Jennifer Forell, Flexfab L.L.C. | Women Breaking the Mold 2024

HASTINGS, Mich.—Jennifer Forell has learned not to try to predict the future, at least as far as her winding career path goes.

The vice president of engineering at the 1,000-employee Flexfab L.L.C. is in her second stint with the company, after an eight-year layover at Wacker Silicones North America in nearby Adrian, Mich.

"At times in my career I thought I knew what was next ... and I'm usually surprised by what it is, so I'd hate to predict the future," Forell said. "One of my values is learning and being challenged. I did not expect to stay at Flexfab for as long as I did.

"But I found that I really enjoy working in a manufacturing environment and that the silicone compounding and processing side of the work merged well with my degree in material science and engineering."

Flexfab is a manufacturer of silicone hoses, tubing and ducting. The company mixes its own rubber and uses proprietary calendering, extrusion, molding and bonding processes.

The company's greatest market drivers are in Class A heavy truck (about 50 percent of Flexfab's business) and aerospace (about 20 percent).

Indeed, Forell is in a position of leadership today that offers welcome workplace challenges, collaborative directives can lead to career-changing successes.

And those learning opportunities are a two-way street, as Forell said she learns from her colleagues as much as she imparts to them.

"I'm not an up-front type of leader," Forell said. "I'm an introvert. I have had to figure out how to lead my own way—I don't look like or act like the person who came before me. People are really important to me and I like to give people the room to learn (and) grow."

She promotes accountability and taking ownership of mistakes.

"We learn from our mistakes and take ownership of that," she said. "I love being able to connect people and develop an atmosphere where groups of people can collaborate."

Throughout her more than two decades in the silicone industry, Forell has established a track record of success in material development and R&D for specialty hose and tubing applications; as well as on the financial side.

"Jennifer is truly a rare talent from both a technical and commercial point of view," said Parker Haffey, a senior project engineer at Flexfab who nominated Forell. "She has a very unique style of management and takes time to truly listen regardless of your position. One thing that always impresses me is her consistency and trustworthiness. She does what she says she will do."

Forell said mastering a healthy work-life balance can take different forms for everyone.

"That's a tough question to answer because it will look different to everyone," she said. "It depends on (your) family situation and the type of business you work for.

"I will say, pick a good partner in life—that's really important in filling the gaps with the family."

The office setting, like so many other post-pandemic situations, is far different from when Forell started her career.

"With manufacturing, we really have to be on site," she said. "We can't really be remote. But I'm in a position where I can hear people now—men or women—and advocate for them.

"I enjoy giving people the flexibility they need so they don't have to make some of those really tough life choices."

And her advice for women in particular?

"Have confidence in yourself and your abilities," Forell said. "Know that we do belong here (in manufacturing) and can contribute. Take those opportunities when you can."

Outside of gender, a diversified work force is critical as well.

"It forces us to think of different people's perspectives," she said. "We all come from different backgrounds. Particulary me, being in a rural area and in a manufacturing-type environment.

"We are a very heavy engineering organization. And engineering can be a pathway to other opportunities. Diversity only assists this."

Like many who are leaders at their particular business, Forell is a mover and shaker in her community as well.

She participates in Inforum, a Michigan-based professional networking and community outreach organization; and she is a member of the steering committee for Inforum ManufacturingNEXT, an initiative to improve the talent pipeline through technical and professional skill development.

Still, Forell looks to the horizon as she considers what she has built at Flexfab.

"Retirement isn't right around corner, but I am starting to think what that legacy is and what I want to leave for other people and for other women to be successful," she said.

Years with company: 22

Years in rubber industry: 31

Like most people in the rubber industry, I did not end up here as part of a grand plan. I accepted a job at a manufacturing company (Flexfab L.L.C.) that produces silicone rubber hose soon after graduating from college. I did not expect to stay for as long as I did. But I found that I really enjoyed working in a manufacturing environment and that the silicone compounding and processing side of the work merged well with my degree in material science and engineering.

I find it can be difficult to convince young people that a career in manufacturing is a good option to consider, but I truly believe that it is. For me, I love seeing how different products are made. I've had so many opportunities to experience that first-hand at the places I've worked, at customers and at suppliers. The days are full of challenges with exciting problems to solve. And I've been able to work with truly creative and wonderful people. On top of that, my work has been able to feed another thing I enjoy, which is travel to other countries and engaging with other cultures. I've worked with people from many different countries and been able to travel several times to Europe and Asia as part of my work.

I think I'm challenged by my co-workers as much as I challenge them, so this definitely goes both ways. Some of the important things we challenge each other with are:

• Are we consistently living out our mission (To deliver exceptional experiences to our customers, our people, and our communities every day) and our core values (Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Teamwork, Support)?
• Are we solving the real problems for our customers internal and external?
• What do we want our future to look like?

My core leadership values are respect, learning, collaboration, empowering and honesty, so I try to live those out every day.

I like to give other people the opportunity to be successful and do their best work. I also see my role as helping people make connections so individuals can learn from each other and collaborate to a more successful outcome than they could have alone.

I've learned that leadership often means stepping into the difficult conversations we don't feel like we want to have to get past mis-understandings and develop a relationship of trust to be able to work together more effectively. I don't think I've mastered this, but work to do this whenever needed.

I love podcasts. Listening to them on my commute is how I catch up on current events and learn about topics I'm interested in business, leadership, health and fitness, family topics, etc.

I don't know if I can pick one so some of my favorites are Work Life by Adam Grant. This covers a range of topics, including leadership and work; The Optimistic Outlook with Barbara Humpton (Siemens USA CEO); Women at Work by HBR (leadership and work topics are covered). As a woman working in a male-dominated field and profession, it's refreshing to hear from other women with similar experiences.

In general, most of the times I consider significant failures are when I didn't respond quickly enough to events happening outside of or within the company. I've learned that I can't spend as much time analyzing the situation as the engineer in me would like to before acting. I've also learned to speak up and ask questions sooner rather than later, even at the risk of showing my lack of understanding on a topic.

Nature. I love to hike or spend time at one of the Great Lakes we have surrounding Michigan. If I can drag my family and other people I love along with me, even better.

Spending time with my family and friends. Working with a team of smart, creative people who collaborate well to create the future Flexfab needs to be successful.

I would also love to know I'm influencing other women to consider a career in a technical field or in manufacturing.