National award recipient Julie Martin, owner of 89 North, inspires the next generation of women
This year, Vermont Business Magazine’s Annual Book of Lists flagged 89 North, an engineering firm in Williston, Vermont, as one of Vermont’s top growth companies over the past five years. This positions the company alongside some of Vermont’s most compelling high growth and women-led firms, including Mamava and OnLogic (formerly Logic Supply). In response, Martin said “Our record growth reflects the tremendous talent of our team to innovate and respond to the changing needs of our customers and the market.” The firm has also repeatedly won “Best Places to Work” designation along with its parent company, Chroma Technology.
A lifelong Vermonter and pioneer in the industry, Martin has been leading this successful firm’s efforts as Vice President and is responsible for capitalizing on the company’s innovation and scaling its operations. 89 North is taking its expertise in opto-electro-mechanical design and manufacturing beyond its traditional strengths in science laboratories. Increasingly, the firm is expanding into serving new commercial industries that benefit from using light to measure, analyze, and refine their products such as point-of-care medical testing equipment and industrial robotics.
Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle recently joined Governor Phil Scott to meet with nationally recognized manufacturing leader, and to congratulate her on receiving the STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award that honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers in the manufacturing industry and to learn more about the work being done to close the gender gap in manufacturing.
For nine years, the Manufacturing Institute has recognized more than one thousand women as STEP Ahead honorees for making a positive impact on their companies and communities. According to the Manufacturing Institute, “women account for less than one in three manufacturing workers, despite representing about half of the overall workforce” – a statistic that has barely changed since 1970 when women held 27% of manufacturing jobs. While manufacturing once served as the entry point for many women joining the workforce in the 1940’s war efforts, this sector represents one of the largest untapped talent pools today.
Janette Bombardier, who serves as COO/CTO of Chroma, said “This is both a wonderful recognition for Julie, and an important opportunity for young women in our area to see a role model so worthy of this impressive national recognition. There are so many different types of opportunities for women in manufacturing — this is a great chance to spread that news.”
Read the full press release for more information about Martin, 89 North, and the STEP Ahead program.
