Episode 334

Our Latest Episode

How to Create a New Product Category and Grow Demand

Stephanie Nolan

Featuring Stephanie Nolan, VP Sales and Marketing at Square Robot

April 15, 2025
The Kula Ring

In this episode of The Kula Ring, Stephanie Nolan of Square Robot shares how submersible robotics is transforming tank inspections. We also dive into the marketing and sales strategies that innovative solution utilizes.
Introducing cutting-edge tech into a risk-averse industry isn’t simple. Stephanie dives into the challenge of marketing something most people don’t even know exists, and how a fully integrated sales and marketing team is using account-based marketing, webinars, and targeted messaging to drive adoption.
From the importance of building the right contact list to adapting messaging across industries and organizational levels, this episode is full of actionable insights for marketers navigating niche markets with complex buying committees.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get traction when you’re competing with “how it’s always been done,” this episode’s for you.

Episode 333

Mastering the Art of Product Launches in Manufacturing

Stu Accola

Featuring Stu Accola, Senior Marketing Manager at Marmon Holdings

April 8, 2025

Bringing a new product to market is no small feat, especially in the B2B manufacturing space, where development cycles are long and expectations are high. In this episode of The Kula Ring, Stu Accola shares his expertise on the nuances of successful product launches, from crafting an effective go-to-market strategy to aligning marketing and sales teams for maximum impact.
He breaks down the critical differences between a business case and a go-to-market plan, the importance of customer involvement in product development, and why proof points are often overlooked but essential for building credibility.
Whether you’re launching into an existing category or creating demand for something entirely new, Stu’s insights will help manufacturing marketers refine their approach and drive greater success.

Episode 332

Marketing Sustainability and Full Circle Service in B2B Manufacturing: The Growth of a Pallet Brand

Fuad Hasanovic

Featuring Fuad Hasanovic, Marketing & Communications Manager at Kamps Pallets

April 1, 2025

In this episode of The Kula Ring, we sit down with Fuad Hasanovic, Director of Marketing at Kamps Pallets, to uncover the fascinating world of pallet recycling, supply chain optimization, and sustainability. Kamps Pallets has evolved from a small operation retrieving discarded pallets to a nationwide leader in comprehensive pallet lifecycle management. Fuad shares how the company has embraced innovation, from Total Pallet Management programs to data-driven supply chain strategies that help manufacturers reduce waste and lower costs.
We also explore how education plays a critical role in shifting the industry’s mindset from price to total cost, and why the future of pallets might just be a key indicator of economic health. Plus, a few fun stories—like Carman’s experience as a human forklift and Jeff’s childhood bike ramp experiments!

Episode 331

Out Listen the Competition: How Customer-Centric Innovation Drives Success

Dani Mason

Featuring Dani Mason, VP of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Solutions

March 25, 2025

The world of 3D printing has seen vast changes in recent years. IP constraints on those early technologies lifted, and an explosion of offers and solutions hit the market, leading to the consolidation we are seeing in the industry today. But for Dani Mason and B9Creations success in this industry hasn’t been about outspending competition, it’s about out-listening them.

In this episode, Dani shares how B9 has built a competitive edge by prioritizing deep customer relationships over flashy R&D budgets. From customer-funded innovation to a structured voice-of-the-customer process, B9 integrates real-world feedback at every stage, ensuring products solve actual industry pain points.

Forget gimmicks and gift cards, this is a masterclass in authentic customer engagement.

Episode 330

Localizing Global Marketing Through AI: How to Utilize New Tools in B2B Manufacturing Marketing

Karlaa Gregory

Featuring Karlaa Gregory, Digital Marketing Manager at Sumitomo Drive Technologies

March 18, 2025

Karlaa Gregory is transforming industrial marketing with AI, streamlining content creation and localization across global markets. By training a custom GPT with product catalogues and documentation, she ensures campaigns align with regional needs while maintaining brand consistency. Her AI-driven approach also includes persona-based marketing, tailoring content for engineers, procurement specialists, and other key decision-makers.
Beyond content generation, Karlaa is using AI-powered automation for analytics and reporting, integrating tools and ecosystems like Zapier and Google to track campaign performance in real time. She emphasizes that AI isn’t replacing marketers, it’s making them more effective. Tune in to hear how she’s pushing the boundaries of AI in industrial marketing.

Episode 329

Building a Manufacturing Brand Through Content, Storytelling, and Inbound Marketing

Josh Gravelle

Featuring Josh Gravelle, Corporate Marketing Manager at Calvary Robotics

March 11, 2025

How do you shift from traditional marketing to an inbound approach in the manufacturing industry? Josh Gravelle, Marketing Manager at Calvary Robotics, joins The Kula Ring to share his journey from TV production to B2B marketing and how he’s helped evolve Calvary’s marketing strategy over nearly a decade.
Josh discusses the challenges and rewards of getting engineers involved in content creation, the role of brand storytelling in establishing thought leadership, and why consistency in marketing efforts pays off. He also dives into the impact of launching a podcast, leveraging speaking engagements, and integrating HubSpot to strengthen Calvary’s inbound marketing efforts.
If you’re looking for insights on how to develop a meaningful content strategy that goes beyond just generating leads, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Episode 328

Product Marketing’s Role in Driving Change in B2B Manufacturing

Alex Koepsel

Featuring Alex Koepsel, Director of Product Marketing at Vention

March 4, 2025

In this episode of The Kula Ring, we sit down with Alex Koepsel, Director of Product Marketing at Vention, to discuss the art of managing up and across in product marketing. Alex shares his journey from electrical engineering to product marketing, revealing how his technical background and entrepreneurial mindset shaped his approach to positioning products and influencing key stakeholders.

We explore how Vention is democratizing industrial automation, making it easier for manufacturers of all sizes to implement automation solutions. Alex also unpacks the strategies behind building trust, aligning with leadership goals, and persuading decision-makers to invest in marketing initiatives. Whether you’re in product marketing, sales, or leadership, this episode is packed with insights on navigating cross-functional teams and driving meaningful change within an organization.

Tune in to hear how product marketers can act as “mini CEOs” and leverage influence to move the business forward.

The Kula Ring is a podcast for manufacturing marketers who care about evolving their strategy to gain a competitive edge.

Listen to conversations with North America’s top manufacturing marketing executives and get actionable advice for success in a rapidly transforming industry.

About Kula

Kula Partners is an agency that specializes in maximizing revenue potential for B2B manufacturers.

Our clients sell within complex, technical environments and we help them take a more targeted, account-focused approach to drive revenue growth within niche markets.