In this episode, Steve Davis sits down with Bettylyn Krafft, Executive Director of the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, for a deep dive into workforce development in the printing and graphics industry. Bettylyn shares the origins and mission of the Phoenix Challenge, outlining how its high school and college competitions prepare students for real‑world careers in flexography and print. She highlights the hands‑on nature of the high school contest (covering math, prepress, plate making, press operation, and troubleshooting), and explains how the college competition expands into full brand development projects where students rebrand real small businesses and produce flexographic print pieces supported by a comprehensive technical book.

Bettylyn and Steve also discuss the broader workforce landscape, including the industry’s population cliff, the critical need for talent pipelines, and the importance of engaging young people early through curriculum support, teacher training, and industry‑connected programs. She shares examples of student projects that have made real commercial impact, such as packaging concepts now used by major brands, and emphasizes the importance of purpose, mentorship, and meaningful work for the incoming generation. The episode wraps with guidance for HR and operations leaders on attracting and retaining young talent, as well as a call to industry professionals to mentor, volunteer, and help build the next generation of print professionals.

In this episode, Steve Davis sits down with Jack Anderson, Activation Marketer at 3M’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division, to discuss the 3M Solution Seminar and its survey-driven approach. Jack shares how his experience in sales shaped his current role, emphasizing the importance of shifting from product-focused conversations to problem-focused discussions. He explains how pre-event surveys help uncover design challenges, such as bonding, sealing, noise, and thermal management, so seminars can deliver tailored, high-value content for engineering teams.

Jack also walks through the seminar process, from gathering insights via surveys to customizing presentations and demos that combine 3M’s material science with converter capabilities. He highlights the benefits of this approach, including improved engagement, discovery of hidden priorities, and stronger collaboration between OEMs, converters, and 3M. The conversation concludes with a powerful example where survey insights revealed unexpected EMI shielding needs, leading to new opportunities and deeper partnerships.

In this episode, Steve Davis sits down with Michael Muchin, Business Director at Avery Dennison Medical, to explore the complexities of wearable medical devices and stick-to-skin adhesives. Michael shares insights into the human factors that influence adhesive performance (such as skin type, age, activity level, and placement on the body) and explains why there's no one-size-fits-all solution. The conversation covers misconceptions designers often have, the importance of testing, and how Avery Dennison guides design teams through early development with tailored sample kits and wear study protocols.

The episode also breaks down the construction of wearable adhesives, including the skin layer, tie layer, and overpatch materials. Michael defines key adhesive metrics like tack, shear, and peel, and explains how they influence design decisions based on device weight and placement. He emphasizes the role of the tie layer in bonding different materials and the need for customization depending on application requirements. Throughout the discussion, Michael highlights Avery Dennison’s collaborative approach to helping customers validate and scale their designs effectively.