Gina Roemke brings customer-first focus to Wausau Coated Products in new leadership role – Wausau Daily Herald

Executive Report: Wausau Coated Products Appointment and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Wausau Coated Products has announced the appointment of Gina Roemke to the position of Senior Product Category Manager for Rolls. This strategic appointment underscores the company’s commitment to innovation, leadership, and long-term growth, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Promotion of Gender Equality and Decent Work (SDG 5 & SDG 8)

Ms. Roemke’s appointment to a senior management role directly supports SDG 5: Gender Equality by promoting women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership in the economic sector. Her extensive career and proven capabilities highlight the company’s focus on merit-based advancement.

• Extensive Experience: Ms. Roemke brings over 20 years of experience with Wausau Coated Products to the role.
• Diverse Skillset: Her background encompasses sales, human resources, and customer solutions, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the business.
• Proven Leadership: She has a documented track record of successful leadership and project management, contributing to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by fostering a stable and productive work environment.

Driving Sustainable Innovation and Industry Growth (SDG 9 & SDG 12)

In her new capacity, Ms. Roemke will be responsible for initiatives that are central to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Her focus is on creating value through sustainable practices and forward-thinking product development.

1. Connecting Innovation with Market Demand: She will guide efforts to ensure product innovation meets current and future market needs, fostering sustainable industrialization.
2. Aligning with Long-Term Vision: Her role involves aligning the product portfolio with the company’s long-term vision, which includes a commitment to responsible production.
3. Data-Driven Solutions: Ms. Roemke aims to leverage data-driven insights to deliver customer-centric solutions, enhancing efficiency and reducing waste within the industry.

Demonstrated Resilience and Adaptive Leadership

Ms. Roemke’s leadership capabilities were particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she successfully managed the customer solutions team through significant disruption. This experience demonstrates a commitment to building resilient systems, a key aspect of SDG 8 and SDG 9.

• She successfully integrated remote teams and deployed new operational systems.
• Her approach emphasized action-oriented leadership, cultural integration, and building trust across distances.
• This period shaped her strategic and empathetic approach to overcoming challenges and focusing on outcomes.

Corporate Endorsement and Strategic Outlook

Company leadership has expressed strong confidence in Ms. Roemke’s appointment. Adam Frey, Vice President of Converter Direct, noted that her deep customer insight, industry expertise, and strategic mindset will be instrumental in driving future success. Her leadership is expected to be a key factor in advancing the company’s goals, ensuring that its growth is both profitable and aligned with principles of sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article highlights the appointment of a woman, Gina Roemke, to a senior leadership position (senior product category manager). This directly relates to promoting women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article discusses a company’s strategic efforts to drive success and growth through effective leadership, innovation, and adapting to market demands. This contributes to achieving higher levels of economic productivity and promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  A central theme of the article is innovation. Gina Roemke’s role is explicitly to guide “initiatives that connect product innovation with market demands” and to “leverage data-driven insights.” This aligns with the goal of fostering innovation and upgrading the technological capabilities of industrial sectors.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

   The article provides a clear example of this target in action. The appointment of Gina Roemke to a “senior product category manager” role after more than 20 years with the company demonstrates a woman taking on a significant leadership and decision-making position within the economic sphere.

2. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…

   The article emphasizes the company’s focus on innovation as a driver for success. Roemke’s statement about her eagerness to “collaborate with our talented team and leverage data-driven insights to deliver customercentric solutions” points directly to efforts to achieve higher productivity through technological upgrading and innovation.

3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries…encouraging innovation…

   Roemke’s new role is centered on guiding “initiatives that connect product innovation with market demands.” This responsibility is a direct implementation of encouraging and managing innovation within an industrial company to upgrade its capabilities and product offerings.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 5.5: The article provides a qualitative example relevant to Indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions). The announcement of a woman being appointed to a senior management role serves as a specific instance and an indicator of the company’s progress in promoting women to leadership positions.
• Indicator for Target 8.2: While no quantitative data is provided, the article implies a qualitative indicator: the company’s strategic commitment to using data-driven insights for product development. Roemke’s quote, “I’m eager to…leverage data-driven insights to deliver customercentric solutions,” indicates a focus on modernizing processes to boost productivity and market alignment.
• Indicator for Target 9.5: An implied indicator is the company’s investment in leadership dedicated to innovation. The appointment of a “senior product category manager” specifically tasked with driving innovation demonstrates a tangible commitment and allocation of resources towards enhancing the company’s technological and innovative capabilities.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yahoo.com