Kickstart: So many things to keep you up at night

Maybe you don't know someone that has COVID-19. But I can bet you know of someone who's been touched by it.

Maybe it's from your customer. Like Fiat Chrysler, where two employees of U.S. plants have died and at least two more tested positive. Or maybe it's from a supplier, such as Engel Holding GmbH, which shut down manufacturing in Austria following positive results from workers.

And that's not counting the rumors from elsewhere in your supply chain, or maybe from the building where you lease an office or even your hometown.

So it's a good time to reach out and find what your peers are doing to try and prepare for what may be coming. Because right now, there are a lot of things to "Keep You Up At Night," as Publisher Brennan Lafferty points out in a new podcast series.

This podcast offshoot of the stories Lafferty and Editor Don Loepp have written about company leaders begins by interviewing Troy Nix, the head of the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (and other industry groups) about its work to connect members who are desperate for advice.

If you've been to an Antec — or any technology-heavy event — you know that each day is packed with multiple presentations. There may be three or more concurrent sessions.

So when the 2020 version of Antec moved to a virtual conference, organizers had to figure out how to fit in all of the papers on one livestream.

To manage, Antec 2020 will spread out throughout April, rather than a four-day event. Check out Bill Bregar's story, linked above, to find out more.

And finally, how about taking a break from virus coverage to check out Frank Esposito's story on Michael Day Enterprises and how it managed to resurrect from bankruptcy.

MDE now has two generations of the Day family working in it and has 15 employees.

The company also now can provide recycled content resin, a growing demand from customers.