In her 25 years in the chemical and plastics industry, Dawn Revord has held positions spanning various domains, including sales, marketing, business development, strategic planning, and profit and loss responsibility.
"One of my most noteworthy achievements includes successfully leading multiple large-scale sales and marketing teams within the plastics industry. This demonstrated my ability to inspire and guide teams to success and served as a steppingstone, allowing me to transition into broader leadership roles where I oversaw commercial operations and promoted excellence in all aspects of business operations," said Revord, director of commercial operations for Northbrook, Ill.-based resin distributor M. Holland Co.
"Additionally, I had the opportunity to contribute to the growth of a startup with a specialized focus on polymer technology. I managed numerous technology-based projects within this role and developed a monetization strategy," she added.
Revord now executes M. Holland's commercial operations excellence strategy, heads training and development, manages its Salesforce platform and collaborates with various departments to address challenges.
Her performance was recognized with the Pinnacle Award for Sales Excellence at Dow in 2012, and she was selected to participate in Avient's NextGen Future Leaders development program in 2019.
"These accolades highlight my dedication to excellence and pursuit of growth and development within the industry," said Revord, who earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood University.
Revord also actively participates in events hosted by M. Holland's partnership with the Women in Manufacturing Association and a local nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering women: "Together, we collaborate to fund diverse initiatives that support women, including aiding them in rebuilding their lives, fostering entrepreneurship and providing coaching opportunities."
The personal mold Revord is breaking, she said, "involves bold team leadership during change and uncertainty."
"Throughout my career in the plastics industry," Revord said, "I have come to understand the importance of embracing change and continuously pushing boundaries to advance people, products and technology. It is a responsibility I take to heart to ensure the thriving, innovative and talent-attracting nature of this industry. … I am committed to being a driving force in breaking more barriers, pioneering new paths, and positively disrupting this industry by harnessing technology advancements and fostering creativity."