While Charleen Heinke started her career as an accountant, she has found her place in the rubber industry for the past nine years. She previously worked in the coatings industry and used her contacts and technical knowledge she learned there when she transitioned into the rubber market.
"I started in accounting, but I knew pretty quickly into my career that I wanted to be in sales," she said. "The reason I chose technical sales was because I think it's easier to sell a technical product on the merits and quality of the product versus selling something that is just an idea or concept."
Heinke has learned a lot over the years on how to adapt and work with various personality types.
She said it's not always easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes, but it is important to try to.
"Always try to understand where the other person is coming from so you can better understand their reactions to situations," Heinke said.
Speak out and understand what the other people are saying, she added. Additionally, you can make changes when they are moving in the right direction, while also standing firm when you believe your ideas need to be heard as well.
Working in this male-dominated industry, Heinke did not have a female paving the way in the industry for her to look to as an example. She credits her mother for her drive, who was an optometrist and worked until she was 90 years old.
"I believe it is important to work with everyone and not use being a woman as a difference," Heinke said. "It's important to really just be effective on your own merit versus whether it's a woman or a man."
Heinke is actively involved in many regional rubber groups, currently serving as the treasurer of the Chicago Rubber Group, as well as the vice president of the Fort Wayne Rubber Group. Additionally, she is a past president of the Western Michigan Rubber Group. She also volunteers in the community and serves on R.E. Carroll's Corporate Culture Team.
Heinke enjoys engaging in trade associations because of the opportunities they present.
"It gives me an opportunity to network with customers and other people in the rubber industry without being in a selling position," Heinke said.
She credits networking as one of the ways she's been able to move forward in her career.
"It does help to have a technical background, like a chemical engineering-type background, but with that being said, I have an accounting background," Heinke said. "For me it was just a matter of getting the right connections to be able to make contact with sales people and tell them I was interested in moving in that direction."
Heinke has seen a lot of shifts in the rubber industry throughout the nine years she's been here, including the advancement of electric vehicles in the market.
"The changes to EVs has been the biggest evolution and how rubber products are being impacted by that vehicle change," she said.
When thinking through her own biggest achievement throughout her career, Heinke recognizes her ability to achieve a high level of professionalism, as well as gaining the respect of her peers, has been a significant highlight for her.
Years with company: 9
Years in rubber industry: 9