This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: The Podcast” features Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity.

WCMP collaborates with the UW Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center and the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help the state’s manufacturers grow their businesses and become more profitable by offering services and programs.

“What we’re doing now is helping manufacturers start to figure out how they’re going to  operate, safely, responsibly and effectively as we come out of this as a state and as a nation,” Buckley said.

Brinkman will also be a panelist at the 2020 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference put on by the Wisconsin Technology Council on June 4. The virtual event will focus on COVID-19 economic survival, recovery and prosperity for young companies during a ‘new normal.’

He is bringing his broad perspective and connections with manufacturers across the nation, with knowledge on how cutting edge technology is implemented in manufacturing operations.

“Every time we come out of a downturn, the investment in technology actually speeds up rather than slows down,” said Brinkman. “The companies that are going to come out of this stronger are the ones that are already making plans and looking for new opportunities for their businesses to take advantage of as the economy recovers.”

Brinkman is looking forward to coming away with two or three ideas to put to use as well as two or three things that push him to think harder about what he’s doing.

“I just think this is an exciting time for us, I think it’s going to be an opportunity for all of us to show what Wisconsin can do, both in terms of our ability to open responsibility but then also to take advantage of the new opportunities that are coming along in this new economy,” he said.

Listen to the podcast below, sponsored by UW-Madison: