#265 - Drew Allen | Grace Technologies – Building Safer, Smarter Industry

Building Better with Brandon Bartneck

In this episode, I’m joined by Drew Allen, President & CEO of Grace Technologies. Grace is a family business built on innovation in electrical safety and predictive maintenance, and Drew has carried that forward—shaping the company into a leader in industrial technology and workplace safety.

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. Drew shares the story of Grace’s evolution from a single-product company to a broad portfolio serving the world’s most advanced manufacturers. We dig into his approach to innovation, leadership, and attracting top talent. And we explore the balance between listening to customers and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Drew also shares candid lessons from leading a family business, building high-performance teams, and staying deeply involved as a CEO while empowering his people to deliver.

This one blends product, culture, and leadership in a way that I think will resonate with anyone building and leading in manufacturing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Grace Technologies grew from a single product to five complementary product lines

• Why customer-driven innovation and quick iteration often beat “pure R&D”

• The importance of purpose, selection bias, and A-players in building a great culture

• Drew’s philosophy on leadership—balancing involvement with empowerment

• How to attract and retain top talent by being specific about what makes your company unique

• The role of energy infrastructure in U.S. competitiveness and industrial growth

About Drew Allen
Drew Allen is President & CEO of Grace Technologies Inc., a pioneer in electrical safety and predictive maintenance, consistently ranked as one of Iowa’s Top Workplaces. He also founded Maple Studios, the first venture studio in eastern Iowa, and serves on advisory boards for Atom Power, Proxxi, and YPO Iowa. Drew led the acquisition of Civionics Inc. (now Percēv) and received the National Association of Manufacturers’ Next-Generation Leadership Award in 2020.

Connect with Drew

• LinkedIn: Drew Allen

• Grace Technologies: graceport.com

• Email: [email protected]