Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefani Ducote
Hi Stefani, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a middle-class family, oldest of 3 girls with Dad working for an oilfield company and Mom managing our home. We were taught from a young age the value of hard work and rewards through our chore calendar on the refrigerator. We were always encouraged to DO OUR BEST…not BE THE BEST. And we were always encouraged to be curious. Dad was my GOOGLE…very patiently answering all of my “how” and “why” questions. These lessons have always guided me.
I needed a car my senior year in high school which meant I needed a job so I signed up for the work-study class and ended up getting a job at Continental Airlines. The morning-school / afternoon-work scheduled worked so well for me that I stayed working there while getting my undergrad degree at UH and then for another 11 years. I was one of the lucky ones to experience the remarkable turn-around story of the airline under the leadership of Gordon Bethune and Greg Brenneman. That experience taught me what type of leader I wanted to be. Then life events happened and I moved around to new industries, always hungry to learn “how” and “why.” I learned about lean manufacturing from Toyota, trucking and logistics from US Auto Logistics, supply chain from Comcast, and now I get to put all those lessons together to run APP Manufacturing. At the end of the day, no matter what industry I’m in, it’s all about PEOPLE. Treating employees, bosses, customers, and suppliers with dignity and respect.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? More like CRUNCHY. My struggles have mostly been around my no-nonsense, direct communication style. I’ve been coached about corporate politics and even been told (jokingly, but not) that I should get Botox to help with my lack of “poker face” in meetings. Sure, there are times I’ve said something I’d like to take back…but overall I am happy with my leadership and contribution throughout my career. I believe I left each team with better processes and a winning culture; at least better than I found them.
We’ve been impressed with APP Manufacturing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small, Women-Owned fabrication shop. We manufacture Pipe Supports…anything a pipe sits on or hangs from and mostly for industrial projects. It’s not super glamorous…welding and resin/fiberglass work…messy. And not a type of business typically run by a woman. Our owner is a young woman who purchased the business from her family trust after her father passed away. Our culture is fun, open book and inclusive. Our customers enjoy our responsiveness, transparency, and partnership. Their success is our success!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My undergrad degree is in Hotel and Restaurant Management. We camped in tents a lot growing up so hotels and cruise ships were always so alluring to me. My dream was to be Gopher from the Love Boat!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.appmfg.com
