Ethan Karp Gets Frank with Miguel Lugo (S02E02)

Partner Content
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Today’s guest has had one dream since joining manufacturing as a teenager—to own a factory. After two decades, that dream is finally within reach. Miguel Lugo is Chief Operating Officer at E.C. Kitzel & Sons, a family-owned tool manufacturer in Parma, Ohio, and he’s set to take over the business. They talk about how manufacturing changed Miguel’s life, the million-dollar machines reshaping the shop floor, and how he’s built a workforce that’s 50 percent women.

About the Make-It Podcast

Earlier this year, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) launched its new podcast series “MAKE IT: Frank Conversations on the Future of Manufacturing,” featuring frank and insightful conversations between MAGNET president and CEO Ethan Karp and Northeast Ohio manufacturing leaders.

“I’m super excited about these podcasts,” says Karp. “They come out of asking, ‘How do we take our blood pressure in this industry?’ to know what needs to happen. We ask these manufacturing leaders how they run their companies and what’s important in this region and we hope these stories about their companies will impact our community.”

The complete, up-to-date set of Make It! podcasts can be found on MAGNET's Podcasts page.