Thermal-Vac Technology, Inc. is excited to have its CEO, Heather Falcone, included in Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019. The list, now in its second year, honors young movers and shakers in the North American heat treating industry. 

For Falcone, being included in the Class of 2019 is a special honor. From her perspective, the heat treating industry is going through a difficult transition. Continued weakness in the North American manufacturing sector, competitive pressures, and constantly evolving technology are making success more difficult to come by for heat treating businesses. At the same time, the generation of executives is beginning to retire, giving young leaders like Falcone an opportunity to discover new approaches to service.

Falcone admits that when she learned about her inclusion on the list, her first reaction was to count the number of women in the class. Falcone likes to be recognized as an accomplished business leader, regardless of her gender, but she knows she can be a role model for other women who want to take leadership positions in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Click here to read about her insights on the subject, which she recently shared during a special panel event at UCLA.

With the headcount out of the way, Falcone reflected on how proud she was of all her colleagues for being included on the list. Many of the honorees are friends. “A few of us got together and had a little celebration,” she said.

She sees being part of a distinguished group as an incredible opportunity to expand Thermal-Vac’s engagement with its peers. “I have an instant connection with these people to open up new sources for collaboration,” she said. “The heat treating industry is traditionally very tight-lipped, so having a common ground with people I’ve not worked with before gives us a chance to break the ice and talk about things like best practices, cybersecurity, AS9100 changes, and so on. It gives us the thread that binds.”

About Thermal-Vac Technology, Inc.

Thermal-Vac Technology is a family-owned brazing, heat treating, and metal finishing company located in Orange, California. Founded in 1985, the company serves manufacturers in Southern California and throughout the west. Customers include some of the biggest names in American manufacturing, including major companies in aerospace, medical devices, consumer products and more.