Finally , the two companies had a great cultural fit , which is important to Julie . Keen to ensure that the transition was successful , Mativ embraced the workforce at all levels , with Julie and her team creating a transformation office to lead the integration efforts . “ We were clear from the very beginning that this is probably the most value-creating opportunity we will have in our careers and we cannot treat it as a hobby . The transformation office features our top talents , and they are ensuring we are making progress and holding us accountable for results .”
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A communication team is also helping to ensure a smooth assimilation and Julie is delighted with the level of messaging that has been put in place , in a short time frame . “ We do a podcast with our leadership team and ‘ get to know ’ videos , townhalls , and global team calls . But on top of that , I am a big believer in the value of face-to-face interaction ,” she added . “ One of my favorite parts of my job is being out in the plants , spending time with employees , learning from those that are closest to our manufacturing process , looking for opportunities , and getting to know the team better .” Demonstrating her dedication to this approach , when we spoke to Julie , she was about to embark on a tour of nine of Mativ ’ s plants on the East Coast of the US , before visiting several of its European facilities as well in the coming months .
Clearly on the cusp of an exciting growth journey , Mativ is benefiting from Julie ’ s experience across multiple sectors and her
One of my favorite parts of my job is being out in the plants , spending time with employees , learning from those that are closest to our manufacturing process confidence to take bold steps when required . Her own career path , which she describes as ‘ non-linear ’, offers the ideal foundation from which to direct this newly combined enterprise . Her first role as a cost analyst
“ at a Georgia-Pacific paper mill sparked a passion for manufacturing that still burns as bright today . She then got involved in process improvement programs , moved from finance into operations and then supply chain , and eventually became leader of a large customer service group and a sales and marketing team . “ I wanted to get closer to customers and better understand the marketplace and how we could meet their needs . The role included logistics , sales technical support and packaging engineering , so it was a great experience from the standpoint of learning to lead . There was an amazing infrastructure around me , which ensured I couldn ’ t fall down - to some degree !”
Speed with purpose
Having learned so many valuable skills at Georgia-Pacific , Julie was recruited by Neenah to lead the supply chain for fine paper and packaging – its largest segment . “ From there , I moved into sales and marketing and then held a general manager role with full P & L responsibility and decisions rights .” Leading that group for several years , Julie brought all her experience to bear and was able to find ways to grow the division for seven consecutive years .
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