Host Ace Morcos and John Hofstetter explore the current state and future of American manufacturing, discussing challenges and opportunities.
7 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Connecting the Lines: Supply Chain and Commodity Management
Host [Host Name] interviews Commodity Manager Dennis Gibbons and Global Logistics Manager Mark Kapostasy about the critical systems and strategies that keep the global supply chain moving.
24 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
Connecting the Lines: Solar Power
Over the last few decades, solar power has gone from being a niche technology to one of the fastest growing and most widely discussed energy sources on the planet. But beyond the familiar image of solar panels lying across fields and rooftops, there's an incredible amount happening within the industry. Technological breakthroughs, new applications, evolving policies, and big questions about how solar fits into the larger energy landscape. In today's episode, we'll dive into these issues to better understand what's driving solar power's rapid growth, how it stacks up against other energy sources, and where new technologies might take us next.
Joining the podcast are:
Steve Schumacher, Distribution Manager, Renewables, PLP
Todd Laird, Product Manager, Renewables, PLP
24 Jul 2025
Connecting the Lines: Infrastructure Investment - The Future of Broadband
With billions on the table and a nation to connect, can a "tech-neutral" approach deliver on the promise of high-speed broadband for all? On this episode of "Connecting the Lines," industry experts David Malfara and Dan Levac join us to discuss the BEAD program's dramatic shift from a "fiber-first" approach to a newly announced "tech-neutral" free-for-all. We'll explore what this pivot and other program changes means for service providers, states, consumers, and the future of nationwide connectivity. Plus, Dan drops his new Reagan-inspired tagline...
Joining the podcast are:
David J. Malfara Sr., CEO, Big Bang Broadband Dan Levac, Senior New Business Development Manager, PLP
David's white papers: https://brandfolder.com/s/x4mvp74r74ctq8pkcm8kxvqk
17 Jun 2025
Connecting the Lines: New Product Development
Darnell Johnson and Rebecca Alban explore the complexities of product development, discussing how engineers use inventiveness and problem-solving to bring new products to market in this interview episode.
6 May 2025
Connecting the Lines: Manufacturing Automation
Today we’re diving into a world where machines and humans coexist, no it’s not the future, it’s the world of today’s high-tech manufacturing plants that utilize industrial robotics and advanced automation. We’ll explore the systems, business cases, philosophy, and overall impact of today and tomorrow’s SMART factory. Joining me to discuss these topics are two people who have a combined 60+ years of manufacturing operations experience.
Joining the podcast are:
Doug Cozzens: Executive Director, International Manufacturing, PLP
Alwin Duckham: Manager, Advanced Manufacturing Group, PLP
25 Feb 2025
Connecting the Lines: Workforce Training
The original fiber optic networks began to be deployed in the 1970s. Since that time, workforce training for technicians, building and maintaining these systems has grown greatly and evolved. Now, with over $40 billion of broadband infrastructure funding about to enter the U.S. market, the new challenge will be to fill demand for properly trained field technicians to support all of this new fiber infrastructure.
Joining the podcast today are:
Larry Robbert: Senior Technical Advisor, PLP
Megan O'Brien: Senior Applications Engineer, PLP
19 Dec 2024
Connecting the Lines: Storm Response
Utilities expert Chris Morrison & industry veteran John Smith reveal how they quickly restore power and communication networks after natural disasters through a massive behind-the-scenes and on-the-ground effort.
29 Aug 2024
Connecting the Lines: Grid Hardening
From extreme weather events to the ever-increasing demand for electricity, today's utilities face a complex set of challenges that continually threaten the resiliency of the electrical grid.
But utilities are fighting back with efforts to "harden the grid." But what exactly is grid hardening?
In this episode of “Connecting the Lines,” we talk to two industry experts with a wealth of engineering and product design expertise (Mark Burns and Ken Akiki) to better understand grid hardening and why it's so important for the industry and consumers.
16 Jul 2024
Connecting the Lines: Utility Asset Inspections
Today's electric utilities are increasingly focused on regularly inspecting infrastructure assets to help ensure their networks operate safely and at peak efficiency. But what exactly does this entail?
In this episode of "Connecting the Lines," we talk to PLP Inspection Services team members Adam Deel and Mark Tryon to understand what asset inspections are and why they are so critical for the industry.
28 May 2024
Connecting the Lines: Customer Experience
Companies continually talk about how they strive to create a great and memorable customer experience, and that they want to “wow” their customers. But what exactly does this mean? How important is being “wowed” to customers? And what role does traditional customer service play in this concept, particularly when dealing with technical products and technical audiences? In this episode of "Connecting the Lines," we discuss these topics with Miranda Tomac and Nimra Khan-Ewanko, two guests who have a ton of real-life experience in these areas.
4 Apr 2024
Connecting the Lines: Utility Lineworkers
Utility lineworkers have one of the most demanding jobs: constructing, maintaining, and repairing the world's electric power grid, oftentimes during extreme weather conditions. Ensuring that safe, reliable power is delivered to homes, businesses, and communities.
So, in this episode of "Connecting the Lines," we’ll explore what it means to be a lineman, how the profession has evolved over time, and what the future holds for this skilled trade.
Joining us are John Sawka and Craig Bean, two former linemen who have a combined 90+ years of linework experience... and some of THE best stories you'll ever hear.
8 Feb 2024
Connecting the Lines: Innovation
"Innovation" is one of those most overused corporate buzzwords, but what does it actually mean to be innovative? Can it be taught, or is it simply a personality trait? And how can individuals and companies achieve true innovation? We explore these topics and many more in this latest episode of "Connecting the Lines." Call them industrial creatives or product innovators; just don't call them unimaginative. Mechanical engineers Randy Cloud and Ben Cielsielczyk join the conversation and even discuss a few undeveloped ideas, like disposable luggage...??
5 Sept 2023
Connecting the Lines: EV Charging Infrastructure
Electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, but can the charging infrastructure and electrical grid expand fast enough to keep up with the rising demand? In this episode of Connecting the Lines, we talk to two industry experts to find out about the current and future state of EV charging around the world.
Episode Guests:
• Martin Spayes – Business Development Director, EMEA
• Patrick Cunningham – Business Development Manager, Renewables
14 Aug 2023
Connecting the Lines: Broadband Infrastructure
Widespread access to reliable, fast, and inexpensive broadband is an essential need for today's interconnected world and for future technological advancements. So, how exactly are new deployment strategies and government funding initiatives such as the U.S. BEAD Program helping to expand the critical infrastructure needed to support next-generation networks such as 5G? Two broadband experts weigh in on this episode of Connecting the Lines.
Episode Guests:
• Dan Levac – New Business Development Manager
• Brendan O'Boyle – National Sales Manager, Communications Markets
Inside a recent episode
Connecting the Lines: American Manufacturing
Published 14 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Right. So one thing you kind of touched on, John, was, you know, our facility in Rogers was really there before that community even became what it is today. And I think that's one of the things about manufacturing that a lot of people see. is that it really makes or breaks communities because it offers so many job opportunities. In fact, I was just looking at like here in Ohio, there's some huge facilities that are from other companies that are gonna be employing upwards of 4,000 employees and stuff like that. So do you see that as still true today that manufacturing is essential to building up American communities? […]
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