Beyond the Concept – Concept Systems
For an episode of “Beyond the Concept” podcast, a show by Concept Systems, host Tyler Kern chatted with John Miller, the principal engineer at Rockwell Automations, and Jerry Flynn, the company’s principal controls engineer. The trio particularly discussed Programmable Numerical Control, mostly known by its initials, PNC, and how Rockwell has been a premier leader…
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Architecture & Design
System Integration Field and CSIA’s Role
Jose Rivera, CEO of Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), joined host Daniel Litwin to explain CSIA’s role in the systems integration field in the latest Beyond the Concept podcast episode. In 2015, Rivera, an electrical engineer, transitioned from serving large automation equipment suppliers to becoming the CEO of CSIA, a 500-member organization. Rivera explained that…
Beyond the Concept - Concept Systems
Beyond the Concept: Managing the Risk of Using Out-of-Date Parts and Products in a Facility
Facilities can ill afford to have equipment go down with today’s supply chain challenges. Lost hours could quickly become lost days if a replacement is unavailable. Sam Cafferata, Principal Engineer at Concept Systems, spoke with Tyler Kern about this all-too-real issue and what facilities can do to ensure their equipment is up-to-date and in good…
Beyond the Concept - Concept Systems
Steve Strong’s Vision for Concept Systems Going into 2023
After a momentous twenty-three years, Michael Helm has stepped down in his role as CEO with Concept Systems. Helm passed the torch down to Steve Strong, who chatted with host Tyler Kern about his future-forward visions for Concept Systems. After spending almost 15 years at the Boeing Company, Strong knows a thing or two about…
Architecture & Design
Navigating Greenfield Projects with Rick Pruden and Ron Schiedler
Two of the main contributing factors driving the financial success of greenfield projects are budgeting and schedule. On the latest episode of the Beyond the Concept podcast, Rick Pruden, Strategic Solutions Specialist at Concept Systems, and Ron Schiedler, Principal Engineer at Concept Systems, spoke to Beyond the Concept’s Tyler Kern about mitigating these risk factors…
Beyond the Concept - Concept Systems
Making Complex Robotic Applications Simple with Justin Garski and Evan Gonnerman
We breathe without thinking. Blink without noticing. But when it comes down to it, all of our normal bodily functions are not as easy and effortless as they appear—at least not for complex robotic applications. Justin Garski, the Americas OEM Segment Manager for Packaging, Converting, Print and Web at Rockwell and Evan Gonnerman, Senior Controls…
Beyond the Concept - Concept Systems
Beyond the Concept: Automation in the Airlines and Aerospace Markets
Steve Strong, Regional Engineering Manager, Seattle, at Concept Systems, spoke with Tyler Kern about some of the automation challenges in the airline and aerospace industries. Something both markets have in common: they each have expensive and complex products to manufacture and automate. Strong said because of these complexities, the proposals Concept Systems does and…
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From Deloitte to Startup CEO: Johnnie Akin on Risk, Faith, and Reinvention
Success today looks different—defined less by stability and more by the freedom to adapt and evolve. Professionals across industries are reimagining their careers, moving away from predictable ladders toward paths that reflect purpose and balance. What once meant climbing steadily toward partnership or promotion now often means taking bold pivots or pursuing second acts…
From Caregiver to Changemaker: How Purpose and Community Create Lasting Impact
Resilience isn’t just about enduring challenges — it’s about leading with compassion, patience, and faith, even when the path feels uncertain. It’s a quality embodied by every caregiver, whose daily acts of care and commitment reflect the essence of true leadership — helping others grow stronger through empathy, service, and understanding. In this episode…
Great Leaders Share Knowledge, Build Trust, and Empower Future Talent
The conversation around skilled trades is shifting fast. After decades of “college for all” messaging, trade school enrollment is climbing steadily, signaling a renewed respect for hands-on, high-skill careers that literally keep the world running. In commercial HVAC and mechanical service, this change is not just academic — it’s shaping the next generation of leaders…
Slow Stories in a Fast League: Why the NBA Still Deserves Real, In-Depth Journalism
In a sports world increasingly defined by short-form clips, social algorithms, and viral takes, long-form storytelling remains a vital counterweight — the place where depth, nuance, and narrative still matter. The NBA, perhaps more than any other league, sits at the center of this tension: every quote can become a meme, every story a highlight…
