Today on the ProtoPod, we’re excited to welcome two student leaders from UGA Rocketry — Brooklyn Schnupp and Parsa Novin. As part of the University of Georgia’s student rocketry team, Brooklyn and Parsa competed in the International Rocket Engineering Competition earlier this year, which is the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket event. They’ll be sharing what it’s like to lead a student rocketry team, the challenges and breakthroughs of building rockets from the ground up, and what excites them most about the future of aerospace.

On today's episode, we have Gladys Wong, co-founder of Domatic, a company reinventing how buildings are wired and smart systems deployed. Gladys leads the strategic vision, making smart buildings easier, safer, and more efficient. Also joining us is Josh Horne, Domatic’s technical and hardware lead, who takes the vision and makes it real in the field. Between them, they’ll unpack how Domatic combines low-voltage power and data on one cable, tackles real-world hardware constraints, and drives toward a future where every building is intelligent by default.

On this episode, we’re joined by Olivier Lamarre, a Ph.D. student at the University of Toronto’s STARS Laboratory, where he focuses on advancing planetary rover autonomy. Olivier has collaborated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-founded the McGill Robotics Mars Rover Team, leading them to multiple podium finishes at international competitions. This month, he is joining our friends at NordSpace as a Systems Engineer.

In this episode, Jordan chats with Fred Schenkelberg, an internationally recognized authority in the field of reliability engineering. Fred is the founder of FMS Reliability, where he works with organizations around the world to reduce product risk and boost reliability through smarter design and testing. He’s also behind Accendo Reliability, an online learning platform for reliability professionals. Before founding his own firm, Fred was part of Hewlett-Packard’s elite reliability team, helping instill a culture of long-term performance and quality across the company. With a background in physics and statistics, Fred brings both analytical depth and practical know-how to every conversation, including this episode of the ProtoPod!

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Alastair Trower, Director of Business Development at Enginuity Inc — an engineering and product development firm based in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. With a deep appreciation for both technical and creative problem solving, Alastair – or Alf, as he’s commonly known – plays a pivotal role in helping Enginuity turn bold ideas into functional, manufacturable realities. The company is best known for designing and building custom solutions across marine, defense, aerospace, and industrial sectors, and Alastair has been a driving force in helping scale their impact across Canada and beyond.

In today's episode, we talk with Jacob Schmidt, Engineering Manager at AMP. Since joining in 2020, he’s designed some of AMP’s most advanced robotic hardware, including their newest small robot, built entirely from his design. We discuss his path from hands-on mechanical engineer to team leader, his passion for mentorship, and how AMP is using AI and robotics to transform recycling worldwide.

In today's episode, we are excited to chat with the powerhouse father-daughter duo from Sigteq: Larry Murphy, who founded the company over two decades ago, and Laura Murphy, who now leads product and user-experience initiatives. Larry’s background in radio engineering for the London Ambulance Service laid the groundwork for Sigteq’s specialized alerting systems, while Laura brings a fresh, UX-driven perspective to improve usability under pressure. Together, they create custom emergency communications and control solutions for some of the world’s most safety-critical environments.

Today we’re talking with a founding member of the Canadian International Rover Challenge, Justin Gerein — a hands-on, Mars-style robotics competition held each summer in the badlands of Drumheller, Alberta. He’s an engineering manager at Calian Composites, a mechanical engineer by training, and a leader in designing high-performance composite systems — including one of the first Q/V band carbon fiber ground station antennas. We’ll chat about how CIRC is building the next generation of space engineers, the role of collaboration and failure in innovation, and how ProtoSpace is helping teams bring their rover designs to life.

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Tom Mudd, Head of Technical at digiLED, one of the world’s leading makers of enormous, high-definition LED screens. Tom's journey spans from backstage at major music tours to tackling massive AV installations at stadiums and global venues. He brings to the table a rare blend of hands-on technical know-how and creative solution-building—especially when it comes to reducing power consumption in traditionally wasteful displays.

In today's episode, we’re joined by Heather Smith, a contracted NASA Research Scientist working with The Kiss Institute. With a focus on Mars and its moons, she develops life-detection instruments and strategies to keep space missions clean and science-ready. Her path includes a PhD in Biological Engineering, a master’s in Space Studies, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Psychology. From Space Camp counselor to NASA Postdoc and AAAS Fellow, she’s built a career exploring the question: Are we alone?

In today's episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Garrett Partridge, the CEO of ARC Technology Solutions, a powerhouse in custom test systems, obsolescence mitigation, and rapid hardware solutions for aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Now leading one of New England’s most agile tech companies, Garrett blends real-world innovation with visionary leadership, tackling complex challenges head-on, from cutting-edge electronics design to workforce development and industry collaboration.

In this episode, we are excited to be joined by Bryan Gilliom, President & CTO of Message Point Media—a leader in digitaldisplays for over 100 transit systems across North America. We explore how his team uses rapid prototyping, semi-custom manufacturing, and global collaboration—with Protocase as a key partner in bringing fast-turn ideas to life. Hear how one whiteboard session sparked a company shift—and what it takes to scale smart in a 24/7 world.

In this episode, we are excited to be joined by Brendan O’Brien, Head of R&D at Vorne Industries, a company known for its durable, equipment-agnostic solutions that help manufacturers track productivity and minimize downtime. With a background in mechanical engineering, data analytics, and sustainability, Brendan brings a global perspective and a people-first approach to driving lasting improvements in manufacturing.

In today's episode, we’re excited to chat with Jan Fessl, Founder and Managing Director of FPC USA. With a Master’s in Astronautical Engineering from USC, Jan’s career spans hardware testing, control systems, and liquid propulsion. He first connected with Protocase while at USC’s Liquid Propulsion Lab, where he was featured in our Student Spotlight. Originally from the Czech Republic, Jan moved to Los Angeles about 10 years ago. Since then, he’s helped expand FPC, a global leader in test infrastructure solutions, across North America, supporting industries from aerospace to defense.

In today’s episode, we're excited to chat with Craig Phillips, founder of Tangelo Audio and a driving force behind some of the most powerful digital synthesizers on the market.  With a degree in Electronic Systems Engineering and a passion for electronics that was sparked at age seven, Craig blends technical know-how with a creative, hands-on approach to hardware design. 

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Sandheep Surendran, founder of Surya Design, LLC, a product development firm known for turning inventive ideas into reality across industries like biotech, automotive,and consumer electronics. With over 20 years of experience spanning toys to clean tech, Sandheep brings a multidisciplinary edge to engineering, combining mechanical, electrical, and software expertise. Sandheep has built a reputation for practical innovation, taking products from one-offprototypes to large-scale manufacturing, all with an eye for catching problems before theyarise. We’ll dive into his unique approach to design and the projects that have shaped his career.

In this episode, we’re joined by Steve Taylor, President of the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association. Steve leads the team behind the International Rocket Engineering Competition, the world’s biggest student rocketry event. With years of experience in launch ops and safety, he’s helped shape what IREC is today. We’ll talk about how student rocketry is evolving, the big move to Midland, Texas, and what’s next for ESRA and the competition.

In today's episode, we are excited to chat with Jason Jenkins, a seasoned audio-visual systems expert and the founder of Studiomatic, the company behind the One Button Studio. With over 20 years of experience in video production, studio design, and live streaming, Jason has made it his mission to simplify professional content creation. The Studiomatic One Button Studio is a fully automated, self-service video solution that removes the complexity of traditional production. With just a single press, users can walk into a studio and record high-quality video, complete with lighting, and audio, all without needing technical skills or post-production editing.

In today's episode, we are excited to talk to Paul Green, Associate Director of Operations and Technology Development at CanAssist, an innovative organization based at the University of Victoria. CanAssist is dedicated to developing customized technologies andservices that enhance independence and inclusion for individuals with physical orcognitive challenges. We’re excited to dive into the impactful work Paul and his team are doing, and explorehow CanAssist is transforming lives through innovation and accessibility.

In this episode, we are excited to chat with 3i, a company at the forefront of biomedical imaging technology. Founded in 1994 by a team of scientists from fields like cell biology, neuroscience, and immunology, 3i develops advanced fluorescence microscopy systems and the powerful SlideBook software platform, a tool that manages everything from image capture to analysis.