adam Rupp to talk about their 2024 Project G.R.I.L.L. solution, a custom "drum set" featuring three grills with rock 'n roll flair. The students also share their perspectives on how schools can better prepare them for the trades and how manufacturers can help attract the next generation.
Join Adam Rupp as he sits down with local manufacturers Jason Strange of Wells Vehicle Electronics and Paul Reetz of Integrity Saw & Tool. The crew talks manufacturing automation, implementing automation technology, and more!
Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!
Marian University President Michelle Majewski joined Adam and Becca at the WiLLcast table to give an update on all things higher education during this episode. President Majewski shares her experience leading the small private university, the process for determining new programs to develop, and the benefits and challenges of working within the Fond du Lac community.
Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!
Newly elected Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman joined Adam and Becca for this WiLLcast episode! Kaufman shared what his role entails, an update on the county, and his views on manufacturing in the Fond du Lac community.
Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!
Senior Vice President of Development for The Commonwealth Companies, Dan Kroetz, stopped by the WiLLcast studio to share his experience in the construction field. He'll discuss working in development as well as the need for affordable housing.
Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!
Tune in as Bernadette Ericksen, Director of Business Client Services for Envision Greater Fond du Lac, joins Adam and Becca to talk about her work in the Fond du Lac community and manufacturing industry. Bernadette also shares her career path, including her return to the FDL area community.
Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!
Join Adam, Jake, and Brian for a special behind-the-scenes look at WiLL's application and engineering teams! Jake Ortner, Director of Application Engineering, and Brian Harrah, Controls Engineer, share their insight as they help customers throughout the installation process. Plus, they'll talk about a recent Midwest-based sports lighting project and how they helped the facility troubleshoot after some unexpected interference impacted the lighting controls system.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel or your favorite streaming platform for the latest WiLLcast updates!
Sisters Whitney and Kelsey Birschbach stopped by the WiLLcast Studio to discuss their own local manufacturing operations – Agromatic, Inc. and Davis Plastic. Adam and Becca talk with Kelsey and Whitney about their operations, working in agriculture, and, of course, the dynamics of a family business.
Stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcasts - subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow WiLLcast on your favorite streaming platform, or visit WiLLbrands.com!
Host Adam Rupp sat down with Thomas Schaefer, Vice President of Engineering, Procurement & Category Management for Wells Vehicle Electronics, to talk about his more than 40 years of manufacturing industry experience. Tom shares his professional evolution and the changes he's seen throughout the industry over the past 4 decades.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Dust off your flannels and start stretching because The Ledge Games (TLG) are back for the seventh consecutive year! Host Adam Rupp + Producer Becca Schumacher are joined by TLG Co-Founders Tyler Oestreich and Josh Michels for this WiLLcast as they discuss the upcoming event. Hosted on the last Saturday of September (9/24 in 2022), TLG is an amateur timber competition for charity with all proceeds going to support local tech education as well as the manufacturing, engineering, and IT industries throughout Wisconsin.
To learn more about The Ledge Games, visit ledgegames.com.
To learn more about WiLL, visit WiLLbrands.com.
To stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on your favorite streaming service.
Envision Greater Fond du Lac President + CEO, Sadie Vander Velde, joined Host Adam Rupp and Producer Becca Schumacher to record Episode #42 of WiLLcast. Sadie shared her thoughts on all things Fond du Lac county - from the economy to the importance of manufacturing to the community's future, and more. Adam and Sadie also share their concepts of leadership and the importance of recognizing the "rockstars" vs the "superstars" within an organization.
To learn more about Envision Greater Fond du Lac, visit EnvisionGreaterFDL.com.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
After nearly a decade with Excel Engineering, HR Manager Lauren Schellpfeffer joined host Adam Rupp to discuss the role of HR and recruiting in engineering. Lauren shares her professional evolution, breaks down a few HR "myths," and kicks off the episode discussing her family's tradition of attending the Kentucky Derby each year. Plus, Adam will tell a great story about a job interview and a declined job offer... all probably for the best...
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
C.J. Smith, legal counsel for Fond du Lac-based contractor C.D. Smith, took a seat at the WiLLcast table with Adam and Becca to share his unique perspective on the construction industry and the FDL community. C.J. shares his experience with, and respect for, those working in the trades, as well as all that goes into creating a contract for a major construction project. He also explains why he believes that, while the contract is key, relationships are the basis for most long-lasting business transactions. Listen in to learn more!
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Chad Collett, President of Fond du Lac Soccer Association, joined Adam & Becca to talk about his role as he leads the charge at the FDL Soccer Association and manages the Fond du Lac Soccer Complex. A premier facility within the state of Wisconsin, the soccer complex feature two fully lit fields, including Field 12 which currently sports a complete WiLLsport lighting package including our GFX controls system. Chad talks about his thoughts on the WiLL system as well as his hopes and goals for the future of the club and complex!
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
WiLL's favorite NASCAR driver and long-time WiLLcast guest, Josh Bilicki was back in the studio to talk more about the 2022 NASCAR Race season thus far. Get his take on pulling "double duty" at his home track - Road America - as he raced in both the Xfinity and Cup Series Races. Josh gives Adam his thoughts on the new Next Gen car and shares more on how iRacing helps him train. As always, Adam and Becca appreciate Josh's time as he stops by the WiLLcast studio!
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Director of Application Engineering Jake Ortner joined host Adam Rupp to talk about the benefits of both remote and onboard power supply options for retrofit sports lighting projects. They take a look at key considerations including pole design as well as power quality when determining which WiLL solution works best. To learn more about WiLL's sports lighting solutions, visit WiLLBrands.com.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel, check your favorite streaming service, or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Paul Reetz, President & Owner of Integrity Saw & Tool, Inc., joined Adam at the WiLL Lighting Campus to share his perspective as a fellow small-sized manufacturer in the Fond du Lac community. Covering lots of ground, Adam and Paul discuss everything from recruitment to supply chain challenges while sharing leadership wisdom throughout. Tune in to get the full story now!
Former NASCAR Car Chief Ron Malec joined Adam at the WiLLcast Studio to take a closer look at his long-standing career – from NASCAR Car Chief for Jimmie Johnson to Senior Manager of Accessories Engineering at Milwaukee Tool. Learn more about life on, and off, the track, as well as the similar skill sets required in both racing and manufacturing.
Listen in as Nick Recht, Sales Manager Americas for TEKLYNX, joins Host Adam Rupp to not only discuss labeling technology and enterprise software but also how these solutions can help solve problems for customers. Additionally, Nick will give his take on the relationship between product managers and engineers, and share why and how a tight feedback loop enhances product development.
To learn more about TEKLYNX Americas Inc, visit TEKLYNX.com.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Kurt Wismer, the business teacher at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac, joined Adam at our WiLLcast studio to discuss INCubatoredu@nfdl, an entrepreneurship experience for high school students that helps them through the process of developing their own real-world services and products. In this episode, Kurt and Adam discuss breaking the "traditional" classroom mold, developing different skill sets, working well in teams, and more.
To learn more about INCubatoredu@nfdl, visit www.incubatornfdl.com.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Andrew Enea, Founder + Owner of Angels Share Coffee, joined WiLLcast Host Adam Rupp to share his story and expertise in all things coffee. A transplant to the FDL area, Enea discusses his background, how he started his barrel-aging business, and his plans for the future. Plus, get a pour-over tutorial as Andrew brews Adam and Becca a cup of coffee during this episode.
To learn more about Angels Share Coffee, visit AngelsShareCoffee.com.
Meg Hutter, a local author and the creator of Henry the Brave & The Cancerasaurus, joined Adam to talk about her moving inspiration for "Henry the Brave," the process of writing the story, working with an illustrator, and continuing to promote the book and Henry's story.
To learn more about Meg, Henry the Brave, or to purchase the book, visit LittleHeadProductions.com.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Tyler Oestreich, WiLL Co-Founder + Director of Technology, sat down with Adam to talk about WiLL's 3D printing farm and the value it brings to our manufacturing process. Adam and Tyler also discuss the best use cases for the 3D printers and integrating technology into small to mid-sized operations.
Project Manager Bob Poch, Keller, Inc., stopped by to discuss the WiLL 3.0 Lighting activity, design/build projects in general, and the role of the general contractor. He and Adam walk through the different parties and their roles in a construction project and the challenges currently facing those working in the trades.
The team from Rewired Dynamics sat down with Adam to talk about all things leadership. Kim and Fritz shared their stories and journeys, how they came together to create Rewired Dynamics, and the importance of developing and engaging with local youth.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Long-time Fond du Lac City Manager Joe Moore sat down with Host Adam Rupp to discuss leadership – from the military to city government, and through a pandemic. Joe shares his thoughts on the future of Fond du Lac, the developments on Brooke Street, and the importance of manufacturing to the local economy.
Sprinturf's Mat Steinberg stopped by to talk all things sports field with Adam! An expert in sports turf – Mat shares his invaluable insight on the sports field development process, key considerations for these projects, and working with customers to help create the best facility possible. Listen in to get the full scoop.
Trent and Jake are back! Tune in as they join Adam to talk all things "dark sky" compliance. During this episode, you'll gain a better understanding of B.U.G. ratings (hint: they have nothing to do with insects. The guys also outline the differences between formal IDA Dark Sky requirements, local ordinances, factory certifications, and more.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Join the WiLL team for this episode of WiLLcast as Trent and Jake join Adam to talk about the importance of our engineering and application teams during custom lighting projects. They'll share insights from recent projects and explain how connecting directly with end-users and engineers helps cut through the clutter and get down to the true requirements for the project.
Listen in as Larissa Clinard, Ahern's Director of Fleet + Logistics, joins Adam to discuss the wild world of logistics, supply chain, and fleet management. Learn more about Larissa's past as a member of the US Army, and get her take on what it takes to rise through the ranks.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Ben Giles, Executive Director of the Fond du Lac County Historical Society, sat down with WiLLcast host, Adam Rupp, to talk all things FDL – past, present, and future. From Fond du Lac city government, to the importance of manufacturing, to FDL's founders – nothing is off the table. Plus, hear from Producer Becca for the first time as she gives her two cents on all things WiLL.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Fond du Lac realtor and homebuilder, Jason Zellner, joined Adam to not only discuss the current trends he's seeing but also to share his unique backstory and professional evolution. Learn how a kid that grew up on a farm went from an electrician to a realtor (plus every step in between), and get a local perspective on recruiting new talent for the trades.
We're happy to welcome back Wisconsin native and professional race car driver Josh Bilicki. Josh joined Host Adam Rupp to talk about the upcoming NASCAR season, new car designs, iRacing, and more! Tune in to get the full story and subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes.
Learn more about WiLLcast and Wisconsin Lighting Lab: www.WiLLBrands.com
Learn more about Josh Bilicki Racing: www.joshbilickiracing.com
Learn the ins and outs of lighting tennis court applications as Host Adam Rupp is joined by two of WiLL's own experts – Director of Applications Jake Ortner and Sales Manager Jordan Richards. These two share the technical knowledge as well as real-world install stories to help guide those looking to illuminate their own tennis courts.
Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
During Episode 19, Director of Membership + Programs for Envision Greater Fond du Lac Joe Venhuizen joins Host Adam Rupp to take a deep dive into Envision Great Fond du Lac, the role they play in the FDL business community, and the importance of manufacturing in our state.
Learn more about Envision Greater Fond du Lac and its work at EnvisionGreaterFDL.com. Keep up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes and insights! Subscribe to our WiLLcast YouTube channel or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Haley Suprenant, Strategic Accounts Sales Manager, sat down with our Host Adam Rupp for a quick rundown on WiLL's custom solutions – from bollards to light poles – and her experience meeting our customers' needs when few manufacturers could. Interested in learning more about custom solutions from the team at WiLL? Contact your sales rep today or visit WiLLBrands.com.
Join Host Adam Rupp and WiLL Director of Engineering Trent Burmesch as they discuss special considerations for lighting indoor industrial applications. With a focus on high bay solutions, Adam and Trent share their expert insight into what factors should be taken into consideration during the project planning phase – from temperature to chemical exposure and more. Interested in learning more about industrial lighting solutions from the team at WiLL? Contact your sales rep today or visit WiLLBrands.com.
WiLL's resident giant pumpkin expert and design engineer Cole Sippel gives host Adam Rupp a quick lesson in giant pumpkin growing during WiLLcast episode 16! Learn more about giant pumpkin husbandry, pumpkin competition and weigh-in, as well as the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers (yes, it's real). It's (nearly) 1 ton of fun – just like Cole's most recent giant pumpkin!
Tune in to get the full story, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes. Learn more about WiLLcast and Wisconsin Lighting Lab at WiLLBrands.com
Adam Rupp sits down with WiLL VP of Sales and Assistant Fire Chief Chad Dolphin (again) to talk more about the important role Wisconsin firefighters play and how it relates to lean manufacturing principles. Be sure to check out Chad's Part 1 interview during WiLLcast Episode 14!
Town of Neenah Assistant Fire Chief and WiLL Vice President of Sales, Chad Dolphin, sits down with Adam to discuss all things firefighting – from its history to the process once at a firecall to the culture and pride that surrounds local volunteer fire departments. Be sure to check Part 2 of this conversation during WiLLcast Episode 15.
Learn more about WiLLcast and Wisconsin Lighting Lab at WiLLBrands.com
Get inside Brian's head as host Adam Rupp is joined by WiLL's drummer and controls engineer to talk everything from IoT and AWS to lighting controls and taking stuff apart. Plus, Brian puts Adam on the spot and picks his brain on podcasting and Wisconsin manufacturing. Tune in to get the full story, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes.
Learn more about WiLLcast and Wisconsin Lighting Lab at WiLLBrands.com
Join host Adam Rupp as he welcomes back Nick Puddy, WiLL Senior Applications Engineer and (more importantly?) Resident Brewmaster. Nick provides a WiLL Brew Lab update, gives insight into the maintenance required to brew, and shares his current favorites.
WiLLcast is excited to welcome Wisconsin native and professional race car driver Josh Bilicki. He recently sat down with Host Adam Rupp to talk about all things racing - from social media to fitness to race car simulators. Tune in to get the full story and subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest WiLLcast episodes.
Adam is joined by resident Brewmaster and Sr. Application Engineer Nick Puddy to talk all things home brewing and share some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of WiLL Brew Lab. During this WiLLcast, they'll discuss the home brewing process, the chemistry of brewing, as well as some of Nick's favorite brewers and beers.
During this WiLLcast, Adam is joined by Jeff Musilek, Account Manager for Crescent Electric Supply Company, to discuss Jeff's unique background, the role of distributors, and doing sales differently. Adam wraps up the episode with a round of rapid-fire questions for Jeff that range from favorite design software to the most underrated lighting applications.
During this WiLLcast, Adam is joined by Matt Gross of Excel Engineering to discuss the role of electrical engineering in LED lighting projects. Adam and Matt discuss a variety of topics including power management, surge protection, technology trends, and more.
During this WiLLcast, Adam is joined by Mike Selner, New Business Development & Sales Manager for Muza Metal Products, to discuss Muza, Wisconsin manufacturing, automation technology, talent management, and more! Listen in to learn more.
During this WiLLcast, Adam is joined by Mike Schoenborn, Lighting Solutions Architect Engineer for WPG Americas Inc., to discuss technology currently impacting and influencing the LED lighting industry.
During this WiLLcast, Adam is joined by Mark Hubbard, Field Application Engineer for Littelfuse, to discuss surge protection and outdoor lighting applications.
Adam is joined by Joe Auteri from Synapse, an industrial IoT and smart lighting controls company, to discuss smart lighting applications, sensors, and integration with LED light fixtures.
Adam & Trent discuss standard motion sensors, their capabilities, integrating this technology, and the mobile applications available.
During this recent WiLL Cast, Adam is joined by Lauri Haarala, North American Technical Sales Manager for LEDiL, cover LED Optics 101. Topics covered in this video include LED light fixture optic materials, the purpose of optics, lighting trends in the US vs Europe as well as a wide variety of specific lighting applications.