Clear Impact Podcast

In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Harold Underdown, Co-Founder of Four Branches Bourbon. Harold shares the story behind the veteran-founded bourbon company, the symbolism behind the brand, and how Four Branches has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for veteran-focused nonprofits across the country. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, military service, craftsmanship, philanthropy, and the importance of building a mission-driven brand that people genuinely connect with. What You’ll Learn - How Four Branches Bourbon was created - The military symbolism behind the bottle and logo - Why storytelling matters in brand building - How the founders developed a unique four-grain bourbon - What makes purpose-driven brands stand out - How Four Branches has raised over $700,000 for veteran causes - The role of philanthropy in long-term business growth Episode Highlights 01:02 - Introduction to Four Branches Bourbon 02:02 - The origin story after Hurricane Dorian 07:45 - The meaning behind the Four Branches logo 11:09 - “Sip to remember” and responsible drinking 12:41 - Understanding the four-grain bourbon profile 19:03 - Standing out in a crowded bourbon market 20:34 - Veteran philanthropy and fundraising impact 23:40 - Final thoughts and mission-driven leadership Meet the Guest Harold Underdown is the Co-Founder of Four Branches Bourbon, a veteran-founded bourbon company representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The company blends craftsmanship, military heritage, and philanthropy while supporting organizations that serve veterans and military families. Harold is a highly distinguished and decorated veteran, having served for 30 years in the US Navy as Master Chief Naval Special Warfare (SEAL). Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned - Mission-driven branding - Storytelling through packaging - Relationship-based marketing - Veteran nonprofit partnerships - Four-grain bourbon development - Craft beverage positioning - Community-focused philanthropy Closing Insight Purpose-driven brands create stronger emotional connections when they align craftsmanship with meaningful impact. Four Branches Bourbon demonstrates how service, storytelling, and philanthropy can work together to build long-term trust and community. Subscribe to the Clear Impact Podcast and learn more at: https://bit.ly/3WwBRal https://fourbranches.com

How does daylight affect health, mood, productivity, and the way we experience our homes and workplaces? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, host Sherri Connor speaks with Dr. Jennifer Veitch, an internationally recognized expert in lighting research and environmental psychology. Together, they explore how daylight influences circadian rhythms, workplace satisfaction, emotional wellbeing, and building design. The conversation also covers practical strategies for architects, builders, and homeowners looking to improve daylight performance without sacrificing energy efficiency. What You’ll Learn - Why daylight plays a critical role in human wellbeing - How circadian rhythms respond to natural light - The connection between daylight and workplace productivity - Common daylighting mistakes in building design - How glazing and shading solutions support healthier spaces - Simple ways homeowners can improve daylight exposure Episode Highlights - 01:48 — Dr. Jennifer Veitch’s background in environmental psychology - 02:47 — Circadian rhythms and emotional health - 04:25 — Daylight’s impact on workplace productivity - 05:44 — What architects should prioritize in daylighting - 07:21 — Common mistakes in building design - 08:46 — FGIA and the industry focus on daylight and health - 10:11 — Simple homeowner strategies for better daylight - 12:37 –- Best rooms to have the most light in your home - 14:43 -– Is daylight (NIR) part of a bigger health focus in the future Meet the Guest Dr. Jennifer Veitch is an internationally recognized researcher specializing in lighting, environmental psychology, and human wellbeing. She spent more than three decades with the National Research Council Canada and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Her research has helped shape industry understanding around daylight, workplace performance, and healthy building design. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned - Circadian rhythm research - Spatial daylight autonomy - Glare control strategies - Low-E glazing technologies - Exterior shading systems - Human-centered building design Closing Insight Daylight is more than a design feature. It shapes how people think, feel, work, and recover every day. Subscribe to the Clear Impact Podcast for more conversations about building science, design innovation, and the future of healthier living environments.

In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor speaks with industry code expert Steve Strawn about the International Wildland Urban Interface Code and how MITER Brands works proactively with regulators and manufacturing partners to improve wildfire safety standards. Steve explains how modern windows and doors are designed to help protect homes in wildfire-prone regions and why collaboration between manufacturers, code officials, and the insurance industry matters more than ever. What You’ll Learn What the WUI code is and why it matters How wildfire codes affect windows and doors Why tempered glass improves fire resistance How manufacturers collaborate with code officials Common misconceptions about wildfire building regulations How Product Innovation supports safer building design Episode Highlights 00:00 Introduction and opening wildfire safety discussion 01:08 Steve Strawn’s industry background 01:55 What is the Wildland Urban Interface code? 05:20 Why windows and doors matter in wildfire protection 07:07 Fire testing and 20-minute ratings explained 09:49 Defensible space and proactive preparation 10:49 Common misconceptions around WUI requirements 12:20 How MITER Brands works with regulators 21:17 Developing new products to help minimize risk 24:16 The future of wildfire-related building standards 31:07 Closing thoughts Meet the Guest Steve Strawn is a longtime fenestration industry expert specializing in building codes and regulatory compliance. With more than 35 years of experience, Steve has played an active role in Wildland Urban Interface code discussions and now consults with MITER Brands on West Coast code and regulatory matters. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned International Wildland Urban Interface Code Fire resistance testing Multi-pane glazing systems Tempered glass requirements Defensible space planning ICC building codes Performance-based compliance standards Closing Insight + CTA Building safety standards continue to evolve as wildfire risks increase across many regions. This conversation highlights how collaboration, Product Innovation, and Continuous Improvement help create safer homes and stronger communities. Subscribe to the Clear Impact Podcast for more expert conversations shaping the future of the window and door industry.

In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Morgan Donahue, Owner and CEO of Erdman Automation, to discuss how long-term partnerships, innovation, and customer collaboration are shaping the future of manufacturing in the window and door industry. Morgan shares insights from more than 30 years in automation, including how customer feedback drives Product Innovation, why reliability is critical in manufacturing systems, and how Continuous Improvement creates stronger partnerships over time. What You’ll Learn How long-term partnerships improve manufacturing outcomes Why collaboration matters in automation development How customer feedback shapes machinery innovation The role of reliability in production environments How Erdman Automation approaches Continuous Improvement What future automation trends could mean for the industry Episode Highlights 01:19 Morgan Donahue’s background and Erdman Automation overview 02:53 What makes long-term partnerships successful 04:46 Customer feedback and Product Innovation 07:44 Balancing innovation with reliability 10:19 Building collaborative supplier relationships 12:13 Future trends in manufacturing automation 15:39 Creating value for the end customer using innovation Meet the Guest Morgan Donahue is the Owner and CEO of Erdman Automation, a company specializing in automation systems for the window and door manufacturing industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Morgan has helped lead innovations in insulating glass fabrication, custom machinery development, and advanced manufacturing processes. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned Manufacturing automation systems Thermoplastic spacer technology FlexScreen automation Continuous Improvement principles Collaborative problem-solving Customer feedback loops Reliability-focused equipment design Closing Insight + CTA Strong partnerships are built on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to improvement. This episode highlights how innovation becomes more effective when manufacturers and suppliers work together toward long-term success. Subscribe to the Clear Impact Podcast for more conversations on leadership, Product Innovation, manufacturing strategy, and industry insights.

What separates a good manufacturing operation from a great one? In this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Sherri Connor sits down with Bill Webster, Nathan Spencer, and Chris Rothermel from the Gratz manufacturing facility to explore how safety, Continuous Improvement, leadership accountability, and team member engagement shape operational excellence at MITER Brands. The Gratz operations team shares real-world stories about manufacturing culture, process improvements, safety transformation, and profitable partnerships. The conversation highlights how MITER DNA, Every Detail, Every Day operational discipline, and Experience Is Everything influence daily decisions throughout the facility. What You’ll Learn • How strong safety cultures are built through accountability and communication • Why small operational improvements can create major manufacturing results • How leadership credibility impacts team performance and engagement • The role Continuous Improvement plays beyond productivity metrics • Why employee ownership is critical for sustaining operational success Episode Highlights 01:40 – Meet the leaders behind the Gratz manufacturing facility 03:14 – What a strong safety culture looks like on the manufacturing floor 04:08 – The moment that transformed safety culture at Gratz 07:50 – How leadership behaviors build trust and credibility 9:56 – Why innovation in manufacturing does not always require major technology 11:27 – How a simple idea improved operational traffic flow and safety 13:54 – A small Continuous Improvement change that reduced IG remakes 14:36 – Why ownership is critical for sustaining improvements 16:03 – What customers value most from manufacturing partners today Meet the Guests Bill Webster is the Technical Services Manager at the Gratz manufacturing facility and has spent nearly two decades in manufacturing leadership roles across shipping, production, and operations. Nathan Spencer leads Continuous Improvement initiatives at Gratz and focuses on operational efficiency, cost savings, and employee-driven process improvements. Chris Rothermel is the Operations Manager at Gratz and brings more than 40 years of manufacturing leadership experience to the organization. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned • Continuous Improvement • MITER DNA • Every Detail, Every Day • On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) • VPP Star Safety Certification • QR code employee idea system • Team member ownership strategies • Operational Standardization Closing Insight “Creating ownership towards an improvement can be the difference between success and failure.” This episode offers an inside look at how manufacturing leaders cre...