Former North Dakota Lieutenant Governor and longtime Border States CEO shares insights for distributors and manufacturers on ownership, succession, and workforce resilience.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — On the Driven by DCKAP podcast, Tammy Miller brings a rare blend of executive and public-sector leadership to a conversation about how businesses can build stronger, more resilient workforces.
Drawing on her experience as North Dakota’s former Lieutenant Governor and longtime CEO of 100% employee-owned distributor Border States, Miller explores employee ownership as a succession strategy, the role of second chances in addressing labor shortages, and how leaders can rethink work to better support people and performance.
Key Highlights
- Why employee ownership can preserve closely held businesses and build wealth for frontline employees
- How second-chance hiring and workforce reintegration can help address persistent labor challenges
- What it means to design work that is more sustainable, accessible, and engaging
Public Service, Accountability, and Second Chances
Miller says her time in state government gave her a firsthand view of how difficult it can be for people to reenter society after incarceration, and how closely workforce opportunity is tied to long-term outcomes for individuals and communities. She points to the lack of access to jobs, housing, transportation, and healthcare as major barriers to success after release.
“When I joined the governor’s office, I thought folks in prison were bad people who needed to be punished,” Miller says. “But so many people in prison are people who maybe at a young age made a really bad decision. Most of them deserve a second chance.”
She argues that preparing people for work and supporting reentry ultimately benefits employers as much as it benefits communities.
Building Wealth Through Employee Ownership
Miller spent nearly three decades at Border States and led the employee-owned distributor for more than 14 years. During that time, she saw how ESOPs helped drive retention, resilience, and long-term financial security for employees across the organization.
“During my time as CEO, we created hundreds of millionaires,” Miller says. “These weren’t executives. Truck drivers, inside salespeople—any employee could build real value if they helped the company succeed.”
She now advocates for employee ownership as a practical solution for succession, particularly as thousands of privately held businesses face ownership transitions.
Domestic Manufacturing and Supply-Chain Resilience
Miller also discusses the importance of rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity, including semiconductor production, as a foundation for modern industry and national security. She notes that advanced manufacturing underpins everything from automation to defense and infrastructure.
“We talk about a lot of innovation, but none of it works without chips,” Miller says. “If we don’t pay attention to where they’re manufactured, we’re putting our economy and national security at risk.”
Designing the Future of Work
Rather than focusing on technology and AI as a replacement for people, Miller emphasizes using it to improve job quality and expand access to work. She argues that eliminating repetitive, manual tasks allows employees to focus on higher-value work and makes roles more appealing and sustainable.
“We should be eliminating the mind-numbing, soul-sucking jobs,” Miller says. “Let’s automate those tasks and make roles more interesting.”
A Practical Vision for Building Stronger Teams and Smarter Businesses
Tammy Miller offers a practical, experience-driven perspective on how distributors and manufacturers can strengthen their businesses while creating meaningful opportunity for people.
More Information
- For more details, visit the Driven Podcast portal or tune in on YouTube or Spotify.
- For information about ERP integration, check out the DCKAP Distributor Blog.
- Subscribe to the Driven by DCKAP Podcast.
About the Driven Podcast
The Driven by DCKAP Podcast is an audio and video show that explores B2B leaders’ stories, digital journeys, and insights on trends in distribution and manufacturing. The podcast is hosted by Karthik Chidambaram, Founder & CEO of DCKAP, who grew the company from a startup to a global team of more than 200 employees. Follow Driven by DCKAP Podcast on YouTube or LinkedIn.
About DCKAP
DCKAP is the ERP-first integration platform company for distributors and manufacturers. DCKAP’s flagship product, DCKAP Integrator, helps distributors and manufacturers automate data between ERP, ecommerce, and CRM systems. Founded in 2005, DCKAP is a global and distributed team headquartered in Austin, TX. Visit dckap.com or follow on LinkedIn.
About Tammy Miller
Tammy Miller is the former Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota and the former CEO of Border States, a 100% employee-owned electrical distributor. She also served as Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s Office and has held leadership roles across the public and private sectors. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She currently serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards and is an advocate for employee ownership, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing.
