Valentine Highlights Women Leaders in Manufacturing at Conference

JONESBORO, Ark.— Christy Valentine, Manager of Academic Partnerships and Philanthropic Programs represented Hytrol at the 8th annual Women’s Leadership Conference in Jonesboro. The event, held on April 4, was presented by the Women’s Leadership Collaborative and the Women’s Business Leadership Center. Leaders from around the area came to the campus of Arkansas State University to empower one another and celebrate individual strengths.

Valentine participated in a breakout session panel called, She Made It: Women Leading the Future of Manufacturing. Valentine said, “Manufacturing was traditionally thought of as an industry led mostly by men. Today, women are making huge strides in this sector. From production to engineering to corporate officers, women are seizing the opportunity to build lucrative careers in manufacturing. It was a pleasure to discuss these topics with all those who attended. I am excited about the future for women in our industry.”

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, women account for 29% of the U.S.’s manufacturing workforce with a total of 3.77 million workers as of 2023.

Keynote speakers, additional breakout sessions, awards and other networking activities rounded out the event sponsored in-part by Hytrol and other local businesses.

About Hytrol:

Hytrol Conveyor Company Inc. is a world leader in the design and manufacturing of material handling systems for a variety of industries. Since its founding, the company has been dedicated to pushing forward the material handling industry. Hytrol is the largest conveyor manufacturer in the United States. It designs, develops, and delivers the most advanced material handling systems and includes a network of more than 100 independent businesses worldwide. For more information on Hytrol, visit hytrol.com.