Manufacturing Month: Spotlight on the Women at the Plate “Meet Kris”
Our second in a series of Women at the Plate turns the spotlight on Kris Ledoux. A seasoned manufacturing expert, Kris manages the day-to-day tasks of one of the busiest departments in the shop!
Kris Ledoux brings quiet strength to the manufacturing floor. Her steady energy, approachability, and unwavering commitment to quality make her an indispensable part of the WNP team. Day in and day out, Kris exemplifies reliability—not just in her work, but in the way she supports those around her.
With 25 years of hands-on experience assembling power supplies for an electronics manufacturer, Kris brought a wealth of knowledge and a seasoned work ethic to Willington Nameplate when her previous company relocated. Starting as a screen-maker, Kris soon moved to the production floor to learn screen printing. After many years of consistently hitting daily metrics, Kris was asked to take over the role of Print Lead. Kris was hesitant about her technical acumen at first, but finally accepted once she was reassured that she would have the full support of management and would not have to figure it all out alone.
Kris says it was the encouragement from other women leads and the confidence of her supervisor, Operations Leader, Jose Morales, Jr., that made the difference. He explains:
One of management’s responsibilities is to identify employees who can lead and make the business better, challenge them to grow and take on new roles, and handle the day-to-day tasks of their departments, and Kris was already handling a lot of it.
Did she aspire, earlier in her career, to become a department leader? “No way! I never saw myself in that type of role,” she says. When asked how manufacturing has changed over the years, she says, “One of the biggest changes in the last 10 years is that more women are taking on more experienced roles.”
Finally, Kris gives women who are considering careers in manufacturing the following advice: “Don’t cut yourself short. Don’t doubt your capabilities or your DRIVE to want to do better for yourself!”
We concur! We hope to see more women join the manufacturing industry, and through our recruitment strategies and community engagements, we hope to provide opportunities for women to see themselves in many different roles.