Episode #114 – The Young & The Threadless

Eric Dudas

There’s no shortage of drama in the fastener industry, as surging optimism and idealistic youth align against ongoing consolidation and off-shoring. Throw in a few industry events and some fake news headlines and you get pretty exciting fastener talk radio. Jim “Big Papa” Kelam, of Sems and Specials weighs in on industry trends, Vegas, retirement, and the new breed of fastener pro, along with Jackie “Kind of a Big Deal” Ventura (1:09:20). YFP board member, Kenny Sanker, describes the AIM mentoring program (18:02). Also, SEFA president, Terry Windham previews the upcoming joint conference with SFA (34:09). Fastener News Report anchor, Mike McNulty and Baird analyst, Dave Manthey examine the shocking FDI numbers (40:10). Plus, senior fastener industry consultant, Carmen Vertullo gets fully threaded during the Fastener Training Minute (1:03:55). Brian and Eric remain philosophical as they play their role in the perennial saga that is the thread game. Run time: 01:50:07

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About the Hosts

Brian Musker

Brian Musker

Known as the “hardest working man in the online thread game”, Brian Musker earned his advanced engineering degree with a thesis on fastening technology many years before entering the fastener industry with the launch of the FCH Sourcing Network in 2006. Today, he is known as the developer of the industry renowned “FCH Scrubber” software that cleans and cross-matches fastener inventory for distributors across the industry. He is also a strong advocate for his beloved breakfast spread, Vegemite.

Eric Dudas

Eric Dudas

Eric Dudas got the idea of launching Fully Threaded Radio in the early days of podcasting as he pondered how to promote the FCH Sourcing Network to an industry that wasn’t doing much with traditional social media. Fifteen years later, the show has a life of its own and has opened more doors than he could have imagined. More recently, he’s been working to build the NFBBQA (National Fastener BBQ Association) to help fastener professionals better enjoy cooking meat over fire. He also enjoys chicken ranching at his small farm in semi-rural northeast Ohio.