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Episode 262: Inside the Gratz Operations Team at MITER Brands
What separates a good manufacturing operation from a great one? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Bill Webster, Nathan Spencer, and Chris Rothermel from the Gratz manufacturing facility to explore how safety, Continuous Improvement, leadership accountability, and team member engagement shape operational excellence at MITER Brands.
The Gratz operations team shares real-world stories about manufacturing culture, process improvements, safety transformation, and profitable partnerships. The conversation highlights how MITER DNA, Every Detail, Every Day operational discipline, and Experience Is Everything influence daily decisions throughout the facility.
What You’ll Learn
• How strong safety cultures are built through accountability and communication
• Why small operational improvements can create major manufacturing results
• How leadership credibility impacts team performance and engagement
• The role Continuous Improvement plays beyond productivity metrics
• Why employee ownership is critical for sustaining operational success
Episode Highlights
01:40 – Meet the leaders behind the Gratz manufacturing facility
03:14 – What a strong safety culture looks like on the manufacturing floor
04:08 – The moment that transformed safety culture at Gratz
07:50 – How leadership behaviors build trust and credibility
9:56 – Why innovation in manufacturing does not always require major technology
11:27 – How a simple idea improved operational traffic flow and safety
13:54 – A small Continuous Improvement change that reduced IG remakes
14:36 – Why ownership is critical for sustaining improvements
16:03 – What customers value most from manufacturing partners today
Meet the Guests
Bill Webster is the Technical Services Manager at the Gratz manufacturing facility and has spent nearly two decades in manufacturing leadership roles across shipping, production, and operations.
Nathan Spencer leads Continuous Improvement initiatives at Gratz and focuses on operational efficiency, cost savings, and employee-driven process improvements.
Chris Rothermel is the Operations Manager at Gratz and brings more than 40 years of manufacturing leadership experience to the organization.
Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned
• Continuous Improvement
• MITER DNA
• Every Detail, Every Day
• On-Time, In-Full (OTIF)
• VPP Star Safety Certification
• QR code employee idea system
• Team member ownership strategies
• Operational Standardization
Closing Insight
“Creating ownership towards an improvement can be the difference between success and failure.”
This episode offers an inside look at how manufacturing leaders cre...
15 Oct 2026
Episode 261: What the 9th Edition of the Florida Building Code Means for Windows and Doors
What do builders, dealers, and homeowners need to know about the upcoming Florida Building Code changes? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with code compliance engineers Lisa Wilson and Lynn Miller to break down the most important updates coming to the 9th Edition of the Florida Building Code and how those changes will impact windows, doors, product approvals, coastal construction, and Energy Efficiency requirements across Florida.
Lisa and Lynn explain the real-world implications of updated water infiltration testing, corrosion-resistant fastener requirements, energy performance standards, and new HVHZ Florida Product Approvals. The conversation also highlights the importance of permit timing during code cycle changes, and how to stay informed.
What You’ll Learn
• How the new Florida Building Code impacts sliding glass doors and water infiltration requirements
• Why stainless steel fasteners are becoming mandatory near Florida coastlines
• What builders need to know about updated Energy Efficiency requirements
• How Miami-Dade NOAs are transitioning to HVHZ Florida Product Approvals
• Why dealers should carefully track permit timelines during the code transition
Episode Highlights
02:50 – How the Florida Building Code update process works
05:34 – What is changing with water infiltration requirements for sliding doors
5:51 – How the new overhang rules affect covered patio installations
11:42 – New coastal anchorage and stainless steel fastener requirements
14:32 – How Energy Efficiency requirements are changing for new construction
20:26 – What builders and dealers need to know about product approval updates
24:30 – Why permit timing matters during the code transition
28:51 – The risks of relying on AI for building code information
30:34 – Practical ways dealers can prepare for the 2027 code cycle
Meet the Guests
Lisa Wilson is a Code Compliance Engineer at PGT Innovations with more than 30 years of experience in product approvals, code interpretation, and Florida building compliance.
Lynn Miller is the Code Compliance Manager at PGT Innovations and a former structural engineer specializing in building codes, standards development, and fenestration compliance.
Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned
• Florida Building Code
• HVHZ Florida Product Approvals
• Miami-Dade NOAs
• Energy Efficiency performance path calculations
• Hurricane Preparedness standards
• Water infiltration testing
• Standardization processes
• MITER Brands University educational resources
Closing Insight
“It’s always best to double check those sources with the actual building code.”
This episode offers practical guidance for builders, dealers,...
12 Oct 2026
Episode 260: How Engineering Teams Improve Product Performance and Customer Experience
What happens behind the scenes before a window or door system ever reaches production? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Matt Riland, Director of Product Engineering at MITER Brands, to explore how engineering teams improve product performance, support manufacturing operations, and drive Continuous Improvement across the organization.
Matt shares how product engineering teams collaborate with operations, supply chain, service, and quality teams to create better products and stronger customer experiences. The conversation also covers simulation technology, Product Innovation, Standardization, and how MITER DNA influences engineering decisions throughout the product lifecycle.
What You’ll Learn
• How product engineering teams evaluate windows and doors before production
• Why Continuous Improvement depends on cross-functional collaboration
• How simulation tools help reduce testing time and improve product performance
• The role trust and communication play in profitable partnerships
• Why customer experience and manufacturing efficiency must work together
Episode Highlights
02:29 – What product engineering looks like inside the window and door industry
03:34 – How engineering teams validate product performance before launch
05:21 – Why small design changes can impact manufacturing operations
07:38 – How teams across multiple facilities collaborate on product improvements
10:06 – Why feedback loops are critical for Continuous Improvement
12:02 – How simulation technology improves engineering decisions
13:39 – The importance of document control and engineering systems
15:18 – Why profitable partnerships are built on trust and communication
16:27 – Matt Riland’s favorite MITER DNA principle and why it matters
Meet the Guest
Matt Riland is the Director of Product Engineering for MI Windows and Doors and the Sunrise Collection at MITER Brands. He brings more than two decades of experience in product engineering, customer engineering, operational collaboration, and manufacturing support.
Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned
• Continuous Improvement
• MITER DNA
• Product Innovation
• CAD simulation tools
• Engineering product data management systems
• Standardization processes
• Cross-functional engineering collaboration
• Every Detail, Every Day operational mindset
Closing Insight
“Everybody’s feedback is critical to getting to a really good solution.”
In this episode, Matt Riland explains how engineering, collaboration, and Continuous Improvement work together to create stronger products, better operational outcomes, and a better customer experience.
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Who has been a guest on Clear Impact Podcast
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