DigitalituM Podcast Episode 21 - Karen Escobedo - Tri-Sphyre - From Accounting to Automation: Dredge Simulators, Drives & Women in Manufacturing

DigitalituM Podcast - At the Intersection of Manufacturing and Digital Transformation

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From Accounting to Automation: Dredge Simulators, Drives & Women in Manufacturing with Karen Escobedo (Tri-Sphyre)

Episode Summary
Karen Escobedo shares her unconventional path from accounting student and fresh MBA grad to business development in industrial automation. We explore Tri-Sphyre’s work in PLC/HMI/drive integration, their rapidly growing footprint in the dredging industry, and why hands-on simulation training is essential. Karen also opens up about navigating a male-dominated field, building confidence, and practical ways teams can leverage AI (ChatGPT, Claude) for faster learning, quoting, and software work.

What You’ll Learn

• Career pivot with impact: How a first on-site visit reframed Karen’s trajectory and the value of “seeing the line” end-to-end.
• What Tri-Sphyre actually does: Industrial controls integration (PLCs, HMIs, drives), commissioning, and remote support that shortens downtime and reduces emergency trips.
• Dredging 101, simplified: What dredges are, why connectivity is hard in remote locations, and how smart controls + telemetry change support economics.
• Dredge Academy simulator: A physical, multi-screen, customizable simulator (scenarios, safety modules, reporting) that lowers onboarding/training cost and risk—moving from iPad controls to full hardware joysticks for realistic haptics.
• DredgeIQ “black-box” insight: Process rewind to review operator actions, built-in alerts/messaging for parts & maintenance, and integrated remote access for faster triage.
• Beyond dredging:
  • TS Pro Flow for consistent, energy-efficient pumping operations (wastewater & dredging).
  • Grab Max for bulk material handling with better control and reduced equipment wear.
• Service footprint & ethos: Southeast and Texas roots with nationwide support—go-anywhere response oriented around practical uptime.
• SPS Atlanta preview (Sept 16–18, GWCC): Tri-Sphyre’s first self-hosted tradeshow presence—hands-on demo of the dredge simulator and Emotron drives; target outcomes and who should stop by.
• Women in manufacturing: Bridging the technical-communication gap, staying confident amid bias, and tapping mentorship communities/panels to accelerate growth.
• AI that actually helps:
  • Using ChatGPT to build quick technical study guides/flashcards and to accelerate quoting with structured time estimates.
  • Using Claude for code help and debugging.
  • Striking a healthy balance so AI augments (not replaces) learning.

Connect & Follow

• Visit Tri-Sphyre at SPS Atlanta, Sept 16–18 (Georgia World Congress Center), and see the simulator live. https://sps-americas.us.messefrankfurt.com/usa/en.html
• Connect with Karen Escobedo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenesc/
  
• Learn more about Tri-Sphyre: https://tri-sphyre.com/
  and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tri-sphyre/
• Host: Markus Rimmele with Digita

Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations about manufacturing and digital transformation. Also, remember to follow and subscribe to the DigitalituM Podcast for exclusive insights from industry leaders and innovators.
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