March 21, 2022

Celebrating National Women’s History Month

March is National Women’s History Month. To celebrate the achievements by women at Bundy Baking Solutions, we interviewed five women across five of our different business units. Each of these women come from a different walk of life, have different backgrounds and experiences, and have different career goals and aspirations; yet, each one plays an equally important role in our company and in the baking industry as a whole, as do all of the women throughout Bundy Baking Solutions and its divisions. Hear about some of the industry experiences of these five women and what they feel contributes to their overall success.

What is your current job title?

Nancy Cavanaugh – Director of Tax – Bundy Baking Solutions

Mariana Haddad – Technical Sales Director – American Pan Cainco

Lisa Hartnagel – Plant Secretary – Pan Glo

Georgiana Petcu – HR Manager – American Pan Europe

Dr. Susan Roberts-Bleming – Head of Technical Risk, Europe – American Pan UK

Have you held any positions within the Bundy companies prior to your current position?

Nancy Cavanaugh – No other positions held.

Mariana Haddad – “I joined Cainco in 2013 as an Insides Sales Coordinator, a few months before the partnership of American Pan and Cainco began. Within a year, I became the Insides Sales Manager. In 2017, I moved up to become a Regional Sales Representative for some countries in South America and in 2019, my territory increased to also include Australia and New Zealand. I also became a product specialist for some particular pan technologies. In November 2021, I was promoted to Technical Sales Director.”

Lisa Hartnagel – No other positions held.

Georgiana Petcu – “I started my career here in 2012 as an HR Assistant. In 2014, I was promoted to HR Specialist and was later promoted to HR Manager in 2018.”

Dr. Susan Roberts-Bleming – No other positions held.

What do you love most about your job?

Nancy Cavanaugh – “I get to work with an amazing group of people every day.  Our accounting and finance departments are primarily made up of women, which is unusual.  It is nice to be surrounded by strong independent women every day.”

Mariana Haddad – “I love how active this industry is. I feel as though I am constantly learning… there are always new projects and a new piece of information or new ideas. This movement, combined with the fact that I’m part of a global company which puts us in contact with many different countries, cultures, and languages, is amazing to me.”

Lisa Hartnagel – “I enjoy helping and interacting with people.  Working for the Bundy companies has given me the opportunity to train several other administrative assistants. That has been very enjoyable and satisfying to me… knowing that my superiors had enough confidence in me to allow me to train someone else. I love that I can keep busy with my job. My title may be Plant Secretary, but I am always eager to help in any way that I possibly can. For example, I was able to obtain my forklift certificate which allows me to get away from my desk from time to time to help load/unload trucks when we are short staffed.”

Georgiana Petcu – “Everything. Firstly, the fact that I can play one part in helping someone find a workplace, helping others achieve their potential and adding value to the company – keeps me focused to get the best out of people, time, and place. It is never boring and always challenging.”

Dr. Susan Roberts-Bleming – “I am lucky because I enjoy what I do, especially in the knowledge that as a member of the baking industry, I get to be a part of people’s lives through the foods that they eat.  Each day I am presented with the opportunity to positively help bakeries and the food industry to offer the best quality using our innovative coating products. I get to work closely with bakeries to identify and understand the latest trends, technologies, and regulatory developments whilst ensuring our bakeware coatings give the best performance in the bakery environment. Knowing I have been able to help a customer with an enquiry for technical/regulatory assistance or help them to facilitate an NPD opportunity gives me satisfaction and enjoyment to have been able to contribute in some part to their success.”

What does it mean to you to be a female with a career in the baking industry?

Nancy Cavanaugh – “I am very fortunate to work in the baking industry.  I have learned so much about the industry in the seven years that I have been at Bundy Baking Solutions.  I never realized all that went into making baking pans!  There are many women throughout the industry that hold very important roles.”

Mariana Haddad – “I think we, women, are very used to having to multi-task and open a thousand boxes at the same time without losing our focus and, as this is such an active industry, in constant movement. As a woman, this ability to be able to deal with many new and different subjects all of the time really comes in handy.”

Lisa Hartnagel – “It has been very rewarding to me to work within the Bundy companies. I have learned a lot working here and I know there is a lot more to learn. I believe we learn something new every day working in this industry.  I am very proud of what I do. I feel I am one small person in the company that is helping the company strive to meet their goals. I feel like we are one big family. This is an awesome company to work for. You are not considered a number here; you are considered family. I have always felt extremely welcomed and appreciated.”

Georgiana Petcu – “In the first part of my career, I felt that it was very challenging to succeed in such a male-dominated industry. I had to sometimes work double to prove myself! It is only about finding your place. The baking industry offers a lot of opportunities for women – from production roles to top management. It is a pleasure to know that by the end of each day, I have contributed to helping feed the world!”

Dr. Susan Roberts-Bleming – “Being a female in a generally male-dominated industry, I have in past times encountered some challenges. The positive is that times have and are still changing.  The baking industry is a positive and supportive environment for women to develop and flourish. To be part of an industry that supports, empowers, and uplifts women, especially women in scientific roles, is rewarding and worth all the hard work and dedication to achieve.”

What advice do you have for other females who may be interested in a career in the manufacturing and/or baking industries?

Nancy Cavanaugh – “I would say that any woman who has a desire to work in the manufacturing and/or baking industry should go for it!  Hard work and perseverance will most definitely pay off.  Even though the baking industry has been historically dominated by men, I feel that as of today, women have made (and continue to make) significant marks and contributions!”

Mariana Haddad – “I say go for it! The baking industry is a really rewarding business as you feel part of something much larger and with a great purpose – that is, helping to feed the world! Furthermore, as a young woman, I have always felt that everyone who is in this business for some time wants to pass on their knowledge to you, share their experiences, and make you a part of the industry. You constantly find people that have been in the business for ten, twenty, or thirty plus years and I think that tells a lot about it.”

Lisa Hartnagel – “Be yourself. Be a good team player. Work hard. Be kind to one another. Smile… you just might make someone’s day. Go above and beyond if possible. Always be willing to help anyone who needs it, whether it’s part of your job description or not. Be positive about your job. If you don’t have a kind word to say, keep it to yourself.”

Georgiana Petcu – “Take a chance! If you could work and succeed in a manufacturing environment, you can do any other roles you want!”

Dr. Susan Roberts-Bleming – “My advice as a female and a scientist working in the manufacturing industry is to know that every day will present new opportunities and challenges.  You will be challenged by your team, your peers, and your customers to be the best you can be. It can be demanding but it is equally rewarding and enjoyable. Never stop learning and remain determined to succeed.  Always listen to your gut feeling and be willing to try new things and remain curious, while remaining true to whom you are. If you fail, pick yourself up and use it as an opportunity to develop and learn. Above all, enjoy the ride and celebrate being the female you are working in the manufacturing industry.”

Who has been the most influential woman in your life to help get you where you are today and why?

Nancy Cavanaugh – “The most influential woman in my life that has helped me get to where I am today is my mother.  She taught me at an early age that if you want something, you need to work hard and do what it takes to get it.  She worked in an era that was definitely male dominated.  She realized the inequalities between how men and women were treated and compensated, and she took it upon herself to fight those inequalities and she won!  It was no small feat and I will forever be proud of her for that accomplishment. My mother taught me to be strong and independent and to be kind to everyone. She also taught me to stand up for myself and to never allow anyone to treat me with disrespect.  In turn, I have tried to instill the same in my children and grandchildren.”

Mariana Haddad – “I come from a big family and have been surrounded by strong and independent women my entire life. When you have that, you don’t really feel like there is an alternative other than working hard and trying to become one someday. That has always had a significant influence in my personality and my life decisions. Having said that, I would say the creator of this women power spirit in my family is the most influential woman in my life: my grandma. She raised 5 daughters, 8 grandkids, and 4 great-grandkids. She has always led by setting an example of love and hard work. She was a middle school teacher for many years and she, now 78 years old, continues to help everyone around her and dedicate to the family. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard someone say to me, ‘Your grandma really helped me in a moment of need.’ I hope that I can live up to her life lessons and continue learning from this amazing woman.”

Lisa Hartnagel – “I guess I would have to say my mom. She always told me, ‘If you want anything extra, you’ve got to go out and work for it.’ So that is what I did. I took over a paper route at the age of 12 and I have been working ever since.”

Georgiana Petcu – “The reality is… more than one woman has been the most influential person in my life. I was raised by my grandmother, my sister, and my mother. I owe much of who I am to these three amazing, loving, and hard-working women. Because of my mother and my sister, I learned how to be an independent woman by earning my own money. My grandmother taught me the importance of family and unconditional love. I learned the power of hard work and perseverance by not giving up on my goals and to believe in myself.”

Dr. Susan Roberts-Bleming – “I can honestly say that the most influential woman in my life, without any doubt, is my mum. She was and remains so through my memories of her and the lessons and life skills that she taught me. Without her support, conversation, and encouragement, I would not be the person, nor would I be in the role and occupation, that I am today.”