Jessica Ingle: Continually Improving

This blog is part of a series for Women’s History Month to highlight women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry.

Jessica Ingle is like a lot of women who are juggling work, family and life. And she’s managed to excel at it all, including her 18 years of climbing the career ladder at Impact Washington, the Washington state MEP Center and part of the MEP National Network^TM.

Her first real job was at Impact Washington, and her passion for its work continues to grow. Ingle’s journey began as an administrative assistant, and today she’s a key leader in the organization as deputy center director.

As she reflects on Women’s History Month, she’s thrilled to see more women joining the manufacturing world. “We can bring a unique perspective to this community that historically has been mostly male. And with new perspectives comes innovation,” Ingle says.

Ingle does a lot at Impact Washington, including overseeing operations and human resources, assisting the director with long-term strategies, working with the team to streamline processes, overseeing reports to make sure goals are being met, and much more.

Her teammates say her knowledge about Impact Washington and dedication to fulfilling the mission of the MEP National Network is especially valuable. Continuing education has been key to her career development, and she has earned several certifications. She is a graduate of the Tab Wilkins Emerging Leaders Program, which is designed to build and train the next generation of leaders and MEP Center directors within the Network.

“I have found working at Impact Washington to be interesting, challenging and fun. Our mission is meaningful,” Ingle says. “That continuous improvement is always the focus. We are never ‘done.’ We are consistently learning new ways to grow and improve our business, and the ways we interact with one another internally and in the community.”

Ingle feels that she is making a difference at Impact Washington, and she likes working alongside the entire Network. “Impact Washington is part of a network of 50 other like-minded Centers ready to do the same,” she says. “If we don’t have a resource, someone in our Network will. We are not competitive with one another, which allows us to be part of a much larger team – all ready to solve the challenges of today’s manufacturers.”

Ingle’s days are full and busy, and sometimes a bit crazy. But like a lot of women, she’s always striving for balance and finding a way to do it all well. And she has some wisdom to share.

“No challenge is permanent. We are here to face new challenges each day and learn new ways to overcome them,” she says. “In the workplace and in life, try to approach each challenge with a positive mindset. Even if we don’t have the answer now, it’s out there ready for us to uncover it. And the satisfaction you will find from that process is going to set you up for success the next time you face a challenge.”