In recognition of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting RYAM employees whose careers reflect growth, leadership, and impact. One of those leaders is Miki Thomaston, Director of Technical Marketing and Quality, supporting U.S. Technical Marketing and R&D. Her career has been shaped by curiosity, courage, and a people-first leadership approach.
One of Miki’s defining moments came early in her career, standing outside a chlorine dioxide plant while waiting for an alarm to clear so filters could be inspected. Four weeks pregnant at the time, she made the decision to adjust her approach to protect both her career and her growing family. While not everyone understood, she trusted her instincts—an early lesson in leading with clarity and confidence.
Over time, Miki learned that passion—especially in women—is sometimes misread. Her advice to her younger self: stay calm, lead with facts, and trust your voice. Mentors helped her recognize when to push forward and when self-doubt was holding her back, reinforcing that confidence doesn’t need to be loud to be effective.
Rather than pointing to a single role model, Miki credits a close circle of friends—a judge, a CEO, a vice president, and a business owner—who reminded her that potential isn’t defined by a title. Their encouragement reinforced a belief she carries forward: success comes from believing in yourself and choosing a path aligned with who you are.
A pivotal leadership lesson for Miki was realizing that no one succeeds alone. That belief was shaped early, first when she was 16–18 years old playing on a competitive softball team out of Atlanta that won multiple national championships, and later when she worked in B Mill as an area manager, where her team set reliability and production records after only eight months of focused effort. Those experiences reinforced a principle she still leads by today: a true team cares about the final results, not who gets the credit.
Early in her career, Miki lacked an advocate to offer perspective and champion her strengths. Finding that support later helped her better understand her leadership style and recognize that strengths are sometimes misunderstood before they’re valued.
Today, Miki defines success less by having all the answers and more by building strong, collaborative teams. She’s energized by working with people who bring experience and diverse perspectives, with a focus on making a positive difference for her teams, her community, and her children.
Miki now fully embraces her ability to connect people and ideas, describing herself as part analytical, part social. While that balance isn’t always immediately recognized, she’s learned that patience and consistency allow the work to speak for itself.
“One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is watching a team truly come together,” Miki shared. “I see that happening right now with the Technical Marketing, Customer, and Manufacturing Support teams. The trust, collaboration, and shared commitment taking shape across these groups is energizing—and it’s exactly how meaningful results are achieved.”
For women coming behind her, Miki offers simple advice: trust what you know, make decisions with confidence, and surround yourself with people who challenge and support you. Supporting other women, she believes, doesn’t require competition—you can be kind, decisive, and successful at the same time.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Miki Thomaston’s story reflects the power of thoughtful leadership, self-confidence, and lifting others—highlighting the strength women bring to RYAM every day and the impact of leading authentically.
