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STRYKER president recognized with women of excellence award

Nicole Malson is one of 61 women nominated for 2024 Women of Excellence in Metal Forming and Fabricating award

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December 30, 2024

APPLETON – Nicole Malson – owner and president of STRYKER, a custom printing manufacturer in Appleton – is carving out her place in the traditionally male-dominated manufacturing industry.

And the efforts of the third-generation owner and president are getting noticed.

Malson was recently one of just 61 women nominated for the 2024 Women of Excellence in Metal Forming and Fabricating awards – which is presented through MetalForming Magazine’s Women of Excellence recognition program.

According to metalformingmagazine.com, the awards – which started in 2016 – aim to promote women in the manufacturing workplace, while helping combat workforce shortages.

“Being nominated for an award for excellence is a tremendous honor, but I see it as a reflection of the collective effort of the entire team at STRYKER and my community partners,” Malson said.

She said the award recognizes the dedication of everyone who contributes to the ongoing growth of the manufacturing industry, and for her serves as a reminder about the importance of tradition. 

“For me personally, it affirms that the values my family instilled in the company are alive and thriving, and it serves as motivation to continue pushing for further progress,” she said.

As the company’s third-generation owner, Malson said she has spent more than half her life dedicated to both the manufacturing field and influencing women’s presence in the industry.

“I’ve always been passionate about supporting women in business, particularly in manufacturing, an industry where women are the minority gender,” she said.

A manufacturing journey

Though she now oversees every aspect of the company as owner and president, Malson said it wasn’t originally in her career plans to run STRYKER – a 65-plus-year-old company specializing in the fabrication of industrial tags, labels, workwear, promotional items and business apparel with embroidery and screen printing services, as well as durable nameplates, barcode labels, panel fronts and schematics.

Joining the family business at 17, she said she was originally drawn to the graphic design aspect of the business.

However, Malson said she soon found her niche among the many diverse physical manufacturing components of the operation.

“As I gained hands-on experience, working with machines and producing products, I came to realize that what I was engaged in was indeed manufacturing,” she said.

Malson said she continued to explore various departments within the realm of production and developed skills in vinyl machine operation, fabrication and engraving.

She said she also spent time working as both a CNC machine and an embroidery machine operator. 

“It was the process of creating printed products from start to finish that ultimately solidified my passion for this industry,” she said. 

Having the opportunity to immerse herself into the many operational facets, Malson said was rewarding and is what ultimately served as a stepping stone to facilitate her desire for business ownership.

“A defining memory from my childhood was the sense of pride and purpose I felt in contributing to something my family had worked so hard to build,” she said. “That connection to the company’s history and values continues to guide my leadership approach today, reminding me daily of the importance of integrity, dedication, and resilience.”

Malson said she became the president of STRYKER in 2020 and though accepting the role was exciting, coming in during the COVID-19 pandemic understandably brought with it some challenges.

Nicole Malson

Thankfully, equipped with more than a decade of experience, Malson said she was prepared to handle what lay ahead.

“By working in my business from the shop floor to the front office and knowing not only the people elements of my business but also the machines, I was able to fully navigate the challenges that the pandemic brought on us,” she said.

Malson said she was able to keep manufacturing fully operational during the pandemic by making some temporary and timely revisions, which included adjustments to staffing and project planning.

Overall, she said she credits strategic, open communication as being a critical component in the company’s resulting success.

“By knowing what was important to my people and how to communicate effectively with them, I was able to navigate and calm the waters of the unknown,” she said. “Altogether, I’m proud that my team came out of the pandemic healthy and stronger together because of it.”

Looking back, Malson said the most profound lessons she has learned along the way have come from moments of adversity.

Confronting unforeseen challenges and making critical decisions are two actions that she specifically said she believes have positively shaped the future of her family business.

“While many would highlight great victories, it was the tough, often unseen decisions I made behind closed doors that solidified my role as president,” Malson said. “I am deeply honored to continue the legacy built by my grandfather and mother, and this responsibility motivates me every day.”

Empowering women

Under her leadership, Malson said she hopes to ensure that STRYKER offers a working environment that supports and empowers women in both their personal and professional lives.

“My goal is to show that success in manufacturing doesn’t require fitting a specific mold,” she said.

Regardless of education, gender, age, experience level or skill set, Malson said there is space for everyone to grow and find their own passions at STRYKER.

“There is space for everyone who wants to be here,” she said, “(Everyone can) bring something special and valuable to the table, and manufacturing is a very diverse industry.”

Malson said she actively engages with other women and professionals in the manufacturing industry to “share insights and to build a strong network of support.”

This, she said, includes being a member of the Northern Wisconsin Chapter of Women in Manufacturing and serving on the board of directors of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA).

Both organizations’ missions, Malson said, promote and encourage individuals to explore careers in manufacturing.

“We work with educators and workforce development to promote manufacturing in Wisconsin, especially to young men and women in the K-12 school system,” she said.

An industry always evolving 

Malson said the world of manufacturing is continually evolving, which for her, means each day presents new goals and unique opportunities.

“My time is often divided between my internal management team and my external company vendors to ensure that the operations at STRYKER continue to run smoothly,” she said.

Malson said education also remains at the forefront – as she continues to attend a multitude of events to help keep her up to date with industry news and changes.

She said for her, learning never stops and helps her maintain a balance between operation and leadership.

“Through these real-time learning experiences I have developed the ability to make quick, informed decisions, even when all the information isn’t available,” she said. “When faced with setbacks, I’ve learned to evaluate, solve problems and quickly adapt – all while accepting the good, bad and ugly.”

Malson said she also enjoys engaging in discussions with fellow leaders in the industry, which proves tenfold that knowledge is power.

“I am committed to continuous learning and constantly seeking new ideas or trends that can improve both my leadership and the company’s performance,” she said.

Malson said the company’s history itself has also helped her to navigate her role as president.

“Respecting the company’s past has been essential to maintaining the culture through ownership and generational change,” she said. “However, it’s equally important to remain open to new ideas and to be open-minded to change and advancements.”

Heading into a new year, Malson said she has a slew of plans for the company – a vision she feels is revolutionary.

“Looking ahead, I hope to see STRYKER continue to grow while maintaining the close-knit culture that has always been our foundation,” she said.

As STRYKER gains new business, Malson said she plans to hire more team members, which she believes would also welcome more women to both the company and field.

Furthermore, she said she hopes to foster diversity and drive innovation within the company and in the broader manufacturing sector.

Success, Malson said, also spans beyond STRYKER itself and filters back into the community.

“Beyond business, we are committed to giving back to the community through event sponsorships and community donations,” she said. “We believe in staying deeply connected to the people who support us.”

TBN
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