AWMI 2008 Member of the Year

The Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI) Announces its 2008 Member of the Year.

Helene Watson
2008 International Member of the Year

AWMI is proud to recognize Helene Watson, of the Portland, Chapter, as the recipient of our 2008 International Member of the Year Award.

Helene started in the metals industry in 1972, working as a metal engraver of brass, bronze, silver, gold and stainless steel for the Navy Special Services at the PX for Great Lakes Naval Training Center, North Chicago, IL.

Helene left the metals industry to purse a banking career, along with raising a family and continuing her education and earning her degree.

In 1986, while in college Helene worked part time in the purchasing department at the college, which turned into a full time job. The experience in purchasing lead Helene back into the metals industry, as an assistant buyer for Longview Fibre Company's purchasing department.

In 1992 Helene found AWMI, through a supplier and attended her first Portland Chapter meeting. Helene found that when she attended AWMI meetings, she was fulfilling something that was lacking in her job, and that was the ability to associate with women who considered their jobs as more than a job but a professional career. The education she received from the meetings also helped her to understand her job as a metals buyer better and to make it a career.

Soon after Helene joined AWMI she accepted the nomination to the Chapter board. She held the position of Publicity Chair for two years before being elected Vice President of the Portland Chapter. One year later Helene stepped into the President's role, when the current President stepped down for personal reason. Helene severed as President for three years. Over the next 10 years Helene co-chaired the Portland Chapter Golf Tournament; Co-Chaired the International Leadership Conference held in Portland, and was a committee member for three of the next AIC Conferences. If that was not enough, Helene went on to be Vice Chair and Regional Chair of the Western Region.

In 2006 Helene became the International Bylaws/P&G Chair, which she currently holds.

Concurrently during her tenure as an AWMI member, Helene has been active in the American Business Women's Association and has served as Secretary on the board of the local R.A. Long High School Alumni Association. Annually she volunteers at the high school to evaluate the senior project oral presentations and participate in the mock interviews for the high school seniors.

Helene lives in Longview, Washington with her husband Jim, of 21 years. She has two daughters, one son, three stepsons, 13 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters.

Helene retired from Longview Fibre Company in 2006 after 20 years of service.

The International Member of the Year award is the highest honor awarded by AWMI. Members are nominated and selected by their peers for exemplifying the Associations goals of Education, Mentoring, Networking and Growth.