Heidi Hostetter, Longmont resident and CEO and founder of H2 Manufacturing Solutions, was named Colorado Manufacturing Woman of the Year at the sixth annual Colorado Manufacturing Awards, or CMAs, according to a press release.
Fourteen winners from across the state, out of more than 40 finalists, were announced during the CMAs virtual gala on Apr. 29, stated the release.
Hostetter was nominated for Colorado Manufacturing Woman of the Year for the third, competing for the award with two other finalists.
“A bit of a Susan Lucci scenario — nominated, finalist more than once — (and) finally was named as the category winner,” said Brad Shannon, event public relations contact, in an email.
Hostetter has been working in the manufacturing industry for over 20 years and serves as vice president at Fuastson Tool, a manufacturing technology and high-precision machining corporation.
“I feel honored to have been tendered such trust from the manufacturing community and especially such a tumultuous year,” Hostetter said via email. “This award isn’t really mine to claim but rather mine to be reminded of humility and hard work and to continue to strive to do right by my colleagues.”
She launched a consulting business, H2 Manufacturing Solutions, or H2, in Longmont five years ago providing support and training to manufacturing companies across the region.
One of the most notable products produced at H2 this past year was the five-star COVID safety system — a product built by Boulder County Public Health — for public health purposes and embraced by the Longmont Economic Development leadership and their partners in the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Hostetter said.
Hostetter said she is proud of the work the county has done to come up with solutions for public health and the business community during the pandemic.
“I think that’s a real testament to (the Boulder County) leadership principles … I got to watch them work together to try and come up with solutions for all,” she said. “I have high regard for the team I got to work with to develop and deploy this program.”
During a conversation in early April with Hostetter, she said her biggest motivation is her family and children, “I want to be the person I want them to grow up to be,” she said.
She also said she believes the manufacturing industry can have a large impact on communities as it already is a big part of the state, national and global economies.
Being in an industry highly dominated by men, with less than 10% of women working at the executive level, she said women must stay at it to make it, adding there is still work to be done to bring more diversity into the field.
“This past year and especially with some of the social unrest, manufacturers will have no choice but to start to look at those inclusive economies and true belonging,” she said during the interview in April. “We have some work to do there.”
