Meet Brad:

Brad is the founder of vision forward business solutions and co host of the blue collar BS podcast. He has the mission to positively impact 1000 blue collar families. He does this by focusing on building businesses that grow, can attract Gen Z talent, and be able to be sold or transferred to the next generation. He is passionate about ensuring blue collar is not looked at as less than creating a revival of pride to work with your hands. 

Kris: Why are you so passionate about manufacturing and getting Gen Z involved?

Brad:  So growing up myself, I've been in manufacturing or working on cars, or whatever, since I've been really, really young. And I've been blessed to be able to mentor in the first robotics programs for about a decade. And working at Bucyrus and CAT and doing the outsource manufacturing or subcontract work and getting to see all of those mom and pop shops and you know, the people that are employed and the skills that exist, and then watching that just deteriorate, from basically 2001 Until today still, because we said no to two generations of people to get into into that work. And in order for this to survive in order for us to make really cool things. Yeah. Like we did it. CAT and some of the manufacturers, all the really cool shit that's made here in Wisconsin and around this country. We're not gonna be able to do it if we don't figure out how to get these kids into place.  It is so awesome to just look at the cool things made in Wisconsin list that comes out every year. And to have that pride to have people say, hey, we made those things or be able to put that out there and being able to say, for me, right, I delivered seven draglines around the world. I'm the only person that's ever done that on this planet. From that perspective, it's really cool to say I know those pieces of equipment around the world that are unearthing coal to keep our energy sources alive, right? It's awesome to have that feeling that is eroding, and we need to bring it back

Erin: So hows it going? There are people are catching your your message, and other folks are in the choir along with you. Have you seen that needle move? And what is that looking like?

Brad:  Yes, there's still high schools get paid on performance. So the education system, has done a much better marketing job of capturing people's attention and allure for the experience than to go to work in a factory. The universities and education system got ahead of that. And industry did not do anything. You had a group of individuals. So for myself as a Gen X, early gen X. College was that next thing, you know, it wasn't necessarily I didn't necessary need a college education to do my job or to move forward. But the guys, the folks that are in there, you know, 50 and younger. It was expected that everybody had a college education. 

Erin: Do you see any communication going out to parents? Do you see parents starting to recognize that this is a good direction to encourage their kids to go into? What's the job of mom and dad here?

Brad: Yeah, one of the one of the school districts here in our area, they've got a really good program, they started this program 10 years ago, I think, one or two kids into this program to be able to work summers get internships get exposure, they now have 80 kids. It's about getting that exposure, and then the kids are excited about it. And we parent differently today. Right? There's a lot of make your own decision earlier. Instead of being parents more being friends.

And so much more… 

Connect with Brad

http://www.vfbsolutions.com/

Connect on LinkedIn!

Connect with the broads!

Connect with Erin on LinkedIn and visit http://www.earthlinginteractive.com for web-based solutions to your complex business problems!

Connect with Lori on LinkedIn and visit www.keystoneclick.com for your strategic digital marketing needs!  

Connect with Kris on LinkedIn and visit www.genalpha.com for OEM and aftermarket digital solutions!

Lori Highby Chris Harrington and Aaron Courtney, three broads, bringing new stories and strategies exploring manufacturing topics that

That music just gets me going every time. Oh, every time every single time

the way it goes out all

the good. Like let's get this show started. Late vibes. It is happy vibes.

Speaking of happy vibes, I've been streaming a lot of things. And right now I'm actually rewatching Gilmer Gilmore Girls from start to

I love that show.

I'm like it's on Netflix right now. So why not started again?

binge watch that, like 16 years ago. Yeah.

It stands the test of time. I think it has an emerging audience and a revisiting audience. Yeah, absolutely.

What are you streaming right now? Oh,

my husband and I are hooked on Yellowstone.

I haven't checked that one out.

I've heard good things.

Yeah, yeah, it's like it's just like a travelogue. Like, fantasy land of, you know, Montana West. And there's this character. Her name is Beth.

You're definitely creating a suspense to want to go check it out.

And yeah, if character yeah slog through slog through season one, because she does not emerge in all her glory until season two, but she is

Well, we just started binging something called the Brotherhood. It's all in Brazilian Portuguese. It's a Brazilian show, which we don't often

the brothers in prison. She sent them there when she was very young, because of weed, you know, but then it gets all kinds of different after

family drama in prison. It's a new podcast.

We're here with our special guest, Mr. Brad Herda. Let me tell you about Brad. So Brad is the founder of vision forward business solutions and

with your hands. And I think this ties in so nicely to an article that we've covered on the show in the past and some of those preconceived

Thanks, Brad. Yeah.

For sure,

but he's also one My personal and professional coach so together, working together for gosh, Brad, I think it's, it could be five years for

at the data if you'd like me to.

I don't think we need it for this. But he's definitely kept me accountable. He's pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. And I probably

Thank you, Brad.

If you were not being pushed to this for sure.

Well, it's a natural talent she has to. So I'm glad that you identified that and pushed her toward it. Because Chris, you've got skills.

Pushing, he keeps working. So Brad, I have a first question for you. Why are you so passionate about manufacturing and getting Gen Z involved?

So growing up myself, I've been in manufacturing or working on cars, or whatever, since I've been really, really young. And I've been

today still, because we said no to two generations of people to get into into that work. They weren't like the boomers are the Gen X's. And in order

Wisconsin list that comes out every year. Oh, I didn't know that. And to have that pride to have people say, hey, we made those things or be able to

eroding, and we need to bring it back

and tell them how many shipments you had to manage just for one dragline.

So one dragline equates to 254 individual shipments either on a truck or on a rail car, and then two, typically, for vessels, three vessels

Wow. Yeah, it's a lot when you think about the

9 million pounds or 30 million pounds of material. Yeah,

well, not only do you manufacture it, get it ready. You can't assemble it, but you got to get it to the site to be assembled there. So

Parts ranging anywhere from, you know, the size of, you know, regular washer to, you know, weldments that were 260,000 pounds.

Yeah, that's crazy.

So then runs the gamut. Yep, yeah,

it was a blast. And I've been blessed to be able to live that and go through that. And I want to share that passion with others, and show

That's super cool. So hows it going? There are people are catching your your message, and other folks are in the choir along with you. Have

Yes, there's still high schools get paid on performance. They get their reimbursements from the states based on ACT scores and college

wasn't necessarily I didn't necessary need a college education to do my job or to move forward. But the guys, the folks that are in there, you know, 50

Yeah, right.

Roll. Kristen, I have a mutual friend who, you know, the big joke was, Oh, you have master's degree. So let me show you how to do this.

in balance. And you have a generation of people that have that debt, but are not saying I don't want that for my kids. Right. And there's an outlet

So that's,

you mentioned parents, and I would say that and, you know, like, 75% of the conversations I have around this topic, was talking about young

What's the job of mom and dad here?

Yeah, one of the one of the school districts here in our area, they've got a really good program, they started this program 10 years ago,

Oh, yeah.

Getting the experience to go on the floors to do the things to make that happen. Because it's about getting that exposure, and then when

work better for worse. Right? Because they have another podcast on parenting, if you know, I'm gonna I'll step out of that

just gives them the opportunity to say, Oh, they're really excited, and they can see the dollars and, and there's a with the current

have all those things. And I'm gonna go to school for what I want to do not just because I was told to

write, yeah, I think

it's a great path. So yeah, 100% agree. But let's talk about how manufacturers are recruiting right now. So what do you think about

I think they do a terrible job. So don't hold back, Brad. I know we've just met but that's one thing is I'll just, it's pretty

All right, bring it

there are, they're promoting the wrong things. There's a steel packaging manufacturer here in town that is looking for maintenance, folks.

coming from the scarcity mindset. And so I'm trying to figure out what they are really good at is their purpose. As the generations have changed, and

Yes to

that mid millennial and younger? Yes, the boomer or Gen Z kid or Gen X guy. We could give two shits, right? Tell me my job is let me go do

don't meet this criteria or whatever, right? And it just becomes a cluster.

Yeah. Well, I, I love what you're saying about the messaging in reaching the younger generations on the things that matter to them.

of this debt. That's part of the reason it's complicated, I know. But once if, let's say you have success, you do it. All right, you line it up, you

everyone? And also to have not to have a ton of turnover? What, what are some of the key,

I'm a big believer in making sure you have the accountability and expectation set, okay? Because at the end of the day, humans don't want to

But it's okay. Right, I wanted to make sure that I gave you what you guys needed. So we can have a good show. No different than at work. If people

excuses or blame, and put them in position of success and lead from a servant leadership position, so to speak. Amazing things can happen. And I

years riding the high and not doing anything.

Yeah, look at the future. Yeah, yeah. Wow. That is such a good reflection. And what I'm hearing you say is, don't let whining about all

people are, because they're all human. And I think that's such a good message, Brad.

And understand where your floor of expectations are, because everybody's going to deliver at the same level. But if you know and

than those that are in hiring practices. For the most part, oh, Gen Z kids, my kids are 25 and 23. They grew up differently than the 35 year old.

Yeah. I love the way that you're describing things because I think that's what can unite us. And it's definitely cross generation. So perfect.

What do you learn? Oh, yeah, I'm excited. This is actually really cool. So there's a ton of studies that have been done about the

well being and hopefully, give people more respect for nature.

That could be why there's so many apps now that allow you to do that, but I hadn't heard of that one. So that's good. Awesome.

Well, you know, I always like to get into the woowoo, futuristic stuff. So you know, AI, artificial intelligence coming up and up and up in

of is like, really future state. Ai decides. And then human implements. And we're a little more used to that, like, it's closer, but it's a little

into that category. And then human generates an AI evaluate. So those are the five categories. And what they discovered is that the most successful

If you don't think about the humans build AI in the first place. So, so super fascinating. It's fascinating.

I'm so fascinated by AI right now.

Yeah, me too. It. Definitely the power of it. I'm curious, are you guys meeting any companies that are implementing AI? Because while it's

Yeah, although a little bit of is branding? I think. So AI, you know, what it is, is you can have pretty intense discussions about that. But it's

100% Sure. Certainly not for the smaller companies for the larger ones that I'm not talking to. I think they're absolutely implementing it. But yeah,

I can tell you in the marketing space, it is starting to make some big traction, especially around content creation, not just text. Yeah,

I cannot wait. I just want to say hey, I have this basic idea. Can I have the latest blog article on it, please? Yeah.

That's already out there. Yeah. And actually, we're going to start exploring some of that technology internally at Keystone click. Cool.

I want to hear more. Yeah,

yeah, I want to hear we need to have episode about that. But don't you think it it changes you know, if you always say that, thinking about

Yeah, it will be and it will be hard to analyze it, because we'll be in it. You know, right. examination that water. So the matrix,

right, I'm in trends and everything else

after Yeah, yeah. What are you? What have you learned recently, Chris?

Ah, well, this is going to kind of date the show. I'm sorry, but I was watching Wimbledon this morning. And Novak Djokovic had just started

on this morning. And see, because it's still early days. They're in the third round right now. So

US Open opening round night matches is on my bucket list.

Oh, yeah. We'll go together.

You guys got to get there.

But yeah, US Open Tennis watching those for that first week in the night matches and till midnight is now I don't make it to a minute anymore

that's why we have streaming. Folks that go to bed early. Right.

Brad, what have you learned?

So what I have learned is that Erin has a massive crush on Beth wants to be like her.

And it's terrible. Sorry,

that's okay. I'm just using that as ingest. And we've just do a lot of research for this generational activity and multi generational

come in for the interviews and not showing up and doing

that's I can remember relate to the remote ones. But wow, I can't imagine in person

in the there's been a 13% change in application for job openings. So remote job opening applications are down as well as onsite job applicant

Some are some make a good living, I have a client, a fitness client who has an influencer, she's making 500k a year in the gaming world, just to be

To study Oh,

so you'd have to recruit. Basically, if you have two job openings, job openings, you gotta find you got to put at least two offers out.

Because the odds because yeah, they're

just saying, hey, so and even to get those people to go through right, have an applicants to fill one job. It's insane, right? Yeah, that's

you probably have to set aside more interviews considering the ghosting statistics as well. And that puts a lot of pressure on HR does.

That's what they're saying the stress level As of HR have gone through the roof through the roof.

Oh, we love you HR people, you're superduper important. Any HR people listening just, we're here for you.

Study shows, you know, the stress levels, I experienced a higher level of stress lead to my job as an HR professional today compared to

have a different problem from a leadership perspective, and that's where I think a lot of manufacturers have opportunity, if you don't have your

sir. Yeah.

Great advice. Great advice. All right, Brad. Tell our audience how they can find you if they'd like to reach out to you.

Usually, the easiest way is I'm out on LinkedIn, underneath Brad dash Herta H er da. My website is vision for business solutions. The site

Yeah. contact any one of us.

Where do you see to get in touch with? Yeah, blue collar BS. That's easy to remember. Yeah, that's yeah.

Well, thank you for being an amazing guest

was went through a lot of title iterations to come up with that, finally, but it was weak. That's where we landed. So we know the feeling

we know. We've been there.

I love that title. That is the best title. If there were title awards for podcasts, you definitely would be winning the award.

There is and you just gave it to us? Yes. nominated? Yes. All. That thank you so much. That means a lot because it was a process to come that

Yep. Thank you, Brad. Thank you. Yeah. Wonderful to be with all the guys. See you next time

that use

this wraps up today's broadcast. If you're looking to shake up the status quo at your organization, or just want to connect with these brides,