Ladies Who Lead in Keeping Our Company Running
Meet three women who enjoy the fast-paced Traffic Department and are proud of their role in keeping Olympic Steel and our customers running.
From receiving material to shipping finished goods, our Traffic departments across the country are always on the go. This month, we’re featuring three women who enjoy the fast-paced metals industry and have taken the Lead in Keeping Our Company Running.
Paula Morton, Traffic Supervisor, Berlin Metals – Hammond, IN
Paula Morton started her career at Berlin Metals in 1993 as an Operations Assistant. After a few years away, Paula returned to Berlin in 2003 as a Quality Assistant. In 2006, she moved into the Shipping department as a Traffic Coordinator and was promoted to Traffic Supervisor in 2021.
Paula handles all outbound shipments and some inbound. She’s experienced unprecedented challenges in the last year, but it hasn’t detailed her enthusiasm for her work. “I enjoy being a Traffic Supervisor because it’s challenging and different all the time,” Paula explains. “My ultimate goal is to keep the customers happy. It feels good to be able to make that happen – doing whatever it takes to achieve 100% customer satisfaction.”
The steel industry is where Paula has spent most of her career. “I started in this business when I was young,” she says. “There’s always something to learn because it’s always changing, and that keeps things interesting.”
Whether she’s handling a customer issue or juggling a trucking shortage, Paula says support from management, her co-workers and a solid network of carriers helps her get through it all. “Having good communication internally and with our customers is important,” says Paula. “We try to stay on top of everything, planning ahead as much as we can to help each other out.”
She adds, “I get as much done as early as I can, staying in touch with carriers and keeping open communication with the Sales and Production departments, so we can work together if issues arise.”
Paula says that’s the strategy she uses to keep things moving smoothly – that and “using reliable carriers.”
Shannon Stinebaugh, Trucking Supervisor, Olympic Steel – Chambersburg, PA
Shannon began her career through a temporary agency in 2006 as a Material Handler for the Shipping/Receiving Department. One year later, after being hired as a regular, full-time employee, she was promoted to a lead position in the Shipping and Receiving department. Following a short break of employment, Shannon returned to the Chambersburg division as the Trucking Supervisor.
“I supervise shipping, receiving, trucking and inventory control at the 1530 building,” Shannon explains. “I enjoy my work because it’s different every day and offers me a new set of challenges to tackle.”
Challenging situations often arise in the Traffic department. It’s how one handles challenges that sets them apart. Shannon tackles challenges by communicating clearly and working side-by-side with the team to help get things done.
Working with her team and dealing with something different each day is what Shannon enjoys most about her job. “When you work in a big arena, like the metals industry, every day brings a new set of challenges,” she says. “Challenges that also offer a lot of learning and growth opportunities.”
Rosa Velazquez, Traffic Supervisor, Olympic Steel – Schaumburg, IL
Rosa started her career at Olympic Steel in the fall of 2019 as a Receiving Clerk. She learned shipping responsibilities and then moved into a Shipping/Receiving role. Over the next two years, Rosa added experience that resulted in two promotions. The most recent promotion, in 2021, moved her into the Shipping Supervisor position where she oversees the Truck Drivers, Shipping Clerks and Receiving Clerks.
“I love what I do,” says Rosa. “I like being in Shipping/Receiving because every day is different. It keeps me on my toes and gives me something new to learn each day.”
Rosa says she enjoys working in the metals industry because “steel is BIG!” She explains: “We work with truckloads and large volumes. We deal with so many different customers in a variety of industries – every single day. Not many people can say they helped create cars and hospital beds and bridges and more.”
It’s exciting to work in the metals industry. And, it’s also challenging. Rosa works through these challenges with the help of her team. “With good communication and helping one another,” she says. “Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad; but the next day is always a new day and an opportunity to make things better.”
Rosa’s positive, can-do attitude is a big reason for her success and effective management of Schaumburg’s Shipping Department. Her philosophy on developing her team and the department’s effectiveness is inspired by a quote from Henry Ford: “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.”
Paula, Shannon and Rosa have different experiences that shaped their careers, but they all have a common link – a desire to be part of an exciting, fast-paced industry that teaches them something new each day and allows them to keep Olympic Steel and our customers running.
Help Celebrate Our Talented Team!
The Leading Ladies feature kicked-off in December 2020 with Ladies Who Lead in Our Industry. That month, and for many months since, we’ve featured employees who local leaders have identified as positive examples of the talented women building strong careers at Olympic Steel. It’s important to share stories that inspire others to keep working toward their goals and bringing different perspectives to their teams.
It’s not always easy to attract women to our industry. With these profiles, we hope to inspire the many talented ladies already on our team and encourage more to join Olympic Steel.
Know a leading lady who has an inspiring story to tell? Send your referral to CompanyCommunications@olysteel.com.
