Connect with The Chemical Show guests and industry leaders at The Chemical Summit on September 30 - October 1, 2025 in Houston, TX.
https://www.thechemicalsummit.com
How does a 75-year-old manufacturing company successfully transform through bold acquisitions and shifting market conditions? Brad Beauchamp, President and CEO of Carpenter Company, sits down with Victoria Meyer to share Carpenter’s journey from “old-school” chemical company to global leader in comfort cushioning and consumer bedding. Brad offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Carpenter navigated the integration of major acquisitions—including Recticel, NCFI Polyurethanes, and the iconic Casper mattress brand—amid supply chain turbulence, economic uncertainty, and evolving industry demands.
Victoria and Brad also tackle the changing culture in manufacturing, Carpenter’s approach to digital transformation and AI, and how leaders can balance people-first values with the drive for profit and growth. With practical leadership advice and candid stories from the front lines, this episode is a must-listen for chemical industry professionals interested in business transformation, growth strategies, and the future of manufacturing.
Victoria and Brad discuss the following:
Killer Quote: "Sales is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is reality." — Brad Beauchamp, President and CEO of Carpenter Company
00:00 "Carpenter Company Insights with CEO"
03:42 Guest Appreciates Podcast's Positive Impact
06:55 Journey from R&D to Chemical Sales
11:45 Growth Strategy Over Coasting
15:53 Flexible Foam Acquisition Discussion
17:28 "Understanding the Casper Story"
21:37 Changing Mattress Market Dynamics
26:17 Brand-Driven Billion-Dollar Businesses
30:18 "Understanding Organizational Talent Variability"
31:17 Balancing Growth and Pace
34:48 Investing in Europe's Consumer Market
39:22 Carpenter's Transformative Profit Sharing Plan
41:16 AI's Role in Evolving Work Practices
44:53 Navigating Information in New Industries
49:51 "Curiosity Fuels Lifelong Learning"
51:05 Uncontrollable Career Advancement Factors
Subscribe to The Chemical Show on YouTube
***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.
***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.
***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com
Sponsored by Newry. Newry helps you uncover growth where you're built to win - fast.
Visit newrycorp.com and see the Newry team at The Chemical Summit.