Wit teams up with Calvi Network Special Pink Profiles for Networking and Plant Tour in Italy

The Women in Titanium committee hosted a Fundamentals of Titanium workshop Jan. 18 and 19 in Rome, Italy.

The two-day workshop and networking event was made possible in conjunction with the Calvi Network Special Pink Profiles group, and included a facility tour at TiFast on Jan. 19.

Laura Zatti, corporate development manager at Calvi Holding S.p.A, helped orchestrate the experience for the attendees.

Founded in 2016, the Calvi Network Special Pink Profiles group was inspired by Zatti’s visit to the WiT Fundamentals of Titanium workshop and tour of Dynamet in Pittsburgh. “I thought, ‘It is very nice what is being done here, and it would be great if we could do it at Calvi,’” Zatti said. “It’s nice because you inspired somebody in the WiT network. We can organize events together and get different people together. It’s a nice energy we can create.”

Last year, WiT teamed up with Calvi Network Special Pink Profiles and the Arconic Women’s Network to host a reception and plant tour of Cefival in conjunction with the Paris Air Show.

According to Zatti, more than 30 people participated in the January 18 and 19 Fundamentals of Titanium workshop and TiFast tour. “Everything went very well,” she said. “We had participants from different companies and different European countries, and we had both female and male attendees from various departments.”

The Jan. 18 Fundamentals of Titanium workshop covered the basics of titanium metallurgy and titanium alloys and their properties. Dietmar Fischer, who’s been involved in the titanium industry for over 50 years, led the workshop.

“[Dietmar] Fischer was very competent and informative and everybody enjoyed the lecture,” Zatti said. “At the end of the day we organized a happy hour with some drinks and food in a cozy atmosphere.” Attendees had the opportunity to network and unwind after a full day of instruction.

On Jan. 19, the group toured the TiFast facility in Terni, Italy. Participants learned more about the TiFast facility, which melts titanium ingots and manufactures bars, wires and billets, and toured the new plant. “After a comprehensive presentation we had a plant tour, and TiFast offered a typical Umbrian lunch at a nearby country house restaurant,” Zatti said.

Zatti enjoys the networking opportunities the events provide, and looks forward to more WiT events in 2018 and beyond.

“The educational days leading up to the ITA conference in the United States allow us to catch up and tackle topics not always related to titanium. I really appreciate it,” she said. “Topics that are being presented are also interesting and deal with general life and management issues that have been very useful to me.”

In addition to the events, Zatti noted the Calvi Network Special Pink Profiles group also began publishing an internal newsletter to keep employees informed about what’s going on in the group.

“We try to make the industry more attractive [to women],” she said. “After one year, we have focused more of our energy to empower women and we are working on diversity issues.”

Join WiT for only $99 (member rate) and enjoy access to events like this one throughout the year.

Laurie Itkin Webinar

“Year-end tips to pay less taxes and boost retirement savings”

laurie@theoptionslady.com
theoptionslady.com

The Women in Titanium committee closed out 2017 with a webinar by Laurie Itkin on Dec. 7.

According to her website, Itkin, dubbed “The Options Lady,” is a financial advisor, wealth manager, certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and author of the Amazon best seller, “Every Woman Should Know Her Options.”

Itkin shared financial advice with the people who tuned in to the webinar, aptly titled “Year-end tips to pay less taxes and boost retirement savings.”

WiT Chair Michelle Pharand welcomed everyone to the webinar and introduced Itkin.

Itkin shared an anecdote about her background before delving into the financial advice.

As a 24-year-old in Washington, D.C. she had been laid off twice. Her grandmother left her $1,600 in inheritance. Even back then it wasn’t a lot of money, so Itkin decided that instead of spending it, she would invest.

She then maxed-out her retirement contribution when she landed a new job.

Itkin shared three simple, vital money tips with the audience:

1.      Keep most of what you earn. Put as much as possible into a retirement plan. Check your expected retirement earnings by logging into www.ssa.gov, and plan from there.

2.      Grow what you keep. “Most women save their money, but it’s important to invest so you get more back,” said Itkin. She mentioned various options for long- and short-term investing.

3.      Own more than you owe. “Credit cards with high interest rates are a waste,” she said. Pay off those cards and buy a house instead.

If a person doesn’t have a 401k through their job, Itkin suggested opening an IRA or working with a financial planner to decide the best course of action.

The last-minute tips Itkin mentioned to save money at the end of the year included selling stocks that have gone down and diversifying investments.

For short-term goals, she suggested investing in short-term bonds, that way the money can be accessed sooner without penalty.

Itkin closed the webinar by opening the door for questions, and encouraged the attendees to reach out to her with any questions. She can be reached via email at laurie@theoptionslady.com, or you can visit her website at www.theoptionslady.com.

Join WiT now and you can listen in to the webinar here. Link Forthcoming

We look forward to an exciting year for WiT. If you’re interested in joining or would like more information, please contact Karina Graziani at kgraziani@titanium.org or call her at 303-404-9400.

Major Heather Penney and Mona Dine shared insights on their respective careers as the featured speakers at the third annual conference of Women in Titanium (WiT), held Oct. 8 the Diplomat Resort and Spa, Hollywood, FL. The WiT meeting coincided with the 2017 TITANIUM USA conference and exhibition, organized and sponsored by the International Titanium Association.