We tend to stray away from politicized topics here at Centryco, since they are often polarized and we want everyone to be able to come to our site for entertainment, updates and industry information. However, we are also very passionate about women in STEM and manufacturing fields, in case that hasn’t already been apparent. With 100% women ownership and such a large and diverse female employment ratio, we are doing everything we can to support gender equality in the workplace.
It is in this vein that I am talking to you today. I am graced with a very egalitarian family, where everyone is given opportunities to succeed, something many people are not. As this is my last week with Centryco. I wanted to highlight what I see as model behaviors our company has, and how our female leadership has brought us here.
When I was a child my grandmother, Alvina, was already the company president at Centryco. Not far into my teenage years, she retired and my mother was appointed CEO. Because of this, and the manner in which I was raised, I was pretty ignorant of the problems facing women in the workplace, especially in traditionally male fields like manufacturing. I faced this issue rather abruptly when women in combat roles became a national issue, with many voices shouting concerns about the efficacy of women in combat. As a soldier, and a student of military history, I started to look for legitimate barriers to women in combat and, frankly, I couldn’t find any justification that wasn’t absurd. In fact, when I saw what Israel had achieved with gender-indifferent service, I questioned what the argument was really about. This was my AHA moment. Women shouldn’t be in combat not because they were any less capable but because it was an invasion of a traditionally male only institution.
Fast forward a decade and I have a daughter of my own: a woman, a person, for whom I can abide no boundary. I am thankful for women like my mother and grandmother, who took this company to increasingly profitable heights, who, without question, have been trailblazers for the industry, thriving, often in spite of pre-conceived notions from industry peers. I am glad my daughter has such strong examples to look up to, to demonstrate that she should fear no ceiling, glass or otherwise. I am hopeful that our great country will continue on the path founded by generations of strong women, to a day where quality, not gender, will determine limitations.
Thank you, Mom, and happy Mother’s Day.
From Matt and Madelyn.
Thank you, Matt. I’m glad – and honored – that you feel we’ve been good role models. I think every parent (and grandparents, especially) tries to make their children’s lives as good as possible; to guide them into being the best possible man/woman they can be. It’s not always an easy path but it is THE best job in the world. I am so proud of you. Good luck with your new career. – Mom
