The latest episode of The Downtime podcast opens with co-hosts Sarah Wynn and Sheri Kasprzak welcoming listeners back and setting the tone for another conversation focused on the technologies and people shaping industrial automation. From the outset, the duo signals that this episode will blend industry news with a deep dive into human machine interfaces (HMIs) and community building in automation. At about the two-minute mark, Wynn previews the episode’s main attraction: an interview with Nikki Gonzales, director of business development at Weintek USA and co-founder of the Automation Ladies podcast. Before diving into the interview, Wynn takes a moment to encourage listeners to sign up for the Packaging OEM newsletter, highlighting a recent LinkedIn follower milestone for the publication and reinforcing the value of staying connected to trusted industry coverage. Kasprzak then shifts the conversation to Plant Engineering, spotlighting some of the publication’s top stories from 2025. She touches on key themes that resonated throughout the year, including advances in automation, evolving safety practices, and the growing push toward decarbonization. Together, Wynn and Kasprzak underscore how these trends continue to intersect and influence both OEMs and plant engineers navigating a rapidly changing industrial landscape. The co-hosts formally introduce Gonzales and tee up the interview. When the conversation begins, Gonzales walks listeners through her career journey, which spans sales engineering, machine vision, artificial intelligence, and ultimately her move to Weintek. Her path illustrates how diverse technical experiences can converge into a leadership role focused on both technology and people. Gonzales also shares the story behind the Automation Ladies podcast,…
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