{"podcast":{"title":"Real Leadership","slug":"real-leadership-6416273","podcast_index_feed_id":6416273,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/real-leadership/feed.xml","website_url":"https://real-leadership.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/16325038/Real-Leadership-PodBean.jpg","author":"real-leadership","episode_count":52,"summary":"Welcome to REAL Leadership, the podcast that takes you on a journey behind the scenes of some of the world’s most successful companies. Produced by The О̄nin Group and hosted by COO Jim Weaver, our show is dedicated to exploring what it truly means to be a leader in industries that make, move and process. In each episode, Jim sits down with C-level executives to discuss their experiences and insights on leadership, as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with leading in dynamic environments. Our guests come from a range of industries, including logistics and manufacturing, and offer real stories and actionable advice to inspire you to take your leadership to the next level. If you’re a seasoned executive or aspiring leader looking to sharpen your leadership skills and stay ahead of the game, then this is the podcast for you. Join us as we dive deep into the world of REAL Leadership.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-10T04:19:20.802550+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/real-leadership-6416273"},"episode":{"title":"Zachary Elkins, Chief Operating Officer of LFG Manufacturing, Real Leadership","slug":"zachary-elkins-chief-operating-officer-of-lfg-manufacturing-real-leadership","published_at":"2026-02-24T14:44:41+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/real-leadership-6416273/zachary-elkins-chief-operating-officer-of-lfg-manufacturing-real-leadership","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/real-leadership-6416273","url":"https://real-leadership.podbean.com/e/zachary-elkins-chief-operating-officer-of-lfg-manufacturing-real-leadership/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/9s28m92rwz6tkt3e/RL_S03_E02_Zac_Elkins_21926acwv6.mp3","summary":"Zac Elkins didn’t wait for the supply chain to fix itself. He built his own. As COO of LFG Manufacturing, Power Design’s specialty manufacturing division, Zac is leading one of the boldest vertical integration bets in the electrical industry. When COVID-era backlogs pushed switchgear lead times from 12 weeks to nearly two years, most contractors adjusted. Zac and the LFG team invested millions, bought the equipment, stocked two years of copper and steel…and started manufacturing their own. LFG stands for “Let’s Freaking Go.” And it’s more than a name—it’s the mindset behind a company that refuses to blame the market. In this episode of Real Leadership, Zac shares how a billion-dollar “mom and pop shop” is disrupting the electrical supply chain, why apprenticeship programs are the future of skilled labor, and how a scarcity mindset is the fastest way to lose. In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Turning a 90-week supply chain crisis into a manufacturing company 🔥 Why holding two years of inventory isn’t risk—it’s opportunity 🔥 The data center boom and what it’s doing to construction economics 🔥 Reinventing apprenticeships (and cutting dropout rates from 80% to 20%) 🔥 Lessons learned from burning bridges early in your career 🔥 Building competitive, culture-driven teams that don’t think small From digging ditches in his dad’s electrical business to overseeing 85% in-house switchgear production, Zac’s story is about ownership of mistakes, of opportunity, and of the entire supply chain. If you’re in construction, manufacturing, workforce development—or just trying to build something that lasts—this one’s for you. Key Moments 07:28: The Decision to Manufacture Switchgear 10:56: LFG's Manufacturing Journey and Innovations 14:15: Inventory Management and Financial Strategy 16:39: Indu…","meta_description":"Zac Elkins didn’t wait for the supply chain to fix itself. He built his own. As COO of LFG Manufacturing, Power Design’s specialty manufacturing division,…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2581,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/real-leadership-6416273/episodes/zachary-elkins-chief-operating-officer-of-lfg-manufacturing-real-leadership/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/real-leadership-6416273/zachary-elkins-chief-operating-officer-of-lfg-manufacturing-real-leadership.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}