Cristal's manufacturing story starts with her arrival from Puerto Rico after losing everything to natural disaster. It continues with her college graduation just a couple months ago. And it moves forward with an incredible future in manufacturing!

This is a story of Cristal's perseverance, but also of the life-changing power of a career in manufacturing.

Ellen and Jenny talk to Cristal about her first steps into manufacturing, her return to school, and how she uses networking to learn and grow. Cristal is so proud of how far she's come, and she should be! She's happy to share her experience so others might learn how they can follow in her footsteps. And we are so happy to give her the platform to share it!

Where you can find Cristal:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristal-m-velez-322a90240/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

There are many outstanding manufacturing organization you can be part of in CT. One that's nearest and dearest to our hearts is the Women in Manufacturing Connecticut Chapter. This group provides networking and educational opportunities, both locally and nationally, to help women in the industry to connect and develop their career.

On this episode, Ellen Feldman Ornato speaks with chapter Chair, Christine Marcin. They not only talk about the value of the organization, but also discuss topics like 'how to get your boss's buy-in to take part in events" and "how to prepare yourself for a networking event".

Networking can feel overwhelming to some of the quieter, or more reserved members of our audience, but it doesn't have to be!

Keep your eyes open for an upcoming episode with Ellen and Jenny diving into 'how to network'.

Women in Manufacturing CT Website: https://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/connecticut Women in Manufacturing CTLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-manufacturing-connecticut/ Women in Manufacturing CTFB: https://www.facebook.com/WiMConnecticut

Where you can find Christine:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemarcin/ Stifel Marcin website: https://stifel-marcin.com/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

If there's one thing we've learned in our first 10 episodes, it's the incredible power of mentorship on the careers of our guests. So, we are THRILLED that the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing has sponsored a new mentorship community, through Million Women Mentors Connecticut, that aims to connect mentors and mentees across STEM fields, starting with manufacturing.

On this week's episode, we talk to Colleen Bielitz, the state leader for Million Women Mentors and the AVP of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach at Southern Connecticut State University. Colleen talks us through what it means to be a mentor and what the mentor database is aiming to accomplish. She also goes one step further and explains to potential mentees how to get the most out of a mentorship relationship.

This is a terrific episode, introducing an exciting initiative!

Sign-up for the mentorship database here: https://web.atlasjobs.com/public-sign-up/3a721099-c1c7-4032-97ba-5baf0cfad5aa/

Million Women Mentors Connecticut website: https://mwm.stemconnector.com/states-initiative/connecticut/

Million Women Mentors Connecticut LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/million-women-mentors-ct-chapter

Where you can find Colleen:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-bielitz-phd/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

How do you combine heart with business and still be profitable? You lead with love and respect, and it all comes back to you.

Robin Ritz, Creative Visionary at InCord reminds us that people generally want to do more for people that do more for them. Call it the law of reciprocity – or just kindness begets kindness....but Robin has learned that you can be a good person and a good businessperson all at the same time.

This episode is truly inspiring. We see first-hand what it means to love what you do, reach your goals, and help others to reach theirs.

InCord's custom safety netting solutions keep people safe whether their on the job or having fun. It's only fitting that their work environment feels equally as safe as their products.

Where you can find Robin: Robin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-ritz13/ InCord: https://incord.com/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Do you need a boost of positive energy – look no further than this episode! Jess Westerfield, Director of People + Culture at Lesser Evil, perfectly reflects the company's products - a boost of energy that's healthy and fun!

Jess, Ellen, and Jenny talk about Lesser Evils' outstanding culture – it's no wonder they've been able to build and retain a 70% female workforce! That's more than twice as much as the national average in manufacturing (now standing at around 30%). So, you know there's a lot to learn here.

Jess also talks about the value of building relationships to benefit your personal career growth. A really important topic for women in the early stages of their career.

Where you can find Jess: Jess's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicawesterfield/ Lesser Evil Snacks: https://lesserevil.com/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

In this week's episode, Jenny and Ellen sit down with Rani Viroja, Quality Engineer at Accuturn and Co-Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Employers Partnership (AMEP).

Rani shares her journey into manufacturing, which isn't as straight-forward as you'd think, considering her parents own Accuturn! Now she wants to spread the word about manufacturing so that young people all across CT know about the fantastic careers available.

Rani talks about her current role in quality management and why it's so important. She also talks about the intergenerational leadership shift going on at her plant. She works with her cousin and his wife, all early in their careers, and they all have been learning so much from AND sharing so much with the older generation.

Rani also talks all about her passion for empowering the next generation of manufacturing professionals. She tells us about the great work that the team at AMEP is doing to change perceptions about manufacturing starting in middle and high school.

Where you can find Rani: Rani's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rani-viroja/ Accuturn: https://accuturnmfg.com/ AMEP: https://www.ccat.us/amep-program

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

What does it look like to skyrocket to the top of your field? Let's find out with Brittany Isherwood, President of Burke Aerospace. Brittany's journey is fast-paced, but filled with really thought-proving ideas about finding balance.

We hear a lot about work-life balance, but balance can also be found within the workplace. Brittany talks about the value of slowing down in upward career mobility so you can learn more as you grow. She also talks about how important it is to build a village around you both at work and home. At work, that looks like finding colleagues that you develop trust in and creating a path that makes them capable of working independently. At home it means finding the family and friends that can cover for you when the inevitable happens and things go wrong.

This episode is as real as it gets. Brittany, Ellen and Jenny talk through some of the work-life issues facing women in the workforce, manufacturing or elsewhere.

Where can you find Brittany:

Brittany's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-isherwood-a8685388/

Burke Aerospace: https://www.burkeaerospace.com/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/

Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/

Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Not only is Milliechel Ramirez a Process Engineer at Carey Manufacturing, she's also an Instructor at Capital Community College and offers talks and tours for high school students and parent information sessions for their parents. AND that's all in her free time from being a mom, too! Millie sounds like a superwoman, because she is!

In this episode, Ellen and Jenny talk to Millie about her journey into manufacturing. You'd never believe that Millie started out very shy and quiet, but she had mentors who believed in her and pushed her into opportunities that forced her out of her shell and gave her time to shine! Now, Millie does the same for students through the state.

This is a great episode with a rockstar woman in manufacturing!

Programs discussed in today's episode: Our Piece of the Pie - https://opp.org/ CT State Community Colleges free tuition program https://ctstate.edu/free-tuition CT Manufacturing Ambassadors: https://mfgambassador.com/

Where can you find Millie:

Millie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milliechel-ramirez/ Millie highlighted in CCAT's Maker Multipliers: https://www.makermultipliers.com/milliechel Carey Manufacturing: https://careymfg.com/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/