Meet Kylee Carbone

Christina: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Kylee: I feel confident that I will be at Westminster Tool. I hope to use my passion for marketing and business development to help the company continue to grow, and also expand what I do on the human resources side of the business. I think that helping employees continue to grow is the biggest differentiator for our company. Anyone can buy the same machines as us, but they don’t have our wonderful team of operators.

Q. What is the greatest aspect of working at Westminster?

A. I absolutely love my job, and not many people can say that. Because Westminster Tool is a small company I can do many different tasks and they are truly appreciated. In addition to marketing I also do a lot of human resources such as recruiting, attending job fairs, promoting manufacturing careers to the next generation, setting up job shadows and internships, and helping to create an internal training program for Westminster.  I love all of the training opportunities that are available to employees, specifically on soft skills.

Q.  How/why did you get into manufacturing?

A.  I got into manufacturing by chance when I applied for the position at Westminster Tool. Now, I encourage people to pursue a career in manufacturing. We need human resources, marketing, operations, office support, etc. in order to effectively run the business, and a lot of people don’t recognize that.

Q. What is the greatest asset you bring to Westminster?

A. My passion for growing a small business. Through marketing, business development and human resources I am always looking for opportunities to make the company more efficient and grow.

Q. What do you believe is the industry's greatest challenge?

A. Its negative connotation. The perception that many people have of manufacturing is inaccurate, and this directly correlates to the lack of skilled workers to fill needed positions.

Q. Waht is the most important thing you've learned so far?

A. Mistakes are going to happen, but they are great opportunities for learning. They only become an issue if you repeat them.

Q. How does it feel to be a woman in manufacturing / moldmaking?

A. I like being a woman in manufacturing because it’s not a career field that is often associated with women. I also like that I have become well versed in the manufacture of an injection mold, which I enjoy sharing with other people to get them thinking about manufacturing, and potentially a manufacturing career.

Q. Any female influences that brought you to manufacturing / moldmaking?specifically; Westminster specifically?

A. I wasn’t influenced to go into manufacturing; it was an opportunity that I took advantage of. However, my aunt is my biggest female influence. We both started out at the same small hardware store and worked hard to get through school. She became the Director of Marketing for a Window & Door company, which has always been a male dominated industry. She has been my inspiration for working and succeeding in an industry that is male dominated.