Women in Tire & Rubber: Tina K. Darnell

Profiles of the inaugural class members of Rubber & Plastics News' Women in Tire & Rubber will appear daily through Aug. 21. Edited profiles of the entire class were published in the July 27 issue of RPN.

Tina K. Darnell

Senior Manager Product Support

Collins Aerospace/Raytheon Technologies

Location: Uniontown, Ohio

Education:

Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, N.C. - BS

Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Ind. - MBA

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, - Six Sigma Black Belt

Career highlights:

I have over 20 years' experience in the rubber and plastics industry as a Tier 1 and 2 supplier to various market segments, including: aerospace, automotive sealing, noise and vibration control, tires, retreading, chemical manufacturing, and custom mixing. I have held positions of increasing responsibility to include leadership roles in technical sales, materials/product engineering, research and development, quality and operations.

Associations you belong to or actively participate in:

I have been active representing and supporting the ACS Rubber Division and the local rubber groups throughout my career. I served on the Fort Wayne Rubber and Plastics Group board as President, Ohio Rubber Group as Technical Program Chair and Area Director. I am currently serving as a board member of the Rubber Division Steering and Executive Committee, while holding the position of Director's Representative. Last year, I was one of the panelists for the first Women's Conference (WORD) at the International Elastomer Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

What drew you to the rubber industry, and what has made your career in the industry rewarding?

I started my career working in the laboratory with an automotive and tire company. I had the opportunity to learn and grow within the manufacturing environment and advance into R&D positions. The manufacturing and development experience provided opportunities to advance my career in the various rubber and plastics market segments. The opportunity to learn something new each day and the variety of work has been rewarding.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement has been the opportunity to mentor others. I am thankful that I have had managers and colleagues that invested in my career, and I hope to continue to assist others in their career development.

What do you count as your biggest failure and what has it taught you?

I always have lived my life without regrets. I believe that every situation whether the outcome is perceived as a win or a failure provides the opportunity to learn. If I can learn from it and apply it in the future either personally or professionally then I have been successful.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by working as a team. I am amazed at the level of accomplishment that can be attained when working as a team in comparison to individual contributions. I have had the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and accomplish complex projects with significant impacts to the employer.

Who were your career mentors, and what role did they play?

Fortunately, I had some very influential managers and colleagues who were instrumental in helping guide me throughout my career and assist with my career development plan. I was able to receive feedback on my strengths and how to use them to advance in my career. I was also provided guidance and support in pursuing additional educational courses and advanced degrees/certifications.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice that I have received is that you can't always control the circumstances, but you control how you react to those circumstances. I also was encouraged to self-reflect to help with decision making and review my reactions to various situations throughout the day.

What would you tell someone considering a career in the rubber industry?

It is difficult to find products that are not derived from rubber and plastic materials. The rubber industry is a great career with a lot of opportunities to grow and learn. The skills that are attained are transferable. The industry is filled with supportive individuals that will assist along the way. You will make lasting friendships and have the ability to leave an impact on the products and individuals you work with.