Her Story
About Tara
I've been in the corrugated packaging industry for 22 years, and it's an industry that really just sucks you in. I started in customer service and then moved into pre-press work at Green Bay Packaging, where I spent 16 years. During that time, I was buying from Printron as a vendor, and I wanted to expand what I was doing into multiple plants, so I made the transition to Printron. That move allowed me to grow my expertise across different facilities. For the past 3 years, I've been in sales, focusing on printed corrugated packaging. My days are filled with press checks, helping customers troubleshoot printing challenges, driving to meet people, and providing lots of quotes. Basically, I'm helping people all over with challenges in print. One of my proudest achievements is creating a troubleshooting poster that's now being used in corrugated plants across the nation. This industry is incredibly fast-paced and always presents new challenges and new things to learn. You're never bored, and that's what keeps me engaged. It's really an addicting industry that tends to grab people, and once you're in, you don't leave.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to just the willingness to get it done. It's about the willingness to figure out why and fight to get it done, no matter how hard it is, no matter how much time it takes. If that's what needs to be done, I will do it. I have a really strong work ethic and try to always give everything well and be present in everything I do. That determination and commitment to seeing things through, regardless of the challenges, is what has driven my success in this industry.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that we all rise together. I think people forget this and tend to hold on to knowledge, thinking that they won't get anywhere if they share it. But that's been the most changing thing in my career - really helping everybody else succeed ultimately helps you in the end. It helps you all get to where you're going faster, and we all grow together when you continue to just keep helping and sharing everything that you know. This collaborative approach has been transformative for me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to just stay strong and keep fighting with fact, because it's a predominantly male industry. We do need to stay strong. It is really fast-paced, but the good news is there's a shift happening. You have to be resilient and stand your ground, because while it can be challenging, things are changing for the better.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is just how fast-paced it is. People want responses in half an hour. I used to work with headwear where we had 90 to 120 day lead times, and things were shipping across oceans on trucks, trains, and boats. Now it's like, we want those in 3 hours, and you're like, what? It's just a lot more fast-paced than it used to be. The industry has shifted dramatically in terms of customer expectations and turnaround times, and keeping up with that pace is the real challenge.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are having a really strong work ethic and trying to always give everything well and be present in everything I do. Whether I'm at work helping customers troubleshoot or on the soccer fields with my kids, I believe in being fully engaged and committed to whatever I'm doing in that moment. That presence and dedication are what guide me in both my professional and personal life.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Minnesota
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.