heat treat leaders

Message from the Editor: Inspiring Young People in Heat Treat

/ EDITOR, FEATURED NEWS

OCYoung people today get a bad rap. Karen Gantzer, managing editor at Heat Treat Today, disagrees! The leadership, initiative, and problem-solving skills of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2021 are truly inspiring. In the heat treat industry, it appears youth isn't such a bad thing after all. In this article, read what Karen has to say about some of the young people on the team at Heat Treat Today.

This article was originally published in Heat Treat Today's August 2021 Automotive print edition.

Karen Gantzer
Managing Editor
Heat Treat Today

I find it very inspiring to work with young people in this industry. Contrary to what is sometimes heard in the world at large, many of the young people I’ve had the privilege of working with in the North American heat treat market are intelligent, conscientious, respectful, hard-working adults worth their weight in gold. They’re a real pleasure to be around. As this column is being typed, Heat Treat Today is working on selecting 40 young leaders in the North American heat treat market to be inducted into the 40 Under 40 Class of 2021, a great honor for each person, and a great honor for the 120 previous inductees, the 40 Under 40 Classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020. It’s amazing how difficult it is to pick 40 each year from those nominated. Nearly all of them are more than qualified, but only 40 can be selected. The judges invariably struggle each year. That is a GREAT problem to have, and it speaks to the quality of the young people in this industry. Although these young people will probably never make it into one of the 40 Under 40 classes, I would like to mention several under-40 individuals who contribute substantially to the North American heat treat market each and every day – the young people of Heat Treat Today – all of whom are less than 40 years old and all of whom are simply stellar people.

Bethany Funk-Leone is the Heat Treat Daily editor as well as the Heat Treat Radio editor and resident idea person along with Doug. We sometimes have to pivot at the last minute and Bethany flexes with grace, determination, and wit, as she juggles multiple responsibilities and stays ahead of the game.

Brandon Glenn is our art and web design expert. When we need a logo or image, a tweak on the website, or a last-minute edit on the Heat Treat Daily, Brandon is our man; and he always comes through with precision, kindness and often a comment that makes us laugh.

Ellen Glenn-Porter wears several hats—billing/accounting/audience development—and makes sure that important admin is completed on time. She faithfully connects with you in the industry and is always diligent to make sure the rest of the team is aware of needs, encouragement, or concerns that are sent to her.

Lauren Porter, Heat Treat Today production manager, is our newest team member. She has been Doug’s right hand person and done yeoman’s work in getting the print magazines, e-blasts, and other media out to you all as well as working with advertisers.

Alyssa Bootsma is our social media editor. She has taken excellent initiative on the various platforms and has grown our presence significantly. It has been exciting to see her grow and succeed in an area that had been unfamiliar to her, but one which she has embraced.

Jonathan Lloyd, Heat Treat Today's talented audio/podcast editor, ensures the excellence of Heat Treat Radio and other multimedia endeavors. His expertise and creativity in the audio and visual world is a huge asset as he helps us maintain a cutting edge.

The old-timers, Doug Glenn and I, couldn’t be happier to be working with this youthful group, who keeps us sharp and current! And, while they might never be in Heat Treat Today's 40 Under 40, they are our "Top 6" list of great people serving the North American heat treat market.

Thanks, team for the incredible work you do!

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The Chief Human Resource Officer Will Be The New Chief Financial Officer: A 40 Under 40 Mandate

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, OP-ED

op-ed"What came first: money, in its various forms, or people? People. The idea and concept of money precipitated from people. Therefore, demographics cause economics and economics is a symptom of demographics. If you are an economist or an accountant, I realize this can be a painful, demeaning truth. But it is a truth none-the-less. Demography is destiny, and money is a byproduct of demographics." Kenneth W. Gronbach, author, expert, and futurist in the field of Demography and Generational Marketing, doesn't hold back as he writes his hot-take of what the new business model will look like!

This guest column appears in the Heat Treat Today September 2021 Trade Show print edition. Ken typically writes for the magazine in this edition where many young heat treaters -- 40, to be exact -- are featured annually. Give it a read, and email editor@heattreattoday.com if you have an op-ed or guest column that you would like to submit to Heat Treat Today!

Kenneth Gronbach
President/CEO
KGC Direct LLC

Hello, 40 Under 40 Class of 2021. There are big changes ahead in corporate structures large and small. And you Millennial-types are going to lead the charge. Human Resources will finally gain the dominance and importance it deserves. Remember when Human Resources was called “Personnel” and it was manned by B players who handed out insurance forms? Those days are gone. If a corporation is not led by A-players in Human Resources, it will not survive. The Chief Human Resource Officer will be the new Chief Financial Officer. You heard it here.

Ask anyone on a corporate board of directors who their key corporate C-level players are, and they will tell you: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and may even include Chief Operations Officer. The brains, the money, and the day to day. But what about the Chief Marketing Officer and the Chief Human Resource Officer? Communicating with the customer and developing the talent to serve them. What a concept!

The most important question any business must ask is one of demographics: How big is my end user market and is my end user market getting bigger or smaller? How many people are in my end user market? If my end user market is expanding, then we have opportunity to grow. If my end user market is shrinking, we have a problem that must be addressed posthaste. Why? Because the volume of my business is directly linked to the size of my end user market.

This is the essence of demographics. But wait, there’s more. So, we have determined that our end user market demographics are significantly expanding, and we have an opportunity to grow our business. But this is not going to happen by itself. We will need talent, people. Who are they? Where are they? How much training will they need? How much will they cost? How long before they ramp-up? Wait, we need an expert Chief Human Resource Officer. In fact, governed by the new normal in modern protocols, if a corporation doesn’t have a Chief Marketing Officer and a Chief Human Resource Officer, they don’t even need a CEO, COO or CFO!

Let’s examine the new normal people/talent challenges the Chief Human Resource Officer will face.

  1. Diversity and Inclusion: Black Lives Matter. Hiring and training African Americans, Asians and Latinos. Dealing fairly with LGBT issues. Recognizing Minority majority as it becomes the norm. Managing disability issues. It’s a new ball game
  2. Women in Leadership: Women outnumber men in college and law school. They will lead, but they will face challenges in the male dominated C-level management culture.
  3. Three Generations in the Workplace: En masse post-Covid exiting by the huge Baby Boomer Generation. The diminutive middle-age Generation X management shortage. The influx of the giant Generation Y/Millennials.

Big challenges to be sure, but they are not insurmountable, and, if handled correctly, these challenges will be a springboard into the realm of incredible opportunity. Take Human Resources seriously. Very seriously. And challenge your Chief Marketing Offi cer to understand his/her future market for your business, not just the market you presently enjoy.

Bob Dylan sang that, “The times, they are a changin’. . .”. It’s truer now than ever before. Yes, change may be painful, but if you don’t change, time will pass you by. Be well, Kenneth W. Gronbach.

About the Author: Kenneth W. Gronbach is a gifted keynote speaker and nationally recognized author, expert, and futurist in the field of Demography and Generational Marketing. He makes the science of shifting demography come alive with real life examples which make it relevant to today’s culture, business climate, and economy. With nearly three decades experience in retail advertising and marketing, Ken saw the direct results of shifting demographics in his clients’ profits. Eventually, his passion for the subject changed the direction of his career, to the benefit of readers of his books and attendees of his keynotes and other presentations. Contact Ken at ken@kcgdirect.com.

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