Chris Calawerts, the president and COO of Oshkosh Door, Edgewater Door and Oregon Door who is the subject of Insight’s October 2025 cover story, is Kate Bruns’ and Ann Franz’s guest on this week’s episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service.
Among many other subjects, Calawerts shares with the co-hosts his love of manufacturing — including how the smell of wood products was almost enough alone to lure him into his current role, and how his trip last November to see a Garth Brooks concert with his daughter, Jenny, inspired him in his work life.
“He creates an intentional experience. He is so engaging, intimately engaging. He is looking at people in the first, second third row as well as people up on the balcony,” Calawerts says. “I always talk to my team about ‘come and join my adventure;’ what Garth Brooks did in his concert, was an adventure.”
Also on the episode, Franz asked Calawerts about the people-centered leadership philosophy highlighted in the Insight feature.
“I don’t know if it’s a philosophy…but I just truly care about people,” Calawerts says. “We just continue to strive to do what’s right. It’s not always easy; we have some difficult conversations, but when we have those conversations we have them out of love and care.”
Hear the full conversation with Calawerts, including his best leadership insight (which is more than one), by listening to NEW Manufacturing Insights on Spreaker or anywhere you get your podcasts. NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint effort of Insight Publications and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, produced by Woodward Community Media; new episodes are released on Thursdays.
