Kathy Bolhous, the CEO of Charter NEX Films Inc., is known in the plastics industry for her leadership of a company that has grown into one of the 20 largest film and sheet makers in North America. Now she's rubbing (virtual) shoulders with Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and actress Catherine O'Hara as one of Forbes magazine's 50 Over 50.
"Meet the inaugural class of entrepreneurs, leaders and creators who are part of an exhilarating movement redefining life's second half and proving that success has no age limit," the magazine writes.
The ninth of 10 children, Bolhous told Plastics News about taking inspiration from her mother to both go into manufacturing and be "a boss."
"It's not a traditional path" for a woman, Bolhous noted in a 2018 interview. "You don't wake up one day and say, 'I want to be in manufacturing.' Somebody has to educate you on what it is and why it can be a career for you and why, as a woman, you can be successful in the field."
Her inclusion in the 50 Over 50 list comes as another woman has been tapped for a high-profile CEO position in the plastics industry. Kimberly Ryan will become CEO of Hillenbrand Inc., the owner of Milacron, Mold-Masters and Coperian machinery and tooling supply businesses, in January.
Ryan had been heading up the plastics business within Hillenbrand, so she has experience on the plastics machinery side.
And while I'm at it, a reminder that we're taking nominations for Women Breaking the Mold for 2021 through June 21. Profiles will appear in the July 26 issue of Plastics News.