The Kula Ring is a podcast made for manufacturing marketers by manufacturing marketers. Conversations with top manufacturing executives from across North America which focus on marketing, sales, and business development uncover actionable advice for listeners while painting a forward-looking view of the industry as it undergoes rapid digital transformation. Hosted by Carman Pirie and Jeff White, The Kula Ring is essential listening for manufacturers and distributors who want to grow their digital presence and compete online.
Episode 9
Driving Results: Practical Lessons For Mid-Sized Manufacturing Marketers
Featuring: Scott Holstein
In this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman talk with Scott Holstein of Computrols, a New Orleans-Based hardware manufacturer and software company. They discuss how to drive results by aligning the sales and marketing teams, the value of social selling, the challenges of marketing two different business units, and what it takes to go up against goliath competitors.
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Episode 8
What it Takes to Be a Marketing Leader in the Digital Age
Featuring: Nikki Kapilevich
In this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman talk with Nikki Kapilevich, Director of Global Marketing at MTS Sensors. Nikki shares her experience leading two B2B manufacturers through the branding challenges of a merger/acquisition, and discusses the skills required to be an effective leader in the digital age.
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Episode 7
5 Steps to Successfully Protect Your Brand Through Online Seller Enforcement
Featuring: Daren Garcia
In this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman get some valuable strategic advice on brand protection through online seller enforcement with topic expert Daren Garcia, managing partner of the Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease law firm. During the podcast, Daren walks listeners through five steps to successfully grow your B2B brand in a protected way in ecommerce and online marketplaces.
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Episode 6
Why Mid-Market Manufacturers Must Change Their Mindset for Long-Term Growth in Industry 4.0
Featuring: Andrea Olson
During this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman talk with Andrea Olson, podcast host of Women and Manufacturing and CEO of Prag’madik, a Customer-Centric Operations Consultancy. They chat about the customer-driven changes mid-market manufacturers must adopt in order to achieve long-term growth in Industry 4.0.
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Episode 5
The New B2B Buyer is Here
Featuring: Mike Powers
During this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman talk with Mike Powers, B2B E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Manager at Hill and Markes, Inc. They discuss the differences and similarities between the millennial B2B buyer and the baby boomer B2B buyer.
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Episode 4
Business Professionals Are Human, Too—The Best Way to Engage B2B Prospects Online
Featuring: Ross Simmonds
In this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman chat with Ross Simmonds, Digital Marketer, Speaker, and Entrepreneur who specializes in B2B. They discuss B2B topics including the heartbeat of SEO, the viability of Facebook for B2B, and the threat of Amazon. They also talk about how providing value is key to engaging your B2B prospects online, no matter what the platform.
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Episode 3
Modern Marketing for Traditional and Technical Organizations
Featuring: Jeff Smeltzer
Carman and Jeff talk to Jeff Smeltzer, Marketing and Communications Lead at MetOcean Telematics, in this episode of The Kula Ring. They discuss how to get buy-in for digital initiatives at traditional organizations, the role of trade shows in the marketing mix, and how to approach content creation in a way that’s driven by technical resources yet curated by marketing.
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Episode 2
RIP to the Marketing ‘Project’
Featuring: Monique Elliott
In this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman talk with Monique Elliott, Chief Marketing Officer at ABB Electrification Products, Industrial Solutions. They discuss the positive effects of addressing marketing ‘projects’ as marketing ‘products’, the changing skill sets required of marketing teams, and working with sales and IT to measure the success of marketing activities.
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Episode 1
Is Your Marketing a Cost Center or a Revenue Generator?
Featuring: Chris Schmitt
In this episode of The Kula Ring, Jeff and Carman chat with Chris Schmitt, Senior Director of Strategic Development from the National Association of Manufacturers. They discuss the importance of using the data from new tools and technology to prove that marketing departments in manufacturing organizations are revenue generators, not just cost centers.
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