IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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IPC COMMUNITY 27 SUMMER 2024 J oan Kappell was always drawn to the hum of machinery, even as a child. She remem- bers waiting eagerly on the shop floor for her mother, who worked diligently on Artos and Komax Gear cutting machines at the Monona Wire Corp in Monona, Iowa, to finish her shift. Joan has remained fascinated by the indus- try, where she works in sales at one of today's top wire harness companies. Joan admires her mother's dedication to her job and the industry. "She only recently retired after an astounding 41 years in the wire harness industry," Joan says. In fact, it's as common today as when Joan's mother started working in the industry for women to be found on the factory floors, leveraging their pre- cision skills to excel in roles that demand the utmost dex- terity. This environment laid the foundation for Joan's own journey. In 1986, Joan began work- ing in assembly and testing at the same Monona Wire Corp. where her mother worked. However, her versatility and thirst for knowledge pro- pelled her beyond the con- fines of the factory floor. A self-proclaimed "jack of all trades," Joan sought opportu- nities to expand her skills, and was always looking for a new challenge within the company. "I worked in customer service, order entry, pro- duction control/master scheduling, shipping, inventory management, and then sales, where I am now," she says. From 1988–2020, she was an internal auditor for QS-ISO 9001, TS 16949, and AS9100 Quality Management Systems, develop- ing an unwavering commitment to excellence that earned her the reputation as the go-to per- son in her company. "Wherever there was a gap to be filled, I tried to be there," she says, "ready to step in and make a difference." Joan's passion for the wire harness industry is evident in the quality and tenacity of her work. She's an outside sales/account manager for WHMA member Amphenol Unlimited Services, a Fortune 500 company with more than 90,000 employees. Joan was also recently appointed to the WHMA Board of Directors, marking a mile- stone in her illustrious career. As she steps into this new role, she recalls the early days of WHMA and her efforts to help the association gain its footing and importance in the wire harness industry. "I would take minutes for WHMA meetings when the organization was just taking its first steps," she says of those early days with the asso- ciation. "I occasionally typed the notes from the dictation by Loren Smith back when WHMA was initially founded. Loren Smith was one of the founding members." From note-taker to board member, Joan has been perpetually committed to ensuring WHMA's growth and success. "My goal as a board member is to get feedback from others in the industry to share with the board," Joan says. "As a board member, I can serve WHMA by helping its member companies succeed. Whether that is getting them exposure at WHMA events, set- ting them up with WHO training, or connecting