In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Morgan Donahue, Owner and CEO of Erdman Automation, to discuss how long-term partnerships, innovation, and customer collaboration are shaping the future of manufacturing in the window and door industry.

Morgan shares insights from more than 30 years in automation, including how customer feedback drives Product Innovation, why reliability is critical in manufacturing systems, and how Continuous Improvement creates stronger partnerships over time.

What You’ll Learn

• How long-term partnerships improve manufacturing outcomes
• Why collaboration matters in automation development
• How customer feedback shapes machinery innovation
• The role of reliability in production environments
• How Erdman Automation approaches Continuous Improvement
• What future automation trends could mean for the industry

Episode Highlights 01:19 Morgan Donahue’s background and Erdman Automation overview 02:53 What makes long-term partnerships successful 04:46 Customer feedback and Product Innovation 07:44 Balancing innovation with reliability 10:19 Building collaborative supplier relationships 12:13 Future trends in manufacturing automation 15:39 Creating value for the end customer using innovation

Meet the Guest

Morgan Donahue is the Owner and CEO of Erdman Automation, a company specializing in automation systems for the window and door manufacturing industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Morgan has helped lead innovations in insulating glass fabrication, custom machinery development, and advanced manufacturing processes.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

• Manufacturing automation systems
• Thermoplastic spacer technology
• FlexScreen automation
• Continuous Improvement principles
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Customer feedback loops
• Reliability-focused equipment design

Closing Insight + CTA

Strong partnerships are built on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to improvement. This episode highlights how innovation becomes more effective when manufacturers and suppliers work together toward long-term success.

Subscribe to the Clear Impact Podcast for more conversations on leadership, Product Innovation, manufacturing strategy, and industry insights.

What separates a good manufacturing operation from a great one? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Bill Webster, Nathan Spencer, and Chris Rothermel from the Gratz manufacturing facility to explore how safety, Continuous Improvement, leadership accountability, and team member engagement shape operational excellence at MITER Brands.

The Gratz operations team shares real-world stories about manufacturing culture, process improvements, safety transformation, and profitable partnerships. The conversation highlights how MITER DNA, Every Detail, Every Day operational discipline, and Experience Is Everything influence daily decisions throughout the facility.

What You’ll Learn

• How strong safety cultures are built through accountability and communication

• Why small operational improvements can create major manufacturing results

• How leadership credibility impacts team performance and engagement

• The role Continuous Improvement plays beyond productivity metrics

• Why employee ownership is critical for sustaining operational success

Episode Highlights

01:40 – Meet the leaders behind the Gratz manufacturing facility

03:14 – What a strong safety culture looks like on the manufacturing floor

04:08 – The moment that transformed safety culture at Gratz

07:50 – How leadership behaviors build trust and credibility

9:56 – Why innovation in manufacturing does not always require major technology

11:27 – How a simple idea improved operational traffic flow and safety

13:54 – A small Continuous Improvement change that reduced IG remakes

14:36 – Why ownership is critical for sustaining improvements

16:03 – What customers value most from manufacturing partners today

Meet the Guests

Bill Webster is the Technical Services Manager at the Gratz manufacturing facility and has spent nearly two decades in manufacturing leadership roles across shipping, production, and operations.

Nathan Spencer leads Continuous Improvement initiatives at Gratz and focuses on operational efficiency, cost savings, and employee-driven process improvements.

Chris Rothermel is the Operations Manager at Gratz and brings more than 40 years of manufacturing leadership experience to the organization.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

• Continuous Improvement

• MITER DNA

• Every Detail, Every Day

• On-Time, In-Full (OTIF)

• VPP Star Safety Certification

• QR code employee idea system

• Team member ownership strategies

• Operational Standardization

Closing Insight

“Creating ownership towards an improvement can be the difference between success and failure.”

This episode offers an inside look at how manufacturing leaders cre...

What do builders, dealers, and homeowners need to know about the upcoming Florida Building Code changes? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with code compliance engineers Lisa Wilson and Lynn Miller to break down the most important updates coming to the 9th Edition of the Florida Building Code and how those changes will impact windows, doors, product approvals, coastal construction, and Energy Efficiency requirements across Florida.

Lisa and Lynn explain the real-world implications of updated water infiltration testing, corrosion-resistant fastener requirements, energy performance standards, and new HVHZ Florida Product Approvals. The conversation also highlights the importance of permit timing during code cycle changes, and how to stay informed.

What You’ll Learn

• How the new Florida Building Code impacts sliding glass doors and water infiltration requirements

• Why stainless steel fasteners are becoming mandatory near Florida coastlines

• What builders need to know about updated Energy Efficiency requirements

• How Miami-Dade NOAs are transitioning to HVHZ Florida Product Approvals

• Why dealers should carefully track permit timelines during the code transition

Episode Highlights

02:50 – How the Florida Building Code update process works

05:34 – What is changing with water infiltration requirements for sliding doors

5:51 – How the new overhang rules affect covered patio installations

11:42 – New coastal anchorage and stainless steel fastener requirements

14:32 – How Energy Efficiency requirements are changing for new construction

20:26 – What builders and dealers need to know about product approval updates

24:30 – Why permit timing matters during the code transition

28:51 – The risks of relying on AI for building code information

30:34 – Practical ways dealers can prepare for the 2027 code cycle

Meet the Guests

Lisa Wilson is a Code Compliance Engineer at PGT Innovations with more than 30 years of experience in product approvals, code interpretation, and Florida building compliance.

Lynn Miller is the Code Compliance Manager at PGT Innovations and a former structural engineer specializing in building codes, standards development, and fenestration compliance.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

• Florida Building Code

• HVHZ Florida Product Approvals

• Miami-Dade NOAs

• Energy Efficiency performance path calculations

• Hurricane Preparedness standards

• Water infiltration testing

• Standardization processes

• MITER Brands University educational resources

Closing Insight

“It’s always best to double check those sources with the actual building code.”

This episode offers practical guidance for builders, dealers,...