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March 27, 2009
Award Shines Light on Textron Defense Systems
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Judy Bewig, shown on the right, is a senior manager in Central Engineering and Kristy Casella, shown on the left, is a senior networking and communications engineer for TDSý Advanced Solutions Center. |
IEEE Women in Engineering magazine has named Textron Defense Systems (TDS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, among the top ten best companies for women to work – a testament to its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
More than 150 nominations were submitted to the magazine and TDS was one of the ten finalists chosen by a panel of national experts in workforce diversity, along with experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Other companies honored were General Electric, Google and The Walt Disney Company.
Building Community
With a number of formal and informal networks, TDS is dedicated to a culture of inclusion.
“Many of us get together with senior women at the company – at least once a month – for informal mentoring. This has helped me connect to women on many different levels from all over Textron,” says Kristy Casella, senior networking and communications engineer for TDS’ Advanced Solutions Center.
Judy Bewig, currently a senior manager in Central Engineering, has worked at TDS for more than 30 years and is a member of the Diversity Council at its Wilmington, Massachusetts facility – Textron Systems’ operating units all have dedicated diversity councils focused on activities that build and maintain an inclusive workplace. “There are certainly a lot of great people here and I have been given the opportunity to work on a lot of different projects to get exposure to different people and programs,” said Bewig.
TDS’ inherent sense of community is possible, in part, because of company-sponsored affinity groups and networks. The Women’s Group – providing personal and professional support, mentoring and career advancement – is one of TDS’ strongest groups. Bewig recently called upon the Women’s Group to help her prepare for an interview within the company. The support she received helped her land the job!
Additionally, the Women’s Group worked with management to successfully establish a flex-time and tele-commute policy, benefiting all employees by easing the difficulty of balancing professional and personal obligations.
Commitment to an Inclusive Culture
“This honor is a testament to the value Textron Systems places on creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workplace,” said Susan Lee, director of Diversity at Textron Systems. The company has worked hard to develop its comprehensive diversity plan that is in place to increase representation and also move the needle on inclusion so all Textron Systems’ operating units can attract and retain diverse candidates.
At TDS, a number of specific programs are in place to attract diverse talent as well as develop future leaders and engineers. The company partners with local colleges to provide undergraduate engineering students the opportunity to obtain real-life work experience through Co-Op and Intern programs. Additionally, the Engineering Development Program enables high-potential entry-level engineers to rotate through short-term assignments in different engineering functions, providing exposure to various technologies while also gaining experience in teamwork and leadership.
Celebrating Progress
“I am proud of the progress we’ve made and will continue to lead and participate in initiatives in support of an inclusive environment,” says Bewig, one of the women who helped build up the female community to where it stands today at TDS.
Casella, employed at TDS for three years, appreciates the accomplishments of TDS female employees like Bewig who have worked hard to build a strong and successful network of resources for women. “Because of their persistence, we are being recognized as one of the best places for women to work,” Casella says.
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