29 Dec 2023 Outstanding Women In Business Winner: Rachel Weaver

By Rita Halter Thomas and Stefanie Brazile

The annual Sissy’s Log Cabin Women in Business Luncheon honors individuals in the Conway area who have excelled in leadership and community service and have inspired others on both a personal and professional level. The annual awards are overseen by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Baptist Health-Conway and Insight Enterprises. The awards luncheon was hosted Dec. 12 in the auditorium of Conway Christian High School.

Rachel Weaver finds it hard to believe that she is plant manager for a manufacturing facility and was equally shocked to be honored as a Sissy’s Log Cabin Women in Business Honoree.

“Not many people in Conway even know what SFI of Arkansas is or where we are located, so it was hard to believe anyone even knew who I was,” Weaver said. “I guess that’s the point of the award as well!”

She is married to Brandon and they have two daughters, Whitney and Maddison. Weaver holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas and has completed the Crestcom Leadership Program and OSHA 10 Training.

“I am very involved at my church, NLC Greenbrier, and co-lead our Welcome Team,” Weaver said. “I love meeting new people and making them feel welcome and at home.”

The young leader thanks her father-in-law for introducing her to manufacturing and leadership. “Without my father-in-law, Tommy Weaver, I wouldn’t have grown to love manufacturing and succeed the way I have. He knew that I was in college to work in human resources and asked if I wanted to work as an assistant with the SFI Human Resources Department, and I gladly accepted. Every time there was a chance for me to grow, he gave it to me, and I will forever be thankful for the opportunity.”

If she could give her younger self advice, she would not doubt her abilities. “With each new role I took on, it took me a while to become confident that I would succeed, and I wasted valuable time doubting myself instead of learning.”

Weaver values her best friends. “Jamie Ward is a constant inspiration in all things! She runs two of her own companies,” she said. “Marrey Carter is a fellow #bossbabe who is the Global Clinical Product Manager–Ultrasound at GE Healthcare. Watching her travel the world and hearing about her successes is even more inspiring.”