Laced Up + Leading | A Day with the Women of Cottonwood

March 26th is a day I’ll remember for a long time…not only was it my husband, Kevin’s birthday, but it was also an amazing day spent with amazing women from across Utah.  

I had the absolute honor of joining an incredible group of women at the Utah Women in Manufacturing event, hosted by Utah Manufacturers Association under the empowering theme “Lace Up + Lead.” Even more meaningful? I got to bring every single woman from Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets with me.

There’s something special that happens when you step outside your day-to-day + make space to learn, connect + reflect—together. From the breakout sessions to the hallway conversations, from new industry friends to familiar faces, this event reminded me how powerful women in manufacturing truly are + I’m so proud that Cottonwood was part of it.

One of the biggest highlights for me personally was getting to co-present with Kylee Trapp, our Human Resource – Business Partner. Together, we shared our session, “The Power of Culture” + opened up about the real journey we’ve been on to transform our company from the inside out.

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What We Shared: The Power of Culture

We didn’t sugarcoat it. Culture doesn’t change overnight. It takes time, intention + consistency. But what we’ve learned at Cottonwood is that when you get it right, culture becomes one of your greatest assets.

Here are four takeaways from our presentation that really seemed to resonate in the room:

• Culture is a competitive advantage. It drives retention, innovation + results—but only if you nurture it on purpose.
• Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a mindset. Everyone, no matter their role, can lead from where they are. When they do, it changes everything.
• Connection fuels confidence. When people feel seen, supported + part of something bigger, they rise.
• Investing in people pays off. Growth doesn’t just benefit the individual—it strengthens the entire business.

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How Our Culture Has Evolved at Cottonwood

This event also gave us a chance to pause + reflect on how far we’ve come as a company. Our culture at Cottonwood didn’t just evolve—it was built, step by step, by a team that believed we could be better, together.

It’s a journey I’m deeply proud of + it’s been shaped by four key phases:

1. Anchoring Our Foundation

We started by making sure the basics were right—fair compensation, updated policies, modern benefits + a clear structure. We built trust by bringing stability + transparency to every corner of the company.

2. Infusing Pride

Then we elevated how people felt at work. We rebranded, redesigned our spaces + celebrated everything from project wins to personal milestones. We made it clear: your work matters + you matter.

3. Igniting Community

Next, we connected the dots—between teams, departments + goals. We launched new training programs, career pathways + succession planning so everyone could see where they fit in + where they could go next.

4. Elevating Engagement

Finally, we opened the doors beyond our walls. We leaned into industry events, school partnerships + mentorship opportunities. Because leadership isn’t just about what happens inside—it’s about how we show up in the world.

Each step of that journey has helped us create a workplace that is human-centered, purpose-driven + built to grow with intention.

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Living Our Values in Real Life

What made March 26th so special was seeing our Cottonwood values in action:

• Inspire: We walked away with new energy, new insights + a deeper belief in what’s possible.
• Elevate: Kylee + I were able to share our learnings in a way that hopefully helped others raise the bar on culture in their own companies.
• Cultivate: Most of all, we grew stronger as a team. We laughed, we learned + we left with deeper connection—that’s something you can’t fake.

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This event reminded me that the best investment you can make is in your people. I’m so proud of our Cottonwood team + grateful to UMA for creating a space where women in manufacturing can lead, learn + lift each other up.

Here’s to continuing to lace up + lead—together.

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By Kari Kovar, President + CEO

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