Join us as we interview Aaron Woolum and Melissa Wilburn, teachers at Russell Area Technical Center where they challenge students in the mastery of academics and technical skills. Aaron is the welding teacher and Melissa is the business teacher at RATC.  We speak with them about the purpose of RATC, why RATC is important, and the impact they are making on younger generations through skilled trades and entrepreneurship.  By having a variety of programs for students to learn great skills for their future, RATC aims to decrease the skills gap in the trades field and inspire students to create their own jobs by owning their own businesses. RATC participates in the Glockner Dare to Dream competition.  Find out more about the annual business idea and pitch competition here https://glocknerdaretodream.com/.To find out more about RATC, visit them here https://www.russellind.kyschools.us/3/HomeFind all Built In The Bluegrass links here https://linktr.ee/builtinthebluegrass  We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com 

Did you know Louisville cuts down 55,000 trees within its own city limits every year?  We didn’t.  That is until we interviewed Josh Weber, owner of Timber Woodcraft located in Louisville, KY.  Timber Woodcraft is a family-owned company that partners with local arborists to salvage urban timber.  They repurpose that timber to provide milled and kiln-dried lumber as well as live edge slabs.  Join us as we interview Josh Weber and discuss why he and his wife, Krista, have built Timber Woodcraft into what it is today.  The passion they have for Louisville’s urban canopy and what they are doing to bring awareness to what we're doing to it each and every day.   Check out timberwoodcraft.com to see what Josh and Krista have available in lumber and slabs, and check out their shop where they have some amazing handmade products. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Join us as we interview John-Mark Hack, Chief Strategy Officer of Thoroughbred and Vice-Chair of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. Thoroughbred, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Lexington, KY, is a #onestopshop for #design, #engineering, and #construction. Because Thoroughbred has everything one needs under one roof, they can complete land development projects from site selection all the way to turnkey construction. Thoroughbred’s model allows the owner of the project to be in a revenue-producing position faster than traditional models.  We talk with John-Mark about how Thoroughbred has helped grow the Commonwealth. What Kentucky is doing to grow, and what opportunities Kentucky has to continue its economic growth.  Check out Thoroughbred at thoroughbredfirm.com to learn more about their firmListen to John-Mark’s episode here linktr.ee/builtinthebluegrass on your favorite streaming platformsWe want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview Chris Naber, Director of Product Development, of FirstBuild.  FirstBuild is a Subsidiary of GE Appliances with a start-up feel.  Located in Louisville, KY right on the corner of the University of Louisville.  FirstBuild is focused on inventing what’s next for the home through a different process than the ordinary.  They believe in co-creation with you!  Anyone can share ideas, interact with them on social media about an idea, or even visit their location to share and work on an idea.  With successes like the Opal Nugget Ice Maker, Arden Indoor Smoker, and Mella: The Smart Mushroom Fruiting Chamber already under their belt, we can’t wait to see what YOU and FirstBuild come up with next! For more information about FirstBuild, visit firstbuild.com or follow them on all of their social media platforms!InstagramFacebookYoutube Find all Built In The Bluegrass links here linktr.ee/builtinthebluegrass  We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview Jeremy Prichard, Director of Sales and Marketing, of TrinDocs, headquartered in Lexington, KY. With their proprietary software, TrinDocs helps companies' back offices become paperless by automating their accounts payable, tailored integrations to mid-market ERP, and invoice PO matching. If your back office looks like a paper tornado or your processes seem to slow down your production, check out TrinDocs today to solve those problems. Visit them at https://trindocs.com/ or email [email protected] for more information. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview Diane Evans, President/Owner of Evans Gourmet Foods and Kentucky Beer Cheese, headquartered in Nicholasville, KY. Although Diane and her husband Chris didn’t purchase the company until 2004, Kentucky Beer Cheese has a rich 35-year history with its founding in 1987 by Sue & Jim Castano. With some luck, a superior flavor and award-winning recipe, Kentucky Beer Cheese have expanded into 13 states, over 300 retail locations, and many restaurants and bars. Visit your local retailers' dip section today for some Kentucky Beer Cheese, or https://kentuckybeercheese.com/ to buy online. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview John Mittel, Co-Founder, of Phocus headquartered in Louisville, KY. Phocus is a tea-caffeinated sparkling water that was born from John Mittel and Tom O’Grady’s need for an alternative to energy drinks or soda. Phocus’ mission is to support healthy and productive lifestyles by eliminating the harmful impacts of sugar and sweeteners in beverages with their delicious, health-conscious, and thoughtfully caffeinated sparkling water. If you’re interested in an alternative to your energy boost selection, check out Phocus at your local grocer. You can also purchase Phocus online at www.drinkphocus.com. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview executives, Ben Johnston, Eric Gardner, and Chris Johnston, from Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group headquartered in Henderson, KY. PTTG designs, builds, and maintains tanks, communications towers, and support systems for our nation’s infrastructure. PTTG plays an integral role, not only in our nation’s infrastructure but also in 67 other countries around the world. PTTG is okay with being old school with many facets of their company except for one, their employees. In 2021, the Johnston family graciously created an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), transferring ownership to their employees and impacting their lives in an incredibly huge way. This is just one example of many that makes PTTG great. Great for their employees, their community, and great for Kentucky. If you would like more information about PTTG, visit https://www.pttg.com/. Here you can find out how to work with PTTG, work for PTTG, or just read their awesome story. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview Ryan Jones, Co-Founder, of Roots & Jones headquartered right outside of Louisville, KY in Oldham County. Ryan began making pens as a hobby and to get back to his roots with his grandfather, Jim Cantrell, after graduating from the University of Kentucky. Today Roots & Jones has success with direct-to-consumer road shows, a consumer-facing website, and has pens in over 50 retail stores across the United States. Roots & Jones’ mission is to facilitate connection one pen at a time. If you’re tired of cheap plastic pens or want to tell a story with a custom pen visit https://rootsandjones.com/ to grab one of their uniquely handcrafted storytelling tools. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com

Please join us as we interview Peter Mitchell, Owner, of Capitol Bicycle Company based in the heart of London, Kentucky. Capitol Bicycle Company produces handmade, bespoke bicycle frames, unique to each cycling client. With fit and comfort as his primary objectives, Peter curates custom “One of One” bicycles through current and upcoming design trends and paintwork that represents YOU. Capitol Bicycles has the ability to ship nationally or internationally. If you’re in the market for a custom “One of One” bicycle check out http://www.capitolbicycles.com/ and get with Peter for your consultation. We want to take a moment to thank our partner – the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. For over 100 years, KAM has served our state’s manufacturing industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, and training, as well as cost-saving benefits for members. Fighting for manufacturers is what KAM does best, representing the industry in both Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Whether it’s advocacy, offering shipping discounts, or group health insurance, KAM has its members covered. Learn more and become a member by visiting www.kam.us.com