Page 5 - YMCA 2024 YHonors

HONOREE
KARLA TROTMAN
President & CEO, Electro Soft
Karla Trotman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Electro Soft, Incorporated (ESI), an electronics manufacturing and engineering firm in the United States.
She holds a B.S. in Business Logistics from The Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Drexel University. The breadth of her experience in business extends to supply chain logistics, purchasing, global scheduling, and e-commerce, and she’s served in key roles for companies including Honeywell, Gap, and IKEA.
Defying expectations is a common thread in
the life of Karla. While at IKEA, Karla became
the mother of two sons. With two challenging pregnancies, Karla recognized the difficulties that prenatal and postnatal mothers experience. Her tenacity for learning, assessing, and fulfilling the needs of local and international communities is evidenced through her establishment of Belly Button Boutique while on maternity leave. Karla utilized the power of the internet in combination with her logistics background to start a successful online business selling products for prenatal and postnatal women. Over the span of 8 years, her business expanded to celebrity and international clientele. She was featured on NBC 10 News, People Magazine’s Celebrity Baby Blog, CBSNews.com, Huffington Post Live, several
radio shows, books, and countless blogs.
The success of Belly Button Boutique was an indicator to Karla of her ability to expand her horizons and affect change across multiple industries. She saw her success in navigating
both the online space of business and logistics
as an opportunity to propel ESI forward. ESI, an electronics contract manufacturing firm, was established by Karla’s parents, Jim and Sheila Wallace, in 1986. Karla exited corporate America with her sights focused on ESI. Over the past fifteen years, she served ESI as Special Projects and Marketing Manager, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and, currently, Chief Executive Officer.
Under her guidance, ESI was able to gain a competitive advantage by implementing both an online marketing and acquisition strategy,
ultimately increasing what was once a flat revenue streak.
Going against the grain, harnessing the power within, and bucking tradition are common themes in Karla’s life. Her desire to create a family legacy is evident in her acquisition of ESI. Through her leadership at ESI, Karla was named an Influential Woman in Manufacturing, Enterprising Woman
of the Year, Transformational Woman in Business, and a Top 25 Leader Transforming Manufacturing. As an influential voice in manufacturing, Karla cuts through the narrative of what is expected of a leader in her industry and sets a precedent for future leaders.
Karla recognizes and understands the plight of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and how their power can be used to help close the ever- widening minority wealth gap. Leveraging her connections to funding, access, and networks,
she assists in bridging success gaps for her
fellow minority business owners. As a connector, educator, and advocate for MBEs, she passionately expresses to all who will listen how an investment of minority dollars in minority businesses helps minority families and minority communities.
Within her own community, Karla dedicates time to serving her community as a board member for the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, Museum of the American Revolution, African Women’s Entrepreneurship Collective, Forum
of Executive Women Foundation, and Team PA Foundation. She is Co-Chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Alliance (SEPMA) and a Member of both the Drexel University Board of Governors and Drexel’s President’s Council.
Her most important role in this life is that of wife to her husband, Thane, and mother to her two teenage sons, Dylan and Bryce.
2024 Y HONORS 5