Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Notable Leaders in Sustainability
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics Caps + Closures: A Global Online Event
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Bioplastics Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Resin Prices
    • Resin Prices Overview
    • Commodity Thermoplastics
    • High Temperature Thermoplastics
    • Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Thermosets
    • Europe - Virgin
    • Europe - Recycled
    • Europe - Feedstock
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
April 13, 2020 10:12 AM

Rising Stars 2020: Jenn Bender

Jordan Vitick
Special Projects Editor
Plastics News Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Courtesy of Jenn Bender
    Jenn Bender

    Jenn Bender, 30

    Director of Operations

    Falcon Plastics

    Jenn Bender is a third-generation worker at custom injection molder Falcon Plastics in Brookings, S.D. Her grandparents, Don and Carol Bender, founded Falcon in 1975 and both died within a month of each other in early 2020. "They left an admirable legacy," Jenn Bender said.

    Bender graduated with a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurial studies and a minor in marketing, economics and business from South Dakota State University.

    She started working at Falcon right out of high school and has held various positions at the company, including assembly operator, sales and marketing coordinator, production manager, plant manager and now director of operations. Bender has also worked as a data analyst for consulting firm Harbour Results Inc. and owner and operating manager for Arctic Ice, which specializes in nontoxic cooler packs.

    "I remained interested in manufacturing due to the daily opportunities to problem solve and find efficiencies. I have preferred my roles in operations as I am able to impact production and drive efficiencies on the plant floor," she said. "I am a very data-driven individual and like to use data to inform and drive decisions, which has led me to the position I am in today."

    Bender belongs to the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Professionals, MAPP Young Professionals, Leadership Brookings, South Dakota Manufacturing, and Boys and Girls Club of America as an advisory board member.

    Laurie Harbour, president and CEO of Southfield, Mich.-based Harbour Results, nominated Bender for Rising Stars.

    Plastics News: What is your greatest achievement?

    Bender: My greatest achievement has been getting to where I'm at in my career. I have a lot of drive and I am always pushing myself to do better and continue to learn and grow. Each new role I have been asked take on, or presented the opportunity of, I have done so wholeheartedly. I am always open to taking on new challenges as I feel I grow the most outside of my comfort zone. When I look at the support and backing I have internally at Falcon Plastics, it tells me that I have performed with integrity and acted on my morals every step of my growth. I think that's something to be proud of.

    Q: Biggest failure and what it taught you?

    Bender: I have had a lot of failures over the years but I prefer to view them as opportunities to learn and grow. My biggest hurdle I have had to get past is being a third-generation family member in the business. Growing up in a business is hard because everyone gets to watch you go through every phase of life, including your failures and successes, and one day that same team has to look at you as a trusted leader. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform above and beyond expectations to combat the assumption of nepotism. Internally at Falcon Plastics I have gained a lot of respect over the years by working hard and not acting entitled, but it's still something I am very self-conscious about.

    Q: What about the plastics industry surprises you?

    Bender: Working for Harbour Results exposed me to a lot of tool shops. When you build a mold, each project is unique and you have one chance to cut the steel. The mold building industry is far more advanced when it comes to planning and project launch than those in the plastics industry. I believe there is a lot to be learned from mold shops on launching products into a plastics manufacturing facility. The more you can be prepared and set an injection mold up for success during the launch process, the better and more repeatable your process will be each time you run that mold.

    Q: What is the best advice you have ever received?

    Bender: The best advice I ever received was to get outside of your comfort zone because that's where you grow most. I have always tried to say yes to every opportunity in my career that would help me grow or learn. I think viewing opportunities in that way has helped me through the anxiety of taking on large tasks or change. I always have a voice in the back of my head that says, "What if you fail?" but that advice helps me view new opportunities as a pathway to knowledge and growth rather than a success or failure.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Preventing pellet pollution focus of expanded Operation Clean Sweep, congressional push
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Superior Die Set seeks sale of Wisconsin plant, may be forced to close
    2
    Numbers That Matter Live September 2023: Plastics recession: Short-term blip or intermediate-term problem?
    3
    An 8,000-ton dream for Milacron, 20/20 Custom Molded Plastics
    4
    Flexible packaging firms highlight changing views on sustainability
    5
    Nova declares force majeure for PE resin at second Ontario site
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Find more newsletters at plasticsnews.com/newsletters.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Notable Leaders in Sustainability
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Videos
      • Podcasts
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics Caps + Closures: A Global Online Event
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Bioplastics Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • PFAS Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Resin Prices
      • Resin Prices Overview
      • Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temperature Thermoplastics
      • Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Recycled Plastics
      • Thermosets
      • Europe - Virgin
      • Europe - Recycled
      • Europe - Feedstock
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified