In July, Plastics News released its Women Breaking the Mold special report. Since 2015, Plastics News has published this report highlighting women in the plastics industry with unique experiences, impressive careers, and stories to tell. The 2024 edition featured two Novolex employees, which was an honor but not a surprise if you know Kim Witte or Donna Cartwright.

Kim is a Director of Sales in foodservice for Heritage Bag , a Novolex brand, and Donna is a Senior Director of Technology at Novolex. Both women have led incredible careers defined by passion, hard work, and mentorship.

Find What Makes You Tick

Kim started her career in the plastics industry at a leading packaging manufacturer where she spent ten years as a district sales representative and a corporate account manager. Fueled by an interest in tackling misconceptions about plastics, she decided to dive deeper. She developed a passion for educating consumers about the vital role plastics and sustainable products play in our society, .

Donna started her career at a major consumer packaged goods (CGP) company and, with the support of incredible mentors, obtained a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of California Berkeley. It was critical for Donna to pursue higher education to provide for her five children and show them that education can open doors in your life. Today, Donna shares that her children are all successful in their chosen careers.

Trust the Process

At a previous company, Kim interviewed for a national account position. With just two years of experience in the industry, she prepared for the interview for weeks and felt very confident, but ultimately was not offered the role. which completely altered her career trajectory. Kim learned to trust that everything happens for a reason and that opportunities would come if she kept working hard.

Early in her career, Donna developed a product that passed all laboratory testing, but the results did not translate to real-world conditions. She noted that this experience felt like a failure, but it reminded her of the value and importance of understanding the problem you are trying to solve. Donna implemented refined testing methodologies to better represent how a product will actually be used for future product development. Today, Donna has collaborated on innovative products that have resulted in three patents and received several awards for product development throughout her career.

Cultivate Relationships with the People Around You

Kim and Donna credit mentorships and networking with much of their career success. “I have had some of my most insightful, informative, and impactful conversations at industry trade shows and conferences,” shared Kim. “Take the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and build relationships with your industry peers.” Kim is a member of the Hygieia Network, a leading industry association which provides education, mentoring, and support programs to help women in the cleaning and facility solutions industry succeed.

Donna encourages others to lean into personal and professional mentors, especially in an industry as and intricate as plastics. “It’s a very niche industry that affects millions of people across the globe, so understanding the intricacies of everything from manufacturing to legislation is quite the undertaking,” said Donna. “Ask questions, expand your network, stay curious, and take initiative when opportunities present themselves to dive deeper into industry issues.” Through Novolex, Donna is a member of the Plastics Industry Association ), an organization that represents the plastics supply chain and its nearly one million U.S. employees.

Mentorships have been vital throughout the span of their careers, especially within Novolex. Donna commented that Adrianne Tipton, Chief Technology Officer at Novolex, has been an invaluable mentor, making Novolex feel like home. “She’s an incredibly fierce and strong leader, and it's my honor and privilege to work with her and our team,” shared Donna.

Novolex celebrates the opportunity to amplify women’s voices within the manufacturing industry. Both women serve as role models for a future generation of women looking to make a difference through their work with plastics and beyond.

Congratulations, Kim and Donna!