Kristina Pacheco's story challenges conventional ideas of who “belongs” in the manufacturing industry and proves that career paths may be a bit winding before finding the right one.     When Kristina realized she didn't want to go into college debt, she started her journey to find a hands-on career. At first she landed on traditional female-dominated fields in the beauty industry before she realized those really weren't for her. Eventually she was introduced to the fields of welding and then...

Amanda Wiriya's story is a testament to the power of listening, being transparent, and exploring your transferable skills.   She began her career at Wepco Plastics as an Administrative Assistant, seeking stability and flexibility. But leaders at Wepco saw her potential and her ability to use skills derived from previous (non-manufacturing) roles, leading ultimately to her rise to the role of Vice President of Operations.   Today, Amanda leads Wepco’s operational strategy, finances, and human...

Sit down with Beatriz Gutierrez, President & CEO of CONNSTEP, a leading force in Connecticut’s manufacturing ecosystem.   Beatriz shares key moments from her career journey. She opens up about an early career situation where she doubted her readiness for a leadership role, only to realize later that she had underestimated her unique strengths. She reflects on our tendency, as women, to need to feel "overqualified" before taking a leap - a mindset she urges others to overcome.  From...

Catherine Pratt, Program Manager at HyAxiom, shares her inspiring journey in the world of sustainability. Charting a path through chemical engineering, she now leads projects that address one of the biggest global challenges—climate change. She takes her mission personally as both a professional and a parent.  Catherine shares how her career evolved from individual contributor to leadership, and the mindset shifts that helped her get there. Along the way, we learn how Catherine’s transparent...

This episode is for every student/young adult getting ready to start college, or step into the workplace. Mollissa Bennett is a huge advocate for the trades after finding her path in welding. She came out of a 10-month technical program with no debt, ready to work and learn on-the-job.    But it wasn’t always easy. Mollissa landed in some really toxic work environments before finally landing at HABCO Industries. She learned the hard way that you don’t have to put up with working in a toxic or...

From her early experiences in laser technology to her current leadership role at a global machine tool company, Salay Quaranta, Vice President of Sales at Tsugami America blends technical expertise with creativity and a passion for building strong relationships.    Salay shares how her upbringing in a family of engineers and designers fueled her curiosity and love for both science and the arts. Her career began with a degree in material science and engineering, and she quickly gravitated...

You don’t need any more proof than this episode that early exposure to STEM concepts and careers can mold someone's life in a positive way.   This episode with Raquel Bolling, Technical Trainer at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), starts with a family that supports STEM, a school that centers STEM, and a student that thrived with that exposure.   But even with all that support, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Raquel talks about what it was like being educated and working in...

Amelia Campbell knew she wanted to improve her life, for herself and her family. Thanks to some great advice, hard work, and self-determination, she is on the path to great success.    This week's episode is an inspirational story that starts with losing a job, but ends with a sought-after position at a great CT manufacturer.  Amelia was determined to get better work. After going through the CT Women Can Weld program and getting work with the Ironworkers Union, she found herself at a ...

This week’s episode of the Manufacturing Shake-Up focuses on the misperceptions we can get stuck on in our careers. First, Monica Hilgarth, Lab Services Manager at Hampford Research, talks all about how to stop taking no for an answer.      Many people, women in particular, can feel that no is a final answer when asking for things in the workplace. But Monica explains that oftentimes, ‘no’ is just a starting offer. It demands a response to dig deeper. Sometimes ‘no’ means you have to...

In our previous episode with Christine Marcin, Chair of Women in Manufacturing CT chapter, we started a conversation about networking organizations and the importance of joining them for your personal and career growth...but many people simply don't know 𝘩𝘰𝘸 to network!   In this episode, Ellen and Jenny talk through some of their thoughts about the "rules" of networking. Or rather, how to throw those so-called rules out the window! Learn from Ellen and Jenny a few tips on how to enter a...

Cristal's manufacturing story starts with her arrival from Puerto Rico after losing everything to natural disaster. It continues with her college graduation just a couple months ago. And it moves forward with an incredible future in manufacturing!  This is a story of Cristal's perseverance, but also of the life-changing power of a career in manufacturing.   Ellen and Jenny talk to Cristal about her first steps into manufacturing, her return to school, and how she uses networking to learn and...

There are many outstanding manufacturing organization you can be part of in CT. One that's nearest and dearest to our hearts is the Women in Manufacturing Connecticut Chapter. This group provides networking and educational opportunities, both locally and nationally, to help women in the industry to connect and develop their career.   On this episode, Ellen Feldman Ornato speaks with chapter Chair, Christine Marcin. They not only talk about the value of the organization, but also discuss...

If there's one thing we've learned in our first 10 episodes, it's the incredible power of mentorship on the careers of our guests. So, we are THRILLED that the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing has sponsored a new mentorship community, through Million Women Mentors Connecticut, that aims to connect mentors and mentees across STEM fields, starting with manufacturing. On this week's episode, we talk to Colleen Bielitz, the state leader for Million Women Mentors and the AVP of Strategic...

How do you combine heart with business and still be profitable? You lead with love and respect, and it all comes back to you.   Robin Ritz, Creative Visionary at InCord reminds us that people generally want to do more for people that do more for them. Call it the law of reciprocity – or just kindness begets kindness....but Robin has learned that you can be a good person and a good businessperson all at the same time.  This episode is truly inspiring. We see first-hand what it means to love...

Do you need a boost of positive energy – look no further than this episode! Jess Westerfield, Director of People + Culture at Lesser Evil, perfectly reflects the company's products -  a boost of energy that's healthy and fun!  Jess, Ellen, and Jenny talk about Lesser Evils' outstanding culture – it's no wonder they've been able to build and retain a 70% female workforce! That's more than twice as much as the national average in manufacturing (now standing at around 30%). So, you know there's...

In this week's episode, Jenny and Ellen sit down with Rani Viroja, Quality Engineer at Accuturn and Co-Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Employers Partnership (AMEP).    Rani shares her journey into manufacturing, which isn't as straight-forward as you'd think, considering her parents own Accuturn! Now she wants to spread the word about manufacturing so that young people all across CT know about the fantastic careers available.     Rani talks about her current role in quality management and...

What does it look like to skyrocket to the top of your field? Let's find out with Brittany Isherwood, President of Burke Aerospace. Brittany's journey is fast-paced, but filled with really thought-proving ideas about finding balance.     We hear a lot about work-life balance, but balance can also be found within the workplace. Brittany talks about the value of slowing down in upward career mobility so you can learn more as you grow. She also talks about how important it is to build a village...

Not only is Milliechel Ramirez a Process Engineer at Carey Manufacturing, she's also an Instructor at Capital Community College and offers talks and tours for high school students and parent information sessions for their parents. AND that's all in her free time from being a mom, too!  Millie sounds like a superwoman, because she is!  In this episode, Ellen and Jenny talk to Millie about her journey into manufacturing. You'd never believe that Millie started out very shy and quiet, but she...

Hannah Belmont took a winding path before landing at her family's manufacturing company. In fact, she didn't know she wanted to be in the industry until landing a job writing about manufacturing...and slowly but surely fell in love with it!    Now in the role of Talent Development Manager, she continues the important work that Westminster Tool has put in over the past 15 years – attracting the next generation of manufacturers by continually transforming company culture. Creating a phenomenal...

Tea, leadership insights, giving back, speaking up, and more tea!  As a third-generation leader, Cindi Bigelow, CEO of Bigelow Tea, shares her remarkable journey of growing through many roles before taking on the role of CEO of her family-owned tea company. She talks about the value of prioritizing – you can't do everything!  Cindi shares her incredible passion for both Connecticut and for manufacturing. She talks about her belief in being a B-Corp organization and the importance of giving...

Sit down with us and Farnosh Sadler from TRIUMPH. Farnosh has had an inspiring career journey. It's all about building strong relationships. Farnosh describes how she transitioned from her first job in retail and developed a meaningful career in aerospace manufacturing thanks to a business relationship she developed along the way.   Her journey is a testament to the power of taking leaps of faith, embracing challenges, and continuously growing. Farnosh discusses how she navigated various...

Episode 2 of The Manufacturing Shake-Up and our first with a woman in manufacturing! We welcome the fabulous Sara Fradette, Production Planner at Bead Electronics. Sara shares her journey from studying economics to thriving in manufacturing. Find out how her role in production planning keeps her days dynamic and exciting.  In this episode, Sara tells us all about the supportive culture at Bead Electronics, where female leadership and core values make a massive difference in employee...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Manufacturing Shake-Up! We're so glad you're here! None of us would be here listening to this podcast right now if it weren't for today's podcast guest, Paul Lavoie, CT's Chief Manufacturing Officer.   After realizing that some of the smartest people he knows in manufacturing are women, Paul knew he had to do something to make sure that women had more opportunities to develop and grow in their manufacturing careers. And so the idea for the podcast...

What are we doing and why are we here?  Manufacturing needs a shake-up! A recent 2024 study forecasted that the US manufacturing industry needs up to 3.8 million jobs filled within the next decade. At the same time, women represent only 29% of the manufacturing workforce. With such a large gap now and into the future, there are massive growth opportunities for women in manufacturing!   The Manufacturing Shake-Up is dedicated to transforming the manufacturing landscape for women and other...