03/14/2024

Leading Hunting to New Markets - Meet Det Cord Production Manager Amber Williams

Amber Williams works for Hunting in Milford, Texas. Williams has been with the company for six years, beginning as an electric assembly tech to now, production foreman where she oversees Hunting’s detonating cord manufacturing.

“I used to work in the banking industry,” Williams said. “When I was in the banking industry, I had to manage employees like I do now, so that part was easy. But it is a significant difference coming from banking to commercial explosives.”

Williams talked to IME about the perceptions that she faced when she told friends that she was working in the commercial explosives industry.

“I told them that we really have a strong safety measure at Hunting, and I respect what I’m working with,” Williams told IME. “They just tell me to be careful. I always say yes, but I respect what I am working with.”

As IME has been profiling women who hold various positions in the commercial explosives industry throughout the month of March, we asked Williams about what it is like to be a woman in the commercial explosives industry.

“Being a female in this industry, we all know it is more male dominant. I just want women to know you can do anything once you put your mind to it,” Williams said about other women considering a career in the commercial explosives industry.

Being in a leadership position at Hunting, Williams says is nothing new and points to the number of woman supervisors at Hunting’s facility in Milford.

“When I first got here, it was mostly just men working at first in supervisorial positions. But I know now we have other females in the company who are in other supervisorial roles.”

Williams also talked about the importance of managing the det cord manufacturing. The product was a new line, in a new market and her position was a new role.

“It’s new and as a female leader, that’s a major accomplishment that I have the confidence and trust in my colleagues to be leading a project like that,” said Williams.

Pat Valentino, Compliance Officer at Hunting and a member of IME’s Board of Governors praised William’s ability to lead the new project on behalf of Hunting.

“It was brand new to the market, brand new for our name and our brand. It should be an honor for her, she is very thorough and conscientious,” said Valentino.

Williams says as an employee she feels supported and praised the benefits of working at Hunting as convenient – especially when she had to deal with an aging parent and had to arrange end of life care.

“When my mom was sick, they gave me the leeway to be able to go tend to her and that made me feel really appreciated that they valued me as a person,” said Williams.

Williams also says it is convenient that a job like this was in her community, ten minutes away from home.

She concluded: “I love working for Hunting. I love working here. I would not change it. It is convenient for me one, and they treat me well here. So, I really do love it.”