Strengthening Manufacturing through Advocacy
April 1, 2017
Honoring female makers, innovators and leaders who are influencing our industry’s future.
“There was never any doubt in my mind that I would work with my father in the moldmaking industry.”
Francine Petrucci grew up in the mold manufacturing industry, beginning in her pre-teens working part time at her father’s shop, BA Die Mold. After graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University’s School of Engineering, where she was one of the only women in the program, she began her full-time career at BA. Francine worked in the company’s CNC and quality assurance departments, then through administrative roles in the office to now serving as the company’s president and co-owner. In her role, she oversees general corporate management, building and equipment management/maintenance, corporate marketing and customer relations, and, as she puts
it, “selfless promotion of our trade!”
Francine takes pride in providing a woman’s touch to every aspect of her company’s operations. “Female
engineers bring a different perspective to projects and how we approach them. This is invaluable, particularly since I work in an almost 100-percent male-dominated industry,” she says.