The Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI) organization continues its tradition of empowering women by offering scholarships named after exceptional industry leaders. We recently spoke with Taryn Goodman, Vice President of Finance at Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co. and WIFI board member, about the Joanne Goodman Sherman Scholarship—a tribute to a woman who left a lasting impression on many.
A Woman Who Paved the Way
For Taryn, this scholarship has a personal connection. “Joanne was my aunt,” she shared. “She passed away in 2016 from cancer. Joanne was a third-generation family co-owner of our business, Industrial Rivet & Fastener Company. She and my father were running the company together in their generation.”
Joanne’s leadership was remarkable in a time when women in ownership roles were rare. “She was my female business mentor,” Taryn said. “She was an owner of a business in this industry when there really weren’t a lot of women in general—especially in ownership ranks. That was really special.”
Beyond growing a business, Joanne was deeply engaged in trade shows and marketing efforts at a time when events were only face-to-face and held once or twice a year. “These days it’s different since we can easily get together online,” Taryn said. “But back then, Joanne still sought opportunities to collaborate on issues and challenges and discuss with others how to do better. She was involved in a peer development program for business leaders. She really was a lifelong learner who was passionate about continued education. So when this scholarship concept came up, I threw her name in the ring as one of the important women in the industry. It felt like a natural fit.”
When asked how Joanne might view the scholarship and the current landscape, Taryn reflected: “I think she’d be super proud. She got to see WIFI in its early days, and she loved it—even the pink sparkling lanyards at trade shows that showed women were banding together. She’d be proud to have a scholarship in her name and be remembered every year on LinkedIn and social media.”
Challenges Women Still Face
While the industry has produced more opportunities, Taryn noted that barriers still remain. “Breaking into manufacturing and shop floor areas can still be a challenge. It’s often perceived as a man’s world, and women sometimes feel less comfortable pursuing those careers because they don’t see many role models there.”
She also highlighted broader challenges like work-life balance, which remain hurdles for women in all industries.
Supporting Women Through Scholarships and Mentorship
WIFI’s five scholarships are designed to meet women wherever they are in their careers. Some cover travel and lodging for major trade shows, while others provide funding for in-person training, elearning, college, or trade school.
For In-Person Events:
Margaret Davis Scholarship, Edith Cameron Scholarship
“Not everyone has the support of their company to attend events,” Taryn explained. “Sometimes companies can only afford to send a few people, usually senior leaders. Having a scholarship that helps defer costs to attend a trade show is about, getting greater accessibility for women to see what the greater industry looks like. You know, you could be working inside your company for 10-15 years and you talk to your customers, you talk to your vendors, but to see the full scale of, you know, what the global events look like and to meet people from all different walks of companies, we think is really special.”
For College or Trade School:
Ann Bisgyer Wolz Scholarship, Maryann Marzocchi Scholarship
“We recently offered a new scholarship for either a college or a trade school. They [the applicant] don’t even have to be a direct employee. It could be like a child of a woman in the fastener industry to help with continuing education.”
For E-Learning Courses:
Joanne Sherman E-Learning Scholarship
“What we liked about your platform [THORS eLearning Solutions] is that it’s very accessible. You know, it doesn’t necessarily require somebody to take off time from work or book an airplane ticket or drive into the city and deal with parking, all sorts of barriers to training that can make it difficult sometimes for people to have the time and resources to do it. So we felt like it is a very accessible program.
People could do it at their own pace and timeline – around their schedule. The feedback that we heard from our members was that they liked the self-pacing so they could do it in their free time and add value on the side of what they’re doing at work.”
Beyond scholarships, WIFI offers mentorship programs, speaker series, and opportunities for members to connect personally through initiatives like the Quarterly Member Spotlight.
“It gives members the opportunity to present a little bit about themselves, their career progression, what they like – even knitting – it’s a way to get to know each other,” Taryn said. “I love that it creates real friendships and connections.”
Looking Ahead
For Taryn, WIFI’s mission is clear: to provide networking, education, and mentorship that empower women across the fastener industry. By honoring influential women like Joanne Goodman Sherman, WIFI not only preserves history but also inspires future generations.
“That’s why I’ve been involved in WIFI for so long,” Taryn concluded. “These relationships and opportunities make our industry stronger—and they honor the women who helped build it.”
