Dealing with automotive products every day wasn't on Deanna Newberry's radar when she began her career.
"I've dealt with automotive products for 17 years now, and I totally fell into it," she says. "I've never been shy of it. My dad was a mechanic, so I've always been around it, but I didn't necessarily have a passion for it myself. But I do now."
Newberry's career started at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., where she worked as a replenishment manager. She left for First Brands Corp., where she was an analyst and categories manager in the automotive products division. That company was bought by Clorox in 1998.
In 2001, Newberry started at Honeywell as a category manager. She was promoted to national account manager, then supply chain manager and finally to director of category management, where her department helps retailers make buying decisions by providing detailed research about various products, such as antifreeze, oil filters and spark plugs.
She has volunteered with Rebuilding Together and the Mercy Health Foundation Annual Golf Classic.
Newberry says her central approach to work is to think about how every task, no matter how large or small, will drive growth for her company and its retail customers.
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