Women in Manufacturing: Tri-State Plastic’s star employee Hayleigh Harden thriving, aiming for degree

The first of three in a series on Women in Manufacturing to appear on Thursdays at the NKyTribune.

By Kim Spreder
BE NKY Growth Partnership

In 2021, Hayleigh Harden planned to spend just a few days working at Tri-State Plastics in Covington, providing an extra pair of hands on the production floor. Three years later, she is a star employee.

Tri-State Plastics, a woman-owned business, is a full line plastics parts manufacturer that uses Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines for fabrication of all plastics and some metals, including steel and aluminum. The company’s products benefit multiple industries, including aerospace, food production and many other sectors of manufacturing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they made face shields and other related items.

Harden, 27, had no experience in manufacturing when she began working at the company, and now performs nearly every aspect of the job, even creating “how-to” guides for operating machinery.

To get to where she is now, Harden has put in a lot of effort outside normal business hours, taking machine manuals home with her to study at night. She has so many notebooks full of information at home, she said she needs to create a filing system for all of them.

“I like to learn and that’s why I love it here,” said Harden. “There is always something to learn and no room for boredom. I realized I loved it, and they realized I would work hard and put real effort into it.”

Harden said the company is always innovating by creating new products for customers or implementing new technology, where she plays a prominent role.

In 2023, the company implemented a robotic arm to load and unload parts into machines, but they didn’t receive any training on how to work the arm. So, Harden took it upon herself to go online to read and watch videos about the operation of the robot.

“We got the job done and that machine runs every day by itself,” she said.

Harden’s journey to Tri-State Plastics

Harden graduated from Dixie Heights High School in 2014 and had other jobs before finding a home at Tri-State Plastics but said many of them were repetitive and unfulfilling because she craves new learning opportunities.

She could have pursued a path toward manufacturing earlier in life but didn’t feel like it was a pathway that was supported as much as others. She encourages everyone, especially young girls, to consider manufacturing. Nationwide, women make up 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

Harden said she is happy students are now learning they can obtain good-paying jobs right out of high school.

“When I was in high school, vocational school was where you went if you got into trouble,” said Harden. “Now, my brother attends Ignite Institute and it’s considered an awesome opportunity. That’s how it needs to be.”

With more than 48,000 people employed in the advanced manufacturing sector in Northern Kentucky, it is a strong industry in the region, and employers are trying to close the workforce gap by recruiting, training, and upskilling the next generation of employees.

Harden is currently working toward her associate’s degree in mechanical engineering at Cincinnati State.

Tri-State Plastics offers to pay tuition for any employee, but President Lisa Schneider said she is especially excited Harden took them up on the offer.

“I’ve come really far in three years and I’m excited to start learning more of the technical background of this work, beyond just the experience,” said Harden. “I think it will make me more comfortable and confident.”

Harden is proud of the work she is doing and to have a job that supports her family, including her 10-year-old son Ethen, who is following in his mother’s footsteps and participating in FIRST LEGO League at school.

She said this job has been life-changing for her and the support from her bosses and co-workers has helped push her to where she is now.

“She came in with no experience and to be where she is today is outstanding,” said Schneider. “To have the intelligence and attitude to do the work she is doing is a rare combination and we are very lucky to have her.”

Kim Spreder is Workforce Development Manager at BE NKY Growth Partnership. She is helping the Northern Kentucky region develop workforce solutions and encourages employers to reach out to her at kspreder@be-nky.com .

Kim Spreder is workforce development manager at BE NKY Growth Partnership. Second in series coming next Thursday.

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