Wednesday, October 22, 2014
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Becky Dearing Wall, vice president and treasurer at Dearing Compressor and Pump Co., speaks at a banquet honoring her achievement as “Woman of the Year” Tuesday night at Antone’s Banquet Center in Boardman. The honor comes during National Business Women’s Week, which is sponsored by the Youngstown Business and Professional Women’s Club.
By BRANDON KLEIN
bklein@vindy.com
BOARDMAN
Becky Dearing Wall, vice president and treasurer at Dearing Compressor and Pump Co., is among those who have made progress to get women’s foot in the door to manufacturing.
And for that success, the Youngstown Business and Professional Women’s Club named her “Woman of the Year” for National Business Women’s Week Tuesday night at Antone’s Banquet Center, 8578 Market St.
“I was born with an entrepreneurial attitude,” Wall said.
Her grandfather had that spirit. He founded Dearing Compressor, an industrial distributor of electrical and mechanical products for steel producers, in 1945. He passed away a year later but Wall’s grandmother took over the business until her uncle returned his service in the Navy. Dearing evolved into the oil and gas business in 1960, becoming a packager for natural gas systems.
It was a matter of time before Wall joined the business.
“Like my grandmother, I didn’t choose Dearing,” she said.
Wall graduated from Muskingum College in 1981 with a degree in communications. She had ambitions to work in radio but could not find a job after graduating. So she went to work at Dearing for the summer.
“And the rest is history,” Wall said.
Wall runs the company with her brother, Rick Dearing. Her career underwent many changes based on the company’s needs, she said. She took over the controller’s job and built a more open relationship with the company’s employees, customers and vendors. In 2006, she became the communications director, raising awareness about Dearing Compressor’s presence in the community as part of an effort to increase its workforce. The company grew from 40 employees in 2005 to 250 this year. Along with the growth of its workforce, Wall became a human resources director.
“I invented most of my positions by taking on harder projects,” she said.
But she doesn’t take all the credit, she said.
“By no means is it a one-woman show,” she said. “They were all men who let me lead as a woman.”
Additionally, Wall said it’s the perfect time for women to get involved in manufacturing with the Utica and Marcellus shale boom.
“It’s a great day to celebrate women,” she said.
The YBPW was established in 1920 and is focused on empowering and advancing women through mentors and education. Since 1928, the national group has honored the contributions of working women and employers who support working women and their families.
“Becky’s accomplishments in the manufacturing industry along with her passion and commitment to those in need in our community made her the perfect choice for YBPW’s 2014 Woman of the Year,” YBPW President Robin Fowler said in a statement.