Ugly Bolts

Eric Dudas
142

Sales remain hot for many in the fastener industry as summer sizzles along, yet the FDI shows a dramatic cool down and the outlook isn’t so pretty. Innovative Components chief, Mike O’Connor attests to the mixed signals, and announces a big change at the company he founded as he joins uber-patriot and fastener newsman, Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report (41:27). Mr. Doug Ruggles explains his vision for the NFDA as he takes the helm of the industry powerhouse association (15:50). During a much anticipated feature segment, Marty Nolan of R.L. English sits down with STAFDA CEO, Ms. Georgia Foley, to recount her lifelong affiliation with that flourishing organization and to preview its upcoming annual conference (1:13:09). Plus, find out what to do when confronted with an all too common problem with material finishes, on Carmen Vertullo’s Fastener Training Minute (1:06:25). Brian and Eric expose a case of fasteners becoming a real pain in the backside. Run time: 01:55:36

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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.