New WHMA Board Member Joan Kappell Reflects on Her Prosperous Journey in Wire Harness

August 12, 2024 | Brittany Martin, IPC Community

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Joan Kappell was always drawn to the hum of machinery, even as a child. She remembers 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 industry, 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 precision skills to excel in roles that demand the utmost dexterity. This environment laid the foundation for Joan's own journey.

In 1986, Joan began working in assembly and testing at the same Monona Wire Corp. where her mother worked. However, her versatility and thirst for knowledge propelled her beyond the confines of the factory floor. A self-proclaimed "jack of all trades," Joan sought opportunities to expand her skills, and was always looking for a new challenge within the company.

Follow this link to read the rest of this article, which appered in the Summer 2024 issue of IPC Community.