Made In Walker
Made In Walker
Podcast Description
The Made In Walker Podcast connects you to the people, stories, and ideas shaping our community. From local innovators to everyday change makers, we are diving deep into what makes Walker Michigan a great place to live, work, and grow. Be sure to "like" and subscribe to Made in Walker so you never miss an episode. To contact us about this podcast please send an email to [email protected].
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes of civic engagement, community projects, and local government initiatives. Episodes cover topics such as the Mayor's Youth Academy, the impact of critical infrastructure developments like the Fruit Ridge Bridge replacement, and future plans for fostering community spirit. Examples include discussions on how the Youth Academy shapes leadership skills in high school students and insights from city engineers about community planning.
The Made In Walker Podcast connects you to the people, stories, and ideas shaping our community. From local innovators to everyday change makers, we are diving deep into what makes Walker Michigan a great place to live, work, and grow.
Be sure to “like” and subscribe to Made in Walker so you never miss an episode.
To contact us about this podcast please send an email to [email protected].
Skip the tired script about success requiring a four-year degree. We sit down with Daniel and Jose Gonzalez of Preferred Flooring to explore how a hands-on trade can become a vehicle for purpose, community, and a resilient career. From weekend gigs as kids to leading complex healthcare installations, their path shows how craftsmanship, discipline, and training turn “just a job” into a calling.
We dig into what makes hospital flooring unforgiving and why that pressure builds better habits everywhere else: surface prep, adhesive science, infection control, and close coordination under strict timelines. The brothers explain how sports shaped their approach to leadership—earning your role, taking coaching, and competing with urgency—then connect that mindset to recruiting teens at career fairs. When students snap a plank together and feel the work, they see new possibilities. We also unpack the industry’s labor landscape: the pull of 1099 work, the challenge of offering benefits as a small contractor, and the long game of retention through respect, training, and clear growth paths.
Education runs through everything. Products change, specs evolve, and shortcuts fail under real-world conditions. As certifiers and instructors, Daniel and Jose champion ongoing training to prevent callbacks, protect margins, and elevate the craft. They share why they call subcontractors “partners,” how relationships drive repeat work, and where their own platform—The Huddle podcast—helps new tradespeople set up businesses, manage books, and avoid common pitfalls. If you care about skilled trades, small business realities, or the art of building something that lasts, this conversation delivers practical insights and a shot of motivation.
Listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge toward the trades, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Want to connect with our guests? Check out pfmi.team for projects or careers, and find The Huddle at thehuddle.team.
If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at [email protected]
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.