2. Behind Closed Doors of Minnesota Manufactured Day with Steve Kalina

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CNC Underground: Afterhours

Jessica Urbans

8 episodes

5 days ago

CNC Underground: Afterhours is where CNC, CAM, and manufacturing come to life after the shift ends. Hosted by Jessica Urbans of Midwest CAM Solutions, we dig into tooling, tech, shop wins, everyday struggles, and the real stories from machinists, programmers, and industry pros. Honest, gritty, and a little fun, this is where modern machining gets real.

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2. Behind Closed Doors of Minnesota Manufactured Day with Steve Kalina

CNC Underground: Afterhours

45 minutes 8 seconds

2 months ago

2. Behind Closed Doors of Minnesota Manufactured Day with Steve Kalina

Minnesota’s manufacturing community takes center stage as Jessica sits down with Steve Kalina, President & CEO of MPMA (Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association) and a Marine Corps veteran, for a real-world look at workforce development, next-generation talent, and the unique spirit driving the region’s shops. Steve traces his experiences from scrubbing toilets at his family’s machine shop at age 13 to running marathons and leading one of Minnesota’s top manufacturing groups.

This episode features practical stories about building character on the shop floor, the impact of early STEM education, and creating hands-on experiences for kids at the Minnesota State Fair’s Manufactured Day. Steve discusses why engaging students as young as pre-school matters, explains the differences between STEM and manufacturing career tracks, and addresses common misconceptions about Gen Z in the trades.

Lighthearted “forgivable or fireable” scenarios and rapid-fire “Would You Rather” keep things fun. Listeners will hear about volunteer efforts, peer support among competitive shops, and what makes Minnesota’s manufacturing sector stand out from the rest. Steve closes with advice about surrounding yourself with great people, plus resources for getting involved with MPMA.

For more information about MPMA, Manufactured Day at the State Fair, or how to get involved, visit mpma.com

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Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-urbans-msed-433149166/

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-kalina-954ab145/

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About Midwest CAM Solutions:Midwest CAM Solutions is the world’s largest GibbsCAM reseller, helping manufacturers boost productivity with expert CAM software solutions, training, and support.

Learn more at: http://www.midwestcamsolutions.com

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