Women in the Composites Industry launched
A new organization focused on the promotion of women in composites manufacturing is having a soft launch at CAMX 2020, emphasizing networking, mentorship and education.
Photo Credit: Women in the Composites Industry
Women in the Composites Industry (WCI, Chicago, Ill., U.S.), a new organization within the composites industry designed to promote the role of women in composites manufacturing environments, is being unofficially launched on Sept. 22 at a 12:00 p.m. EDT campfire session at CAMX 2020.
The formation of WCI was led by Marcy Offner, director, marketing communication at Composites One (Arlington Heights, Ill., U.S.), with help from the American Composites Manufacturing Assn. (ACMA, Arlington, Va., U.S.) as well as co-founders Jane Thomas, president of Teijin Holdings USA (New York, N.Y., U.S.), and Megan Multanen, CEO of Bestbath (Caldwell, Idaho, U.S.).
Offner says WCI is designed to help women in composites via three service areas: Networking, mentoring and education. Networking will connect women in composites with each other and with job and career opportunities. Mentoring will connect women in composites with experienced composites professionals (women and men) to provide feedback, coaching, encouragement, challenge and support. Education will include provide online and in-person career development and certification services.
"More and more women are making careers in the composites and advanced materials industry,” Offner says. “This is true in the shop, the lab, the executive suite and in the field as sales or technical support. Women in the Composites Industry will provide resources to women at all stages of their career to network, to learn new skills and to share their experiences with others on the same path. We are excited to preview this new group at CAMX 2020."
“Women will be strong value-add for this industry,” says Thomas. “The composites industry is all about innovation, and as we know, diverse teams drive innovation. The future is bright for composites, and through WIC, we hope to shine the light for more women to join this industry.”
Offner says WCI membership during the soft launch will be free, followed by a fee-based membership when the organization is officially kicked off in 2021. Those interested in learning more about WCI can contact Offner directly at womenincomposites@gmail.com.
The campfire session at CAMX will feature Karen Williams, plant manager at Continental Structural Plastics in Huntingdon, Ind., U.S.
