ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Kate Yoder dynamic Project Management Professional (PMP) known for delivering innovative results through creative engineering practices and a people-centric approach. She received her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and her M.Sc. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating, Kate honed her analytical skills as a modeling & simulation engineer for several years. She then transitioned into project management, where she has a proven track record of coordinating project interdependencies, streamlining processes, and reducing processing time for her team.

In her current role at Trane Technologies, Kate combines her engineering expertise and project management skills to spearhead innovative digital solutions that enhance operational efficiency and improve customer satisfaction.

When she's not at Trane Technologies, you can find Kate crocheting cute animals while snuggling with her two adorable cats, Pip and Figaro.

CONNECT WITH KATE 

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Life is nonlinear.”

“Even after I got the diagnosis, I had to relearn how to live.  The things I could do before I couldn’t.  Some of them I still can’t.” 

“Push through, keep going attitude was not going to work anymore.”

“Really have to trust in yourself along the way.”

“Energy In = Energy Out”

Kate’s “Find Balance” Framework:  BIOS (Define your boundaries, Identify Inputs and Outputs, Solve for Balance”

Quote from Real Self Care on Setting Boundaries.  “Creating space to make the best choice for you. Communicating that choice clearly.”

Some topics we covered:  Time Blocking, Meeting Inventory, Setting Flexible “Must Do” depending on your day. 

Kate’s learnings on her career journey:  Knowing when you are stagnant, Scan the environment, Be open to things that don’t seem as obvious, and Build relationships along the journey.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

H.J. Dewes is a strategic leader with a proven record leveraging cross-functional teams to achieve optimal results. He is currently a Business Development Manager at ABB where he has spent his 30+ year career across diverse roles in business development, strategy, sales, marketing and channel, operations and logistics.  Prior to joining ABB, H.J. was an Enlisted Operations Specialist in the United States Navy where he earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

H.J. is an active or former member of the Hydraulic Institute, the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association, The Water Council, The Midwest Energy Research Consortium and several other associations all with a focus on helping their members to find more efficient and sustainable solutions. He has been named the EPIC Industry Person of the Year and to the ABB Circle of Excellence. 

He is an active member of the Empowering Women in Industry community where is engaged ally – bringing diverse voices to the table for discussion, learning, and support.  An allyship thought leader, H.J. works tirelessly every day to bring about equity in the workplace. 

CONNECT WITH H.J. DEWES 

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Show up.  Be there.”

“By showing up, I grew. Showing up is not just good for the people I am trying to support. It’s also good for me.”

“Lean all in.  Forget the fear.”

“Be curious and open minded.”

“Recognize that you don’t have to be perfect.”

On Allyship: “Really showing up for the people that you believe in. Being willing to take a stand.  Being willing to take a risk. Being there.”

“We all have paradigms that shape the way we live. They are so strong and embedded in who we are. Sometimes it is little bit hard to challenge our assumptions. One of the things that is really important about being an ally is to challenge your own assumptions.”

“I think one of the things we forget is people are being allies for us all the time. Maybe you don’t necessarily realize that there are people there supporting you that are helping to pave a path for you and create opportunity for you.”

“As you grow in your career, you start to earn more privilege and influence. Using that privilege to help others who might just need a nudge, help, or support.  Working to use that privilege to create opportunities.”

On being an active ally: “Recognize that you are going to screw up.  Recognize that this is a journey for us as well. Know that the people you are trying to be allies for are not expecting you to be perfect in any way, shape, or form.” 

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Giovanna Gray Lockhart moved to Yarmouth, Maine full time three years ago. Her national experience spans work in government from an advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to national nonprofit leadership as a member of the Board of Directors for StoryCorps. 

Previously, Lockhart held senior roles at venture-backed companies, as the Senior Director of Impact at The Wing and as Chief Strategy Officer at The Riveter. Immediately prior to coming to the Center, she provided strategic consulting, advising executive level clients across the country on philanthropy, advocacy, board-building, and communications. Lockhart sits on the Board of Trustees for the Waynflete School in Portland

CONNECT WITH FRANCIS PERKINS CENTER 

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“When a door opens, you must walk through it.”

“I really feel like we are at a turning point where you don’t have to hide who you are to be powerful and lead.” 

“A woman in her early thirties that is totally unafraid and out there advocating for people. She really believed in what she was doing.”

“She had fears and insecurities, like we all do, but when you have that vision and determination that is what drove her.” 

“I came to Washington to work for God, FDR, and the millions of forgotten, plain, common working men.”

On Frances’ impact: “She was the pioneering advocate for economic security, social justice, labor rights, and the policy issues surrounding that. The kinds of protections that she secured are the cornerstones of modern policy and our society today: social security, minimum wage, forty-hour work week, unemployment insurance, and banning of child labor.” 

Frances’ Driving Force:  “When she saw these injustices and these working conditions and how people were kept in poverty through generations, there is a policy that needs to be put in place.  Me helping people one at a time as a social worker is wonderful but there needs to be something more impactful and all encompassing.”

Only 12 out of ~430 National Park sites have been specifically created to recognize women’s history. 

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Meaghan Ziemba is an industrial tech writer, brand storyteller, and marketer for industrial manufacturers.  She has a B.A. and M.A. in Professional and Technical Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has been writing for manufacturing since 2008. 

Meaghan also hosts a live video broadcast series called Mavens of Manufacturing. The series focuses on women in the sector and aims to attract younger generations to join manufacturing or engineering career pathways to help close the skills and gender gaps. Meaghan is a proud mother of three. She enjoys cooking, CrossFit, and a great cup of coffee or a glass of whiskey. 

CONNECT WITH MEAGHAN  

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Especially with young girls, we need to encourage innovation not perfection.”

“We’re programmed to squirm at that word - failure.”

“We need to start stepping out of our own personal experiences and stop assuming someone is coming into a conversation with malicious intent.”

“When you put yourself in that position of the person who doesn’t know and you want to learn, other people are comfortable enough to have those authentic conversations with you.”

“The reason I became an entrepreneur is because, for most of my work experience, I couldn’t show up as myself.”

“Manufacturing is the great equalizer.”

Closing the manufacturing skills gap: “We need to help the general public really understand why manufacturing is important and what it does, as a whole, for our country.”

“Bring awareness to the financial opportunities that are available through each pathway.  Bring awareness to how manufacturing helps communities flourish.”

“There are a lot of communities that don’t even realize manufacturing is in their backyard. Encourage manufactures to be proactive and open up their doors and let their community members come in… to see what they are making and why they are making it.”

“Why are stories important to this industry?  Because you need that emotional connection with your audience. If you don’t have it, they are not going to care. They are not going to know what they don’t know.” 

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Martie Edmunds Zakas has been Mueller Water Products’ CEO since August 2023 and served as President and CEO from August 2023 to May 2024. She previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mueller Water Products since 2018. She has directed Mueller’s strategic planning, corporate development, investor relations and corporate communications activities since joining the Company in 2006. 

Prior to joining Mueller, Martie spent five years with Russell Corporation where she held a variety of positions culminating in her role as Corporate Vice President, Chief of Staff, Business Development and Treasurer, until its 2006 acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway. From 1993 to 2000, Martie served as Corporate Vice President, Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Secretary for Equifax, Inc., a global data, analytics and technology company. She began her career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. 

Martie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College), a MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. She is a Director of Mueller Water Products and BlueLinx Holdings, Inc., and is a former Director of Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation.

CONNECT WITH MARTIE  

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“I am really honored to be a female leading a manufacturing company in the U.S. because you do not see as many female CEOs of public manufacturing companies.  By seeing the unexpected, I think it will help us all move forward and hopefully in the future we will see more female CEOs in the manufacturing industry. Then it becomes expected.”

Inclusion: “Importantly, if you feel included and feel part of that team then I think we then are going to get the benefits of hearing all the different voices, ideas, and backgrounds such that we can have collective success.”

“You want to feel that the contributions you are making or the organization you are working with are making important contributions.”

“You need to have your own personal set of values.  As you go through this, ensure you have your baseline of what your values are and you ensure that is an integral part of the work that you are doing.”

Most important skill: “Be adaptable and be curious. Because whatever the headlines are today, they are going to change.”

“Observe what you see that you like and that you may want to emulate.  As importantly, see what you don’t like. You can take that and say I do not want that to be part of my toolkit.” 

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Cheryl Merchant has 40 years of leadership and management experience in manufacturing. She has held leadership positions with industry giants like GM, Mazda, Ford, and Lear Corporation and led teams in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and throughout Europe and Asia. Cheryl spent 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global, a manufacturing company with over 2,000 employees and operations in the U.S., Mexico, Czech Republic, China, and Brazil. During that period, Hope Global grew five times in revenue and became a Tier II leader in the Automotive Industry. 

 
In 2019, Cheryl joined Taco as President of Taco Family of Companies, North America. In March of 2020, Cheryl was promoted to CEO of Taco Family of Companies Global operations. Since taking the helm, Taco has doubled in revenue, expanded the workforce by 350 team members, acquired a new business unit in England and currently have global operational facility expansions of over 243,000 sq, ft. underway. 

CONNECT WITH CHERYL  

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Main Website  HydroFlo Pump Solutions  Taco Italia Taconova

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Whatever you think you’re going through, you are not alone.”

“Constitution said we the people for the people; it didn’t say we the men for the men.”

“That is what it is about.  Just trying to make people the best they can be.”

“Women are needed everywhere.  They are needed are boards and needed in management because they bring a whole new perspective. “

“People are different and that is special. We need to push that; not look down on it.”

“Ownership is everyone’s responsibility.  Putting your name on your job.”

“I believe that every single person is important. We cannot get it done by ourselves.”

“Mentality is the hardest thing in the world to change. It’s in everything you hear.  The mental barriers are so ingrained.”

“I make a point of having at least 5 mentees at all times if I can.”

“Think about how you want to be remembered.  Now go live your life. Go be how you want to be remembered.”

“Strive to be the leader you always wanted.”

“To the women who blazed the trail before us, you are going to forever have our gratitude.  To the women who are currently on the trail, let us all stay focused and keep up the great work. For the women to follow, reach out your hand.”
 

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Tiffany Waddell Tate (she/her) helps individuals and companies reimagine the future of work through coaching, digital education, and training & development for organizations and teams. As an in-demand coach, consultant, speaker and thought leader, she has been featured on Well + Good, The Everymom, The Muse,  and a variety of podcasts. She is a master in coaching professionals to learn, lead, and grow at work while being true to their authentic selves and building their personal brand. Tate earned her BA and MA from Wake Forest University, and is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Diversity Educator, and MBTI Certified.

Tiffany is also the founder of Career Maven Consulting.  This team is on a mission to help people become the CEO of their professional lives, and organizations retain great people through career advancement support & leadership development rooted in clarity, confidence, and agency for all.

CONNECT WITH TIFFANY  

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Everymom Article:  How to Support Black Women at Work

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Do good work on purpose.”

“Part of my coaching practice is helping people to not just react to things that are happening to them but be really thoughtful about what their non-negotiables are, what they want to learn, and what they want to earn.  Get comfortable naming those things, talking about them, and making decisions based on those things rather than just responding to situations that they find themselves in.”

“People should get really clear on what matters to them as humans who are working so they have thoughtful intention in both spheres.”

“I think people often under sell and they under pitch because they think they have to do more to prove themselves.”

Career Coaching Framework:  Clarity, Confidence, and Agency

Career branding documents should be STICKY: Skill-based, Tailored, Intentionality, Confidence,  Keep it real, You

“Skills language is the value add.  This is what you do and how does what you do add value to the organization.” 

“Having a career strategy can mean having a really clear list of the things you want to learn/do or the problems you want to solve. Or it could be an clear awareness of your known boundaries or personal catalysts.”

“Right now is what we have. Be really thoughtful about right now as you are planning for the future.”

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

As the founder of Tech & Thrive, Denise Acosta Musselwhite leverages her extensive experience to empower diverse technology professionals. Notably, Denise stands out as one of the few Latina women globally to have held both Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Board Chair positions—achievements held by only 5% of professionals worldwide. 

She has made significant contributions across various sectors, including education, technology, and nonprofits. Denise's innovative T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™ underpins personalized development programs that are delivered through tailored consulting, and individual or group coaching, fostering significant growth and retention. Her legacy is marked by her commitment to transforming technology leadership, underscored by her impactful collaborations with over 10 Nobel Peace Laureates through her work with the PeaceJam organization..

CONNECT WITH DENISE AND TECH AND THRIVE 

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T.H.R.I.V.E Quiz:  http://www.techthrive.me/

Complimentary "Embracing Your Unique Drivers" e-workbook: https://techthrive.me/drivers

Mission Impact Academy:  https://www.themia.world/

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Don’t wait for someone else to create your future.”

“The pandemic was going to actually move us backwards because of the challenges that women face uniquely during the pandemic with their kids home and their need to work from home more.”

“My work was never something that was on the side. It was part of my identity and part of my whole life. I love technology that much and I love working with people that much.”

“The thing that resonates with me the most that I see as a common thread is a deeper clarity of who they are themselves as a leader and moving away from what their employer, or their supervisors, have told them about themselves.”

“We, as human beings, want to feel satisfied in our lives more holistically than just in our work.”

T.H.R.I.V.E Operating System – “The number one step is transparent assessment to really uncover who you are as your unique leadership self.”

T.H.R.I.V.E Operating System – “Voicing your vision step is encouragement, a challenge to people, to record themselves on audio, giving a TED talk that is for them about what they have learned about themselves.”

“When you are clear on who you are, all kinds of stuff happens. You cannot unsee it anymore.”

“For anyone working in a male dominated industry, the fact that we are ashamed to talk about our successes and about ourselves holds us back.”

“Women are always looking for how they are not ready instead of how they are ready.”

“We want to be 150% ready when really science tells us we really just need to be 50% ready for the role and we can fill in the rest with growth.”

“Every single woman who is listening to this should be talking about artificial intelligence and the way it changes the work that we do.”

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

DeIla Ray is a seasoned welder with a deep love for the skilled trades. Her career began as a traveling pipe welder, taking her across the country. In recent years, DeIla discovered a new passion for inspiring the next generation. She will be entering her 3rd year as a welding instructor, sharing her knowledge and experience with future welders.

DeIla's dedication extends beyond the classroom. She is a prominent figure in the industry, serving as the Vice President of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Central Missouri Chapter #341 and the National Tradeswomen Committee Co-Chair. This year, DeIla will be installed as the President of NAWIC Chapter #341 as well as the National Tradeswomen Committee Chair. 

With the unique blend of experience, passion, and leadership, DeIla’s journey from welder to instructor is a testament to her dedication to the trades. DeIla's insights will be valuable to anyone interested in the skilled trades.

CONNECT WITH DEILA AND ALPHA DUO 

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Seeing what is possible is what kept drawing me in. Every time I would level up and succeed in something.  It was still that added attraction of I have done it and continue to do it.” 

“Accepting the chaos.”

“Looking back now, if I would not have said yes to trying something new I would not be where I am today.  That is one of the coolest things.  It is like a ‘whose done it’ story.  I never had the experience and look where it took me – just from saying yes and taking on a challenge.”

“There is just something about putting that hood down; I was immediately drawn to it. It was, ‘How much more can I get?  Do I have to sleep? Can I keep doing this?’”

“The opportunity of the trades is what enticed me in the beginning. Realizing I was one of the only on the only ones there was also a little enticing. I am a pretty bold person; I beat to my own drum most of the time.“

“I am creating a space here for other women and young girls to see that they can do it too.” 

“Male dominated taking away the light on the fact that women can be there too. If we can say ‘male populated; there it indicates there be more males there but it does not mean that males are the only ones that can dominate in that field.”

“Imposter syndrome can creep up on people.  They do not think you are supposed to be there so why should you think you are supposed to be there. You should know that, if are going to insert yourself somewhere and put time and effort into it, you deserve to be there.”
 
 “If you have that thought, that desire, don’t let it fade away.  Try it out.  You may find your passion and not even realize it.”

“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”  William Arthur Ward

ABOUT OUR GUEST:  

Sanya Mathura is the Founder of Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd based in Trinidad and operates in the capacity of Managing Director and Senior Consultant.  She works with global affiliates in the areas of Reliability and Asset Management to bring these specialty niches to her clients.

 Sanya possesses a strong engineering background with a BSc in Electrical & Computer Engineering and MSc in Engineering Asset Management.  She has worked in the lubrication industry for the past decade and has used her background across diverse industries both locally in Trinidad and Tobago, regionally and internationally. 

 She is the first person (and female) in her country (Trinidad & Tobago) to attain an ICML MLE (Machinery Lubrication Engineer).  She is also the first female in the world to achieve the ICML VPR & VIM badges, full list here.

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QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS

“It’s all about being able to see the change.  And be that change for others. It’s not about us. It is not about the ones breaking the barriers.  It is about the ones that are coming behind us.” 

“You cannot evolve if you keep doing the same things.” 

“Women change the way we think about certain things. It cannot be done the same way every time.”

“One of the things I have seen change is people are more open; more willing to listen to the woman in the field.”

“At the end of the day, gender should not be tied to job performance.”

“One of the main barriers I still see are women who are pregnant in the industry.  While they’re pregnant, after their pregnancy, and during their parenthood.  For example, we are not getting PPE that is fitted for pregnant women.”