Women in the pulp and paper industry were honored this week at a Domtar-sponsored event at PaperCon 2018, which was held by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). The inaugural TAPPI Women’s Summit expounded on topics discussed during the Women in Industry panel that took place earlier in the week.
Both the summit and the panel were created to inspire and support the development of women in the pulp and paper industry by serving as educational resources and networking opportunities.
Beth Troutman, a North Carolina native and Emmy Award–winning television personality, delivered the keynote address during the TAPPI Women’s Summit. She spoke about her experience in philanthropic work and encouraged participants to say yes to opportunities that are both challenging and inspiring.
Domtar Women Recognized at PaperCon 2018
The TAPPI Women’s Summit was not the only event that recognized the contributions women make in the pulp and paper industry. During PaperCon 2018, several women from Domtar were recognized for their leadership in the industry and/or participated on panels and roundtables.
Mill Manager of the Year Award
Kathy Collins, now Domtar’s environmental director, was named Mill Manager of the Year by TAPPI for her work at our Rothschild Mill from 2014 to 2017. At a mill manager’s roundtable, she shared insights from her experience.
“I’ve never really given much thought to my gender determining my success. When I categorize myself, I think engineer or environmental leader,” she says. “I’m more focused on my skills than I am on being a minority female in the industry. I think moving forward, a diverse mix of people will make our industry even stronger. Men and women, [and] young and seasoned individuals from differing backgrounds will provide multiple perspectives and should be able to challenge each other constructively to drive our industry to success in the future.”
Young Professional of the Year Award
Lindsey Clifton, a performance improvement coordinator at our Kingsport Mill, was one of seven individuals honored by TAPPI as a Young Professional of the Year.
Lindsey majored in chemical engineering at Miami University in Ohio. During her junior year, she studied papermaking in Europe and interned at Kingsport Mill. The internship turned into a full-time position after she graduated.
“Receiving this award not only motivates me to keep doing well in my current role, but to also keep inspiring young women to pursue careers in the pulp and paper industry,” says Clifton. “I hope that this award will be a great example of how the industry provides opportunities for professional development and advancement for women in the industry.”
Women in Industry
Lisa Yankie, Domtar’s vice president of human resources, took part in the Women in Industry panel on inclusion and the ways teams create value. She discussed industry trends in hiring and fostering an inclusive work environment. She participated in a second panel about developing a multigenerational workforce, where she discussed Domtar’s initiatives to attract, develop and retain top talent while managing the generational transition taking place across the industry.
“At Domtar, we value people’s different perspectives,” says Yankie. “A diverse team, with both men and women from different backgrounds and generations, impacts the company’s culture and bottom line, and we feel it is very important for future success.”
Learn more about Domtar’s participation in PaperCon 2018.
