Episode 28

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Published on:

18th Aug 2025

The Secret to Hiring Top Finance Talent in Manufacturing with William Spengler

On this episode of the Manufacturers Network, host Lisa Ryan sits down with William Spengler, founder of Frederick Fox, a recruiting firm that’s helped over 700 companies hire standout finance professionals for manufacturing and beyond. William brings more than 15 years of agency recruiting experience and a background in cost accounting to this candid conversation about winning the race for manufacturing finance talent.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why plant finance roles are some of the hardest jobs to fill in manufacturing today.

- How proactive networking within a 25-mile radius gives CFOs an edge before hiring becomes urgent.

- The post-pandemic shift: Why most manufacturers are moving finance talent back onsite, and how that impacts recruiting.

- Creative strategies CFOs can use to stay salary-competitive without breaking the P&L.

- How remote flexibility and company culture play into long-term talent retention.

- The “human-first” approach that helps land highly specialized candidates—even when relocation is involved.

- Insider tips for manufacturers scaling through organic growth or private equity: what to plan for in hiring and onboarding.

- Why a magical first day (with swag!) and a thoughtful onboarding process make recruiters’ and candidates’ lives easier.


Key Moments:


- William’s journey from cost accountant to recruiter, and why industry experience matters

- The importance of trust and flexibility in today’s workplace culture

- Real-world examples: moving high-value talent across states and crafting a personalized candidate experience

- Unique perks companies are using to stand out—think HOA discounts and wellness benefits

- How to have the right internal conversations before starting your next finance search


If you’re a manufacturing leader or CFO struggling to find—and keep—great finance people, this episode is packed with practical advice and fresh perspective.


Connect with William Spengler:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willspengler

- Website: https://www.frederickfox.com


Listen in for the strategies and mindset you need to build a finance dream team in today’s market!

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About the Podcast

The Manufacturers Network
Real conversations with leaders in manufacturing, automation, and workforce retention.
The Manufacturers’ Network is where manufacturing leaders, plant managers, and industry innovators come to talk straight about what’s working and what’s not, on the shop floor and beyond.

Each week, host Lisa Ryan sits down with people who live and breathe this business: operations executives, HR directors, engineers, and founders who are building stronger teams and smarter systems in the face of nonstop change.

Listeners gain real-world insights on:
• Employee retention and workforce engagement
• Automation, AI, and the future of skilled trades
• Supply chain and operations leadership
• Safety, sustainability, and company culture that lasts

If you’re tired of generic “leadership talk” and want practical conversations from people who get it, this podcast is for you.

New episodes drop every Monday and are short enough for your commute, sharp enough to shape your week.

Subscribe and be part of the conversation that’s connecting manufacturers across industries, one story at a time.

About your host

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Lisa Ryan

As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an award-winning speaker and author of ten books, Lisa Ryan, CSP, works with her clients to develop employee and client engagement initiatives and strategies that keep their top talent and best clients from becoming someone else’s.
Lisa’s expertise includes: strengthening workplace culture, improving employee engagement, increasing customer retention, and initiating gratitude strategies (“Grategies”) for personal and professional benefit. Lisa’s participants enjoy her high energy, enthusiastic delivery and quick wit and they leave the session with ideas they are committed to acting on immediately to make positive workplace culture changes.
Lisa costars in two films with other experts including Jack Canfield of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” She is the Past-President of the National Speakers Association, Ohio Chapter and holds an MBA from Cleveland State University.

Relevant Experience

• Keynote, breakout or workshop speaker at more than 100 national and international conferences
• Thirteen years of industrial marketing and sales experience, including seven years in the welding industry – and yes, she does weld
• Host of “Elevate Your Engagement Levels: What You Need to Know” on the Elite Expert Network and the C-Suite Network
• Creator of “The Seven Mistakes Managers Make to Crush Company Culture” video series
• Best-selling author of ten books, including “Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Your Industry’s Top Talent”
• Award-winning speaker