executive sessions

On MiddleGround’s eighth episode of Executive Sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with MiddleGround Founding Partner, John Stewart, and Head of our Transaction Team, Justin Steil. This episode covers:

1. The United Auto Workers Strike
2. Electric Vehicles
3. 2017-2024: A New Normal

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://bit.ly/3HFyoLX

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:03:42) Overview of the UAW strike
(00:06:45) Impact of strike - MGC and wider auto industry 
(00:17:40) The changing automotive industry 
(00:26:23) Limitation to EV adoption

On MiddleGound’s sixth episode of Executive Sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with MiddleGround Founding Partner, John Stewart, Managing Director of our European Transaction Team, Alex Van Der Have, and Head of EU Business Development, Anthony Denaix. This episode covers:

1. Considerations of European Expansion
2. The Importance of Hiring Locally
3. Differences in strategy between the US/EU
4. Challenging Economic Environments

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://bit.ly/47pnZil

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:02:38) 2023 economic review
(00:12:39) Industrial manufacturer's response to economic shifts 
(00:17:35) Employment levels in manufacturing
(00:23:35) Well-positioned manufacturers in this economy
(00:31:05) Economic resilience
(00:40:08) Expectations in 2024

On MiddleGound’s sixth episode of Executive Sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with MiddleGround Founding Partner, John Stewart, Managing Director of our European Transaction Team, Alex Van Der Have, and Head of EU Business Development, Anthony Denaix. This episode covers:

1. Considerations of European Expansion
2. The Importance of Hiring Locally
3. Differences in strategy between the US/EU
4. Challenging Economic Environments

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://bit.ly/47pnZil

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Find Alex van der Have on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-van-der-have-2926889/
Find Anthony Denaix on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonydenaix/

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:13:32) Steps to expanding internationally 
(00:19:58) Importance of hiring locally 
(00:26:06) What we look for in EU platforms
(00:33:28) Current events impact on European market
(00:40:48) Decision making
(00:43:40) Deals we wouldn't consider

On MiddleGround’s fifth episode of Executive Sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with MiddleGround Founding Partner John Stewart and his brother, Co-Partner of Banner Industries, David Stewart. This episode covers:

1. Building a Bootcamp
2. Creating and Maintaining Cooperative Change
3. Lean Manufacturing Requires Standardization
4. The Impact of Bootcamps

Check out our company blog recapping the episode: https://bit.ly/3Ptj6NE

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Find John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Find Banner Management Consulting on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/banner-management-consulting/

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:06:52) Bootcamp 101
(00:10:40) Gaining buy-in
(00:18:15) Building a Bootcamp 
(00:27:22) The importance of manufacturers
(00:36:58) Impact on the portfolio
(00:43:49) The value of teaching lean manufacturing basics
(00:48:47) Simple, cheap solutions yield results 
(00:53:54) Standardization in manufacturing 

On MiddleGround’s fourth episode of executive sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with two guests: Madelyn Tutewiler, Director of ESG, and Managing Director of ESG, Mike Bridge. This episode covers:

1.     The importance of involving ESG in businesses

2.     Raising minimum full-time pay to $25/Hour by 2025

3.     Equitable hiring to reflect local communities 

4.     How we bring ESG to life in portfolio companies

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:08:40) What is ESG? 
(00:13:05) Why does ESG matter?
(00:21:58) Case study: Attala Steel
(00:33:20) Data in ESG
(00:38:37) ESG and diversity 
(00:44:03) $25 by 2025
(00:47:10) Advice for firms starting their ESG journey

In MiddleGround’s third episode of executive sessions, Clayton Gullett leads discussions with two guests: Founding and Managing Partner, John Stewart, and a VP on the Transaction Team, Tyler May. This episode covers:

1.     Factors in driving electrification and autonomous vehicles forward

2.     Shift from the automotive industry to the mobility industry

3.     Barriers to full autonomy

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:04:28) Reducing brain drain in financial industry
(00:06:30) Electrification, the environmental impact, and driving it's adoption
(00:18:18) The inevitable shift to EVs
(00:21:43) Automotive's shift from transportation to mobility
(00:24:35) The road to full autonomy 
(00:38:35) Challenges updating American infrastructure 
(00:45:34) Future business models in automotive
(00:56:35) 5G for the connected car

In MiddleGround’s second episode of executive sessions, Clayton Gullett, leads discussions with two guests with operations experience: a VP of operations, Alicia Motomura, and a senior associate, Jordan Gabbert. This episode covers:

1.     Respecting and valuing shop floor employees

2.     Connection between adding value and employee retention/company stability 

3.     Don’t let perfect be the enemy of great 

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 

Chapters
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:15:05) The importance of the shop floor
(00:17:42) Partnering with shop floor employees
(00:26:05) Creating value in manufacturing processes
(00:29:22) Employee retention and job stability
(00:33:30) The relationship between stability and growth
(00:36:05) Being a woman in manufacturing
(00:38:17) Dealing with adversity in your career
(00:44:02) Data and the Pareto principle
(00:48:05) Worker well being 

In our first episode of executive sessions, Clayton Gullett is joined by John Stewart and Scot Duncan, two of the founding partners at MiddleGround Capital. This episode covers four topics: 

1.  John and Scot and their working relationship.
2. How and why labor markets changed and the impact on wages. 
3. The human element of business. How MiddleGround is changing plants to better support employees and the environment.
4. Challenges in 2023.

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Follow John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Follow Scot Duncan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scot-duncan-45a23211/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:03:43) John/Scot's working relationship
(00:20:43) COVID and changing labor markets
(00:26:24) Working conditions in manufacturing
(00:36:51) Doing what's right
(00:51:07) Near term challenges in 2023