Shows
Automation LadiesConveyor Cougar: Automate or Get Left Behind with Cathy RinneSeason seven opens with a burst of grit and ingenuity as we sit down with Cathy “Conveyor Cougar” Rinne, president of FlexLine Automation. She’s built a 15-person, woman-owned integrator that moves fast, ships parts when it counts, and isn’t afraid to retool the playbook—from conveyors to robotics, from taping to a gluing-capable box erector, and from cold calls to a TikTok presence that actually drives qualified attention.We dig into what a president really does in a family business: setting direction, teaching the team to own outcomes, and letting go of “my way” so the next gener...
2026-02-261h 02
Industry EdgeEmpowering the Future of Automation: Cathy Rinne on Content & Inspiring Young TalentCathy Rinne is the Co-founder and President of Flex-Line Automation, a family-owned industrial automation company. Under her leadership, Flex-Line earned the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification. Cathy also creates content on TikTok as The Conveyor Cougar, where she shares her 40 years of experience in the factory automation industry. In this episode… Many industrial businesses struggle to stay relevant as markets evolve and younger generations enter the workforce. Leadership often clings to outdated mindsets, rigid processes, and traditional marketing, which limit innovation and employee engagement. How can companies embrace change without losing their identities? Acc...
2025-06-1239 min
Small Town Big BusinessFlex-Line Automation: Innovation in Small TownsCathy Rinne and Lauren Van De Mark - Flex Line Automation In this episode of 'Small Town, Big Business,' host Deb Barnett sits down with Cathy Rinne and Lauren Van De Mark of Flex-Line Automation from Chester, Illinois. They discuss the company's 40-year journey from a family farm shop to becoming a significant player in industrial automation. Cathy and Lauren share insights into the challenges and successes of running a family business, the impact of automation on manufacturing, and the importance of community and collaboration. They also discuss their experiences as women in the industry and the transformative...
2025-03-131h 04
The Reluctant Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 10 - Running a Business with Family Members with Cathy RinneBuilding a business is hard enough. It requires grit, determination, and a willingness to face challenges head-on. But what happens when you add family to the mix? How do you manage the unique complexities of running a business with those closest to you? Today, we’re diving into that very topic with our guest, Cathy Rinne, CEO of Flex-Line Automation Flex-Line Automation has thrived in the world of industrial automation, and Cathy has not only built a successful company but done so while navigating the dynamics of a family-run business.In this episode, we’ll tal...
2025-02-0457 min
The Manufacturer’s Mindset Podcast by Ballantine DigitalCathy and Lauren Rinne: Mother-Daughter Duo in Robotics & AutomationThis podcast episode features a conversation with Cathy Rinne and her daughter Lauren, who work together at their family business, Flex-Line Automation. The company specializes in custom-designed automation solutions and was co-founded by Cathy, her husband Rhett, and her in-laws Orville and Dorothy back in 1984.
2025-01-0933 min
The D-Code PodcastRev. 1.18 Ft. Tony KelbertJoin Daniel, Elias, and Sean as they discuss high-level #smt concepts with Tony Kelbert ranging from comparing and contrasting #3dprinting with laser etching to his favorite parts of his job.
This is a fun, imagery heavy episode with lots of material beneficial to people on the fringes of SMT - like Cathy Rinne from Flex-line Automation who comes up this episode - and it is a nice, light-hearted episode that has a lot of laughs.
Watch now!
Tony Kelbert: www.linkedin.com/in/tonykelbert/
2024-12-171h 06
Manufacturing MattersEpisode 74 - Automation for All: How Women Are Shaping the IndustryIn this women in automation panel discussion recorded at IMTS 2024, TECH B2B Marketing’s Amanda Del Buono is joined by guest co-host and Automation Ladies host Nikki Gonzalez, along with Julia Astrid Riemenschneider, VP of Business Development at Rethink Robotics and United Robotics Group; Cathy Rinne, President of Flex-Line Automation; and Kirby Witte, Chief Commercial Officer of ESTAT Actuation. The group of women in manufacturing discuss the state of the industry’s workforce, highlighting how the industry can reach and attract more women and young people to this fast-paced industry, how women and other minorities in the industry can...
2024-10-221h 39The D-Code PodcastThe D-Code Podcast Rev 1.6 (Featuring Cathy Rinne)Join The D-Code (Daniel Stanphill, Elias Malfavon Jr., and Sean Kincaid) in discussion with TheConveyorCougar herself, Cathy Rinne of Flex-Line Automation, as she weighs in on what a long career actually provides in terms of industry knowledge.
As Cathy says, "40 years experience really seems like a lot, right? But I can tell you guys it's like the majority of stuff is obsolete. It's not, it's not really 40 years of experience that matters. It's, it's really what's the last 40 days, what's the last 40 weeks? Because technology is changing that quickly..."
Cathy also shares about the following...
2024-09-171h 37
HIRED! The Podcast With Travis MillerFamily-Driven Automation and Robotics (Ft. Flex-Line Automation) | Ep. #50In this episode of HIRED! The Podcast, Travis Miller is joined by Cathy Rinne, President and CEO of Flex-Line Automation, alongside her daughter Lauren Van De Mark, Sales and Marketing Manager, marketing intern Isaiah Roth, and Customer Service Specialist Cayla Sibley. Together, they explore the nuances of talent acquisition in manufacturing and automation, offering valuable insights into the importance of evaluating candidates beyond technical skills and rebranding the industry to attract fresh talent.The conversation delves into the dynamics of running a family business, including leadership styles, communication, and generational management approaches. Listen in as the Flex-Line...
2024-08-1544 min
Manufacturing MattersEpisode 45 – Cathy Rinne and Lauren Van De Mark, Flex-Line AutomationIn this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Flex-Line Automation President Cathy Rinne and Sales and Marketing Manager Lauren Van De Mark join TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll and Amanda Del Buono for a discussion from A3’s 2024 Business Forum. Cathy and Lauren share the conveyor system integrator’s 40-year history and how it has adapted to keep up with evolving customer demands, including conveyor integration with robotics and other equipment like palletizers. The discussion also touches on the growing role of women in industry, with Cathy sharing some of her real-life experiences as an industry executive over the past 4...
2024-03-2628 min
Automation LadiesA3 Business Forum with Cathy and LaurenThis week's episode is a little different since Nikki was at an industry event: the A3 Business Forum hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation in Orlando Florida. She thought she found a quiet corner to have a conversation with Cathy Rinne (the infamous Conveyor Cougar on TikTok) and Lauren Van De Mark - President and Sales and Marketing Manager respectively at Flex-Line Automation We apologize for the audio quality and noise in this one, turns out the spot was quiet for a while until a large crowd walked by for a bit around the m...
2024-01-1941 min