Women in Packaging: Celebrating Arlene Inch’s Leadership
By Leilani Arendell
When people picture the packaging and logistics industry, they don’t always picture women. Especially not at the helm. It’s an industry often viewed as rugged, manual, technical—filled with forklifts and plywood, freight schedules and compliance paperwork. And yet, it’s also an industry where strategy, vision, and leadership matter just as much—maybe more.
At TransPak, a global leader in crating, packaging, logistics & design, based in the United States, we’re proud to break that mold. And part of that pride comes from Arlene Inch.
Arlene has been a guiding force in TransPak’s evolution. Not always in the spotlight, but always at the table. Asking the smart questions. Holding the company—and the people around her—to high standards, with equal parts grace and grit.
This is not a tribute. It’s a recognition.
Because leadership like hers deserves more than a passing mention.
A Leader Who Helped Shape the Culture
In a family business, influence doesn’t always come with a title. Sometimes it comes through presence—consistent, steady, and grounded in purpose.
Arlene’s leadership has always been exactly that. She helped shape TransPak’s culture long before culture was a buzzword. Fairness, accountability, listening carefully—those weren’t policies, they were how she operated.
And that clarity trickled down. Into how we treat customers. How we train new employees. How we balance growth with responsibility.
Leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest in the room. Often, it means creating the room—and making space for people to speak, experiment, and occasionally fail without fear.
Breaking Stereotypes in a Traditionally Male Field
Let’s be honest: packaging hasn’t historically made space for women. That’s changing, slowly, but it’s still the exception rather than the rule to see women in executive or ownership roles in this space.
That’s why Arlene’s presence matters so much. She’s not just a leader. She’s a counter-narrative.
And while she never made her leadership about gender, the truth is, her success has made it easier for others to imagine themselves here too. Whether they’re in sales, engineering, operations, or finance—women seeing women lead makes a difference.
Not because we need to check a box. But because representation rewires what we believe is possible.
How It Shows Up Every Day
Culture isn’t static. It has to be lived. And at TransPak, you can see Arlene’s fingerprints everywhere.
It’s in the way teams collaborate instead of compete.
It’s in the care we take when onboarding clients—not just asking what they need, but what they’re worried about.
It’s in the long tenures of our staff—people who stay because they feel seen, trusted, and valued.
And perhaps most importantly, it’s in the humility that runs through the company. There’s a quiet confidence at TransPak. The kind that comes from knowing who we are, where we came from, and what we stand for.
Arlene had a lot to do with that.
Legacy, and What Comes Next
As we look toward the future—expanding our tech, scaling up operations, entering new markets—we’re not leaving our values behind. In fact, we’re doubling down on them.
Which is why being nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted this November in London by the International Trade Council, feels especially meaningful. It’s more than an awards show. It’s a platform for global dialogue—a space where values, strategy, and leadership converge.
TransPak’s story belongs in that conversation. And Arlene’s leadership is a big reason why.
Final Thoughts
Leadership is often judged by results. But it should also be judged by the kind of culture it leaves behind. The kinds of people it lifts up. The standards it sets quietly, and the way it makes others better—without needing credit.
Arlene Inch embodies that kind of leadership.
So today, we pause to acknowledge it. To say: this mattered. It still matters.
And in an industry that continues to evolve, we’re proud to have women like Arlene showing what strength and strategy really look like.
