Hobart will be marking the forthcoming International Women’s Day (March 8th) by celebrating its links to Josephine Cochrane, an American female inventor inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006 for patent 355,139, issued on December 28, 1886, for her invention of the first successful, hand powered dishwasher.
Following her death in 1913, the company Cochrane founded, Garis-Cochrane Manufacturing, became part of KitchenAid through acquisition by Hobart, with her invention providing a pathway to the modern era and the manufacture of the most innovative warewashers on the market.
Following in Josephine’s trailblazing footsteps, the female contingent at Hobart UK has grown exponentially over the years with representation in every facet of the business. Hobart’s parent company, ITW, can also boast an established Women’s Network – a global employee resource group with a remit to attract, develop and retain female talent.
Furthermore, several women now hold leading roles in the UK organisation, including Managing Director, Tracy Southwell, Sales Director, Cara Williams, Head of Marketing and Product Management Ceri Williams, Operations Manager, Cassandra Clark, Leasing & Finance Manager, Lizzie Lack, HR Manager, Anna Pugh and European HR Director, Jo Kemp.
Tracy Southwell, comments:
“This International Women’s Day, we proudly look back to Josephine’s trailblazing role in the Hobart story, while celebrating the great strides made across the business from both men and women to improve diversity and inclusion. We are also proud that initiatives such as the long established ITW Women’s Network is helping provide viable pathways for so many talented females. This Friday we welcome to our organisation one of the most energizing, engaging, and captivating speakers in the industry, Erika Gilchrist, as a guest speaker.
“With 13 published books and an impressive 24-year speaking career, Erika is an authority in personal development, leadership training, conflict management skills for women, as well as domestic abuse & escape, and we can’t wait to hear her inspirational story.”
Find out more about working at Hobart and our Employee Resource Groups.