Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | March 23, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 13 April 7 - 9, 2026 Complimentary Workshops Innovation Crawl WooTank Pitch Competition StartUpWeekWorcester.com Hosted by 3 Days Of Events for Entrepreneurs WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP F O C U S Representatives. Aptekman then used a 2022 grant from UMass Lowell to purchase new filler machines, which have since eliminated 19,000 pounds of waste per year. For Aptekman, going green is central to both her business and her morals. "It's environmentally healthy and it's good for your health and good for the future generation," she said. While Aptekman's drive for sustain- ability comes from the heart, the numbers show it can actually cost companies to not go green, said Stephen Kmiotek, professor of prac- tice at Worcester Polytechnic In- stitute's chemical engineering department. "One of the biggest production costs in the chemical business is energy," Kmiotek said. "It's just good business to be as sustainable as we can." In particular, waste is a massive expense for chemical manufacturers because of the cost of safe disposal, he said. It's not just the chemicals and their byproducts; systems like those used in filtration, insulation, and ventilation all need to be safely handled. Women's representation Ten years ago, Hi-Gear entered the household cleaner space, manufactur- ing products for nationwide clients, including kitchen cabinet creams, wood cleaners, and stain removers. One of those clients, Parker & Bailey in Walpole, sells Hi-Gear-produced cleaners at retailers including Walmart, e Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Stop & Shop. Another anonymous client sells Hi-Gear cleaners for stainless steel, granite, and wood cabinetry at Target. More of Aptekman's clients are looking to make their products as eco-friendly as possible, including removing dyes and harmful additives, she said. Hi-Gear is constantly working on new formulations, and as the auto- motive industry creates more hybrid and battery electric vehicles, Hi-Gear is producing products specifically to increase their performance and reduce wear and tear. is continuous expansion is the result of years of work by Aptekman to prove herself in the industry. Starting off in their careers, women are oen dismissed by men in both the manufacturing and automotive fields, she said. Aptekman found herself hav- ing to take 10 extra steps just to prove her credibility, oen being the only woman in the room. "You have to be assertive, and you cannot put up with anyone's BS or someone being dismissive," she said. Unfortunately, Aptekman's experience isn't unique. While women's presence in manufacturing is growing, especially over the past few years, women are still very much underrepresented in the field, said Bonnie Perkins, board chair of the Mas- sachusetts chapter of the Women in Manufacturing Association, an Ohio-based nonprofit trade association. "We just want to make sure that we support these women going into manufacturing roles," said Perkins. e efforts of Aptekman and WiM are paying off, with Perkins saying she's seeing more women in leading roles. "It is changing the culture, adding that diversity into the teams," she said. Women especially tend to bring a collaborative and problem-solving approach to leadership, Perkins said. More diverse teams reduce groupthink, leading to broader perspectives, greater profits, and increased innovation. With- out women's perspectives, manufactur- ing facilities are oen designed around male workers; that can mean produc- tion lines are set too high or tools are unnecessarily heavy. For the next generation of female manufacturing leaders working to make the industry more equitable for all, Aptekman has a piece of advice: "Instead of 'Kill with kindness,' you kill with knowledge," she said. "You kill with facts. You kill with experience." Women in U.S. manufacturing Women make up smaller percentage of the corporate manufacturing workforce pipeline at all levels vs. the overall corporate pipeline. Employment % women in % women in level manufacturing all industries Entry level 30% 49% Manager 24% 41% Director 26% 39% Vice 22% 35% president Senior vice 21% 31% president C-suite 28% 30% Source: McKinsey & Company's 2025 Women in the Workplace report W Bonnie Perkins, board chair of the Massachusetts chapter of the Women in Manufacturing Association Stephen Kmiotek, professor of practice at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

• Cover