AKRON—Smithers has signed on as Presenting Sponsor for a new program that will be held at the Rubber Division's International Elastomer Conference this fall.
The Akron-based testing and services firm will sponsor a women-led panel called "WORDs Matter—How the Women of Rubber Division can Connect, Collaborate & Communicate with Confidence."
Women of Rubber Division—or WORD—was an idea that began in 2015 when Terry DeLapa was the first woman to serve as the chair for the Rubber Division. The milestone inspired the Rubber Division to celebrate women throughout the industry who work everyday to inspire others and push the industry to new heights, according to Gretchen Cermak, marketing manager for the Rubber Division.
What started off as a display and multimedia presentation showing photos of the women who are part of the rubber industry, grew to include more women and then opened communication channels with additional women throughout the industry. Cermak said that ultimately led to creation of the workshop and networking opportunity planned for Oct. 7.
The workshop will be an interactive session designed to empower women to reach higher levels of excellence by providing areas of focus and practical advice to help them achieve their goals. The workshop will include a panel discussion and address the challenges and opportunities of women working in a male dominated industry.
Leslie Ungar, a communication expert, will facilitate the workshop, which will run during the pre-conference workshop from to 1-5 p.m. Oct. 7. It will conclude with a women-only opportunity to network and encourage one another during a wine and cheese reception from 5-6 p.m.