By Liz Stevens, writer, The American Mold Builder

The number of women in the executive ranks in mold building is on the rise. Why do women choose an executive career in mold building and what kind of background is good preparation for this type of professional role? American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) members include many successful, respected women in mold building C-suites, and The American Mold Builder magazine talked with four of them about their careers.
 
Camille Sackett is vice president of sales and marketing at Accede Mold & Tool, Rochester, New York. Francine Petrucci is president at B A Die Mold, Aurora, Illinois. Rhonda Lustenberger is president at Decatur Mold, North Vernon, Indiana. Hillary Thomas is vice president at Westminster Tool, Plainfield, Connecticut. The women shared their backgrounds and industry experiences, along with their insights into the growing prevalence of women in mold building.
 
Educational Background 
These executives vary widely in the education they bring to mold building. Hillary Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in international business from Bryant University. Francine Petrucci has an industrial engineering degree with an emphasis on plastics and statistical quality control from Northern Illinois University. Rhonda Lustenberger has a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science from Purdue University and has taken business classes and targeted training during her years at Decatur Mold. Camille Sackett has an AAS degree in mechanical engineering technology as well as an AS degree in engineering science from SUNY Monroe Community College, studied manufacturing engineering technology at Rochester Institute of Technology, and is working toward a combined BS/MBA at SUNY Empire State.
 
Industry Experience 
Sackett’s industry experience comes from her 32 years at Accede Mold & Tool. “I began on the technical side – drafting, mold design, project management, leading quality management systems and supporting complex tool builds,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to have strong mentors at Accede for all aspects of the business. As my role evolved, I was mentored in leadership and business operations by Accede’s owner and president, and I now serve as vice president of sales and marketing.”
 
Lustenberger literally grew up in the industry. “My father and his partners started Decatur Mold when I was three years old,” she said. “As a curious child, I always asked questions about the business. I spent a lot of time in the shop with my dad as he worked many, many hours per week.” As a teenager, Lustenberger worked in the front office at the shop. After college, she moved to Chicago and built a career in sales and sales leadership, and worked at Thermo Fisher Scientific for 25 years in those roles. She served as a board member of Decatur Mold for 10 years prior to becoming its president in 2019. 
 
Petrucci, who has been employed in mold building full-time for 31 years, also was raised in the industry. “I grew up immersed in the two businesses my father founded,” Petrucci explained. “One business was a thermoset molding company in operation for about 13 years, beginning when I was seven. The other is B A Die Mold, which I am running today.” Petrucci held many different positions in the companies, including bookkeeping, shop greenhorn, general management, QA and press operator. “I also made it a point to participate in industry associations,” she said, “like the AMBA Chicago Chapter, Technology Manufacturing Aligned (TMA), Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) and volunteering on local schools’ advisory boards for STEAM courses.”
 
Thomas also began her industry experience in the family business. “My dad started the company in our basement when I was five years old,” she said. “Over the years, I have worked in the front office, on the shop floor (grinding, polishing and running the Mantle machine), and in customer-facing roles in sales and project management.” After graduating from college, Thomas took a job in international sales for four and a half years and returned to the family business in 2017. “Since re-joining,” said Thomas, “I have been leading strategic growth and management oversight while executing the company’s vision.”
 
Why Mold Building? 
Each of these women had many options for careers to pursue, yet they chose to work in mold building. The reasoning behind their choices is enlightening. “I love the way moldmaking and manufacturing can impact someone’s quality of life,” said Thomas, “whether that is the quality of life for the employees working in the industry or quality of life enhanced through the products we create or by supporting the quality of life of the broader American economy. The products we manufacture are part of everyone’s daily lives in the home products we use daily, in life-saving medical devices, in the cars we drive and the list goes on.”
 
For Petrucci, it might be in the blood. “I fell in love with making things and how things work before I could read,” she said. “Manufacturing always has been an interest of mine. Of course, going to work with my father helped pique my interest in the plastics industry. He designed and manufactured molds for a variety of industries, which made it really interesting. Also, it may very well be ‘hereditary’ as my great-grandfather founded Chicago Molded Products, my grandfather owned a mold polishing business, an uncle also was a moldmaker/mold shop owner and two of my cousins are leadmen.”
 
Lustenberger also had family ties. “Since my father always was a toolmaker and business owner,” she said, “I was raised in this environment. I did break away and build my own career, but when my father needed someone to lead the company into the future, I stepped into the role. I have found it challenging, exciting and fulfilling.”
 
Sackett’s trajectory to mold building stems from her family’s long-standing employment in automotive manufacturing and mechanics. “I’ve been around factories and production my whole life,” she said. “I started drafting in middle school and attended a trade and technical high school for mechanical drafting and design.”

Sackett’s first co-op was at Eastman Kodak in an engineering group. “The experience gave me valuable real-world insight early on,” she continued. “I enjoy being part of our leadership team at Accede because the work is diverse, technical and rewarding. It is fulfilling to know we’re building tools that help deliver products that people rely on every day.”
 
Prevalence of Women in the Industry 
“As a member of Gen X,” said Sackett, “I recognize that women remain underrepresented in moldmaking leadership roles, largely because few women from my generation and earlier pursued careers in manufacturing.” In reflecting on her time at a trade and technical high school, she recalled that most of her female peers were studying cosmetology, accounting or clerical tracks. “I chose a different path,” she said, “because I had early exposure to manufacturing and automation through my family’s employment at General Motors – and I found it fascinating! Thanks to STEM early education and awareness, we are seeing more women entering the field and advancing into technical and executive roles.”
 
Lustenberger has seen an uptick in women in these roles. “Since I became more active in the industry in 2019,” she explained, “I’ve seen more women at conferences and online who are in leadership positions at mold companies. Many have strong engineering backgrounds, and I think that’s just great.”  
 
Petrucci sees women executives in mold building as a long-standing but perhaps not obvious presence that continues to expand. “There are more women in upper executive positions than one might think,” she said. “And there are many more than when I first became involved, which is great. Women bring a different way of problem solving, and that only can help elevate the success of any team. Mold manufacturers always are solving problems! Personally, I prefer working with men, so the ratio of more men than women in the workplace has been, for me, a bonus.”
 
In Thomas’s experience, women are becoming more visible in upper executive positions. “While it isn’t typical to see females in upper executive positions, or even among most mold manufacturing teams or contract manufacturers, I do see the industry changing in the last few years,” she said. “Internally, we are 30% plus female. Externally, I would say that in my interactions with customers, suppliers and peers about 15% are female – and the percentage grows every year!”
 
Career Inroads 
The women cited many factors that have helped women make inroads in mold building, including an evolving work environment and campaigns by educational institutions that have promoted nontraditional careers for women. “I think that as shop cultures and work environments continue to evolve, so will the ability to attract and retain females,” said Thomas. “At Westminster, establishing a culture of inclusivity based on emotional intelligence has allowed us to diversify in more ways than just gender. And the moldmaking industry, in particular, largely is built on relationships; for me, focusing on building relationships has been more important than proving my worth as a female.”
 
“I am not sure why there now are more women,” said Petrucci. “I never gave a thought to my gender when I chose my career path. I was raised to believe that I could do anything I put my mind to.” Petrucci was the only female in her high school auto and shop classes, and the only woman in the majority of her engineering classes in college. “I suppose that there are more women now due to the campaigns in school and on social media showcasing women in ‘nontraditional’ careers,” she said. “Also, as more women take the manufacturing career path, they set an example for their sisters and daughters. The movement snowballs.”
 
Lustenberger noted that changes in attitudes have been beneficial to women seeking a career in mold building. “I freely admit that I came into the industry in a way that is not available to most women because mine is a family business,” she said. “I try every day to earn the privilege that I was afforded. That being said, I think that the old barriers that women faced prior to about 2000 have gradually been broken down.” She believes that women now are freer than ever to pursue their career of choice, which, for some, is engineering, machining or manufacturing. “When we as an industry and as a society look for the most talented person, regardless of how that person is packaged, we will push progress forward,” Lustenberger said.
 
Sackett cited early exposure, hands-on learning and strong mentorship as aiding women in moldmaking careers. “When young women are introduced to technical careers early – and supported by educators, mentors and forward-thinking employers – it opens doors and builds confidence,” she said.

“Organizations like AMBA, Women in Manufacturing and the SPE Foundation also have reshaped perceptions and created opportunities. At Accede, President Roger Fox has prioritized growth, learning and capability across the board to create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and lead,” said Sackett.
 
Women are coming up through the ranks and having a strong impact on mold building. Stand back, because there’s just no stopping them.
 
More information: www.accedemold.com, www.badiemold.com, www.decaturmold.com and www.westminstertool.com