FEATURES
Inside the Industry:
How the women of C. F. Martin & Company are changing guitar manufacturing By Tara Low, Marco DiSandro, Megan McClure
The longevity of a brand can be attributed to many things – market foresight, steady leadership, and adherence to change, for example. Above all, however, a company cannot endure without a devoted and passionate group of people working behind the scenes. Founded 185 years ago, C. F. Martin & Company is one such enterprise. With a main factory and headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, C. F. Martin & Company is more than a product or a brand. To many people, it is a way of life. This is certainly true for those who are part of the C. F. Martin & Company team; the people building guitars, making strings, making sales, and adding a unique flavor to every item emblazoned with C. F. Martin & Company’s brand. We had a chance to visit the C. F. Martin & Company factory for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the production of a C. F. Martin & Company instrument and to speak with President Jacqueline Renner, along with several other women who work on the team. Without a doubt, these women know their way around a guitar. Each of them comes to C. F. Martin & Company with an interesting past, a unique skill set, and a yearning to professionally learn and grow.
From top to bottom and start to finish, these women deeply understand the creative process of building and branding a guitar. Though the manufacturing industry remains predominantly male-dominated, C. F. Martin & Company is doing its part to introduce more females like these to the sector, and train them to learn more, do more, and succeed at their jobs. According to the women of C. F. Martin & Company, the most prominent benefit they receive from designing and building guitars is a feeling of empowerment. The common sentiments expressed by these women is a sense of “pride” and of belonging in the “Martin family.” They’re resourceful, driven, and helping to continue the legacy that is C. F. Martin & Company and impacting the role women play in business and manufacturing. Renner is the first female president at C. F. Martin & Company. Judging by her early background, one would think Renner would be better suited as a materials scientist or pharmacologist. However, soon after receiving a degree in chemistry, she realized her passion for working with people and her passion for research did not align. “There were parts of my personality that just
Jacqueline Renner, President C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.
“If I could describe my feelings about Martin in one word, it would be ‘pride.’ Everybody working here is proud of their work – whether you are cutting wood, coiling strings, or applying finish to a guitar, you are proud as a Martin employee. Seeing the final product being played on television and knowing you may have applied the strings to it is truly fulfilling.” Salomè Audenried, International Operations Manager – Administrative Services
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