Fully Open
Field Lessons That Keep Plants Running
Real conversations with the leaders who built the industrial world. Gilbert Welsford Jr., third-generation owner of ValveMan, sits down with the engineers, operators and executives who've spent decades on the plant floor — for the stories, decisions and hard-won lessons that never make it into a spec sheet.
All Episodes
Watch on YouTube or read the full conversation — every episode includes show notes, chapters and a complete transcript.
Ep. 7
The Wisdom You Can't Write Down | John Molloy
with John MolloyEmerson's John Molloy has spent 28 years learning what a spec sheet cannot teach. He joins Gil Welsford Jr. at VMA headquarters...
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Ep. 6
How AUMA Actuators Got 35% More Output With Zero New Hires | Matt Thiel
with Matt ThielMatt Thiel, President of AUMA Actuators, joins Gilbert Welsford Jr. to unpack the "employees first, customers second, sharehold...
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Ep. 5
Grow or Die: Jeff N. Scott on Building NOSHOK for the Long Haul
with Jeff N. ScottJeff N. Scott spent 51 years helping build NOSHOK from a 400-square-foot storefront into a lasting instrumentation manufacturer...
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Ep. 4
The Brutal Reality of Running a Family Business | Brian O'Leary (REOTEMP)
with Brian O'LearyREOTEMP CEO Brian O'Leary joins Gilbert Welsford Jr. to talk about tourist owners vs. permanent owners, building a values-based...
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Ep. 3
Sales Isn't Dead. But the Old Way Is — with Scott Grimes (Donaldson Filtration)
with Scott GrimesIn episode 3 of the Fully Open Podcast, host Gilbert Welsford Jr. sits down with Scott Grimes of Donaldson to unpack decades of...
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Ep. 2
Built It. Bought It. Grew It: Bruce Broxterman’s Billion-Dollar Valve Playbook (Richards Industrials)
with Bruce BroxtermanBruce Broxterman went from answering a newspaper ad for an inside sales job in 1980 to buying and leading valve manufacturer Ri...
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Ep. 1
How a Vietnam Vet Built a Valve Empire | Rick Wentzell on Legacy, Innovation & Resilience
with Rick WentzellIn the inaugural episode of the Fully Open Podcast, Gilbert Welsford Jr. sits down with Rick Wentzell, co-founder of Bonomi Nor...
Watch & ReadAbout the Show
It's not about specs — it's about perspective. Fully Open shares stories, insights and lessons from the people who've spent decades in industrial manufacturing, engineering and plant operations: how top performers make decisions, lead teams, earn trust and navigate change in high-stakes environments.
- Wisdom earned through decades of frontline leadership
- Stories from the people who shaped the industrial world
- Timeless lessons on people, pressure and performance
Your Host
Gil Welsford
Founder and CEO of ValveMan, a B2B industrial valve distributor, and a third-generation leader of a family business founded in 1965. Gil is also the host of the Fully Open Valve Podcast. A valve nerd from around 4 years old, he's spent his career helping engineers, contractors, and facility teams source the right valves for the job.
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