What drew you to the rubber industry, and what has made your career in the industry rewarding?
Started at B.F. Goodrich out of college to earn money with the intent to go back to school for a Ph.D. or medical school after earning some money. I liked the rubber industry so much I stuck with it now for over 43 years.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Breaking the glass ceiling into the executive level as a women leading a testing and research/development company.
Passing along my experience and knowledge to younger technologists in the rubber industry.
What do you count as your biggest failure and what has it taught you?
I once decided to leave the rubber industry—I only lasted three months away from it.
Who or what inspires you?
Learning something new almost every day, makes my job interesting.
Who were your career mentors, and what role did they play?
C.R. Samples, founder of Akron Rubber Development Laboratory—he encouraged me to think outside of the box.
Kenneth Immel, one of my supervisors at B.F. Goodrich. He had five daughters and he had no problem having a woman technical person.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Be organized and establish your own technical library.
If you were CEO of a company, what would you do first?
Make it a place that is family friendly.
What would you tell someone considering a career in the rubber industry?
You will never lack for interesting things to do and you learn something new everyday.
In your opinion, what needs to be done to encourage females to pursue STEM-related careers?
Getting into the schools to inspire the students, but just as important is influencing the school administrators and teachers that there are many opportunities in the polymer, rubber and plastics industries.