---
title: Premier Automation Blog | Cecelia Rice (2)
description: The best blog on industrial automation, robotics, system integration, and electrical engineering.  (2)
---

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# Innovative Thinking

## Cecelia Rice

### Recent Posts

## [Meet Pete Krahe, General Manager of Drive Systems, Premier Automation](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-pete-krahe)

 Posted on [January 13, 2026](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-pete-krahe) by [Cecelia Rice](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/author/cecelia-rice)

[![](https://info.premierautomation.com/hubfs/Pete%20Blog%20Graphic.png)](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-pete-krahe)

In industrial environments, motion is everything. From conveyors and cranes to rolling mills and production lines, drive systems sit at the heart of how facilities operate and how reliably they perform over time. At Premier, those systems are supported by a team with deep technical expertise, hands-on experience, and a clear understanding of day-to-day plant operations. 

## [Meet Erik Shafer: Guiding the Future of Robotics at Premier](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-erik-shafer-guiding-the-future-of-robotics-at-premier)

 Posted on [December 18, 2025](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-erik-shafer-guiding-the-future-of-robotics-at-premier) by [Cecelia Rice](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/author/cecelia-rice)

[![](https://info.premierautomation.com/hubfs/Erik%20Blog%20Graphic.png)](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-erik-shafer-guiding-the-future-of-robotics-at-premier)

Robotics is transforming the way modern manufacturers address labor shortages, safety risks, and production bottlenecks — and at Premier, that evolution is driven by leaders who’ve spent decades solving real problems on the plant floor. One of those leaders is Erik Shafer, manager of the robotics team.

## [Meet Paul Gazzo: Manager of Automation Group at Premier Automation](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-paul-gazzo)

 Posted on [November 25, 2025](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-paul-gazzo) by [Cecelia Rice](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/author/cecelia-rice)

[![](https://info.premierautomation.com/hubfs/Paul%20Gazzo.jpg)](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-paul-gazzo)

Innovation drives everything Premier delivers—from power systems to panel design to advanced automation and robotics. Within that larger mission, the Automation Group plays a vital role in developing intelligent control systems that help manufacturers modernize and optimize production.

## [From Waterwheels to Variable Frequency Drives: The Power That Moves Modern Industry](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/the-history-of-drives)

 Posted on [November 13, 2025](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/the-history-of-drives) by [Cecelia Rice](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/author/cecelia-rice)

[![](https://info.premierautomation.com/hubfs/History%20of%20Drives%20Graphic%20(3).png)](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/the-history-of-drives)

Every modern manufacturing line depends on precise motion control. Behind that control are drive  
systems — the technology that transformed industry from the age of steam to the age of electronic automation. The story of drives is the story of how industry itself evolved — from spinning waterwheels to digitally synchronized production lines. 

## [Meet the President: Mike Gunniers, Premier Automation](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-the-president-mike-gunniers)

 Posted on [November 11, 2025](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-the-president-mike-gunniers) by [Cecelia Rice](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/author/cecelia-rice)

[![](https://info.premierautomation.com/hubfs/Profile%20image.png)](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/meet-the-president-mike-gunniers)

At Premier Automation, we believe that industrial modernization is not just about keeping up with technology; it’s about adapting to new challenges and shaping the future as technology evolves. 

That vision comes directly from the top. The president of Premier Automation and leading expert in automation and drive systems in the U.S, Mike Gunniers, leads our teams with an engineer’s problem-solving mindset and a people-first approach, empowering those inside and outside the company.

[Previous](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/author/cecelia-rice/page/1) [All posts](https://info.premierautomation.com/blog/all)

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**P** [412.373.3700](tel:1-412.373.3700)   
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