Abby Colvin had no early aspirations to embark upon a career in manufacturing.
But today, with 20 years of experience built in the industry, she can’t imagine doing anything else, for any other company.
“I work with amazing individuals who design and develop really incredible technology and features for our customers every day,” Colvin said. “In my role, I focus on how to make sure all members of the team I am a part of feel confident in bringing the best of their experience and insights to the projects we work on every day, so we can be successful as a team.”
Colvin, 43, of Dubuque, serves as the manager of order fulfillment for John Deere Dubuque Works, where she has evolved in her career throughout the past two decades.
Prior to her current role, Colvin most recently served as the program manager for skid steer loaders and compact truck loaders. She also rose in the professional ranks as the supply management manager, the supply management product line manager, and the SCI specialist for global growth and emerging markets.
Colvin began her career at John Deere Dubuque Works in 2005 as a cost management reporter. However, she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2004 with a degree in psychology.
“I was encouraged to apply for an opening at John Deere Dubuque Works through a close family friend,” she said. “I was hired, but I really had no background in manufacturing. As I continued in my career, it was an exciting path to go down. The construction industry is filled with really diverse customers, cool equipment and some very unique job applications. Construction has often been viewed as male-dominated, but my experience through John Deere has been filled with amazing men and women who have been supportive, who have challenged me and who have welcomed me.”
It also has been about finding ways to innovate in a competitive market.
According to John Deere Dubuque Works colleague Arleen Wentworth, Colvin exemplifies “visionary leadership, technical expertise and a forward-thinking approach to innovation,” contributing toward increased product line sales that have earned widespread recognition within the organization, including five President’s Awards and one CEO Award — honors that reflect Colvin’s performance and the high regard in which she is held by her peers and company leadership.
“Abby has steadily advanced through roles of increasing responsibility — a testament to her exceptional capabilities and leadership,” Wentworth said. “Most recently, she spearheaded a transformative product line overhaul, successfully launching multiple industry leading models into a highly competitive market. This initiative not only elevated John Deere’s product portfolio, but also had a significant impact on the broader construction industry. Abby’s strategic direction and execution have played a critical role in driving the company’s growth and reinforcing its position as a market leader.”
In addition to her career at John Deere Dubuque Works, Colvin takes pride in her involvement in the community, serving as a board member for Dubuque Days of Caring and Junior Achievement of the Heartland.
She also seeks opportunities to continue growing in her leadership development, as well as encouraging and mentoring others to do the same.
In 2013, she was named the John Deere Dubuque Works Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her longstanding commitment to service.
“The best leaders I have experienced in my life have been individuals who are passionate about empowering and elevating people around them,” Colvin said. “They connect people and ideas to solve problems with innovative solutions. It is so special to be a part of a the broader Dubuque community — when I interact with new employees at John Deere, or simply in the Dubuque community, volunteering within the community is one of the best opportunities for involvement. John Deere Dubuque Works really champions being engaged in the community for employees, and I’ve been fortunate to work closely with our Corporate Social Responsibility Team, connecting our employees with volunteer opportunities and sharing details about our Power for Good programs to bring more dollars into the community.”
Family also is a cornerstone to Colvin’s life, spending quality time with her husband Mark and the couple’s two daughters.
“My daughters inspire me to be a better person, and I learn from them every day,” Colvin said. “In addition to my husband and daughters, I also have three younger sisters, who are each amazing people. My parents have always been so incredibly supportive of each of us and have been the best example of how to raise a strong family. They have consistently modeled what it means to be a great person and to treat others with respect, and I take the things I have learned from them with me into the world each day.
“Outside of work, I enjoy supporting my girls in the things they are passionate about — sports, music lessons and schooling. I’m doing my best to influence them to love reading as much as I do, and we like to visit our local libraries and River Lights Bookstore.”
Coming into her latest role with John Deere Dubuque Works only this month, Colvin said she continues to look ahead to new ways she can rise to the challenge.
“Innovation is present in the output of what we deliver for customers and in how we work throughout the development of out projects,” she said. “People are at the heart of our success, and I really take joy in doing my best to make sure my teammates know they are valued, challenged and appreciated.”
Megan Gloss writes for the Telegraph Herald.
