Cara Thompson
About Cara Thompson
Cara Thompson serves as the Vice President of the Corporate Milliken Performance System at Milliken & Company, a position she has held since 2024. With a career spanning over two decades at Milliken, she has held various roles that emphasize her expertise in manufacturing, leadership, and employee engagement.
Current Role at Milliken & Company
Cara Thompson serves as the Vice President of the Corporate Milliken Performance System at Milliken & Company, a position she has held since 2024. In this role, she focuses on leveraging systems-based thinking and employee engagement to foster a culture that drives sustainable business results. Her leadership is instrumental in shaping the operational strategies of the company.
Previous Experience at Milliken & Company
Cara Thompson has extensive experience at Milliken & Company, having held multiple roles over the years. She was the Corporate Director of the Milliken Performance System from 2019 to 2022 and served as the Senior Director of the same system from 2022 to 2024. Additionally, she worked as the Managing Director of Operations for Performance Solutions by Milliken from 2017 to 2022, and as a Senior Practitioner and Client Lead from 2013 to 2017.
Career at Milliken Chemical
Before her current role, Cara Thompson worked at Milliken Chemical in various capacities. Her positions included Dewey Plant Manager from 2005 to 2011, Advanced Process Engineer from 2001 to 2002, and Production Manager from 1999 to 2001. She also held roles such as Development Manager for Technical Service and Customer Support from 2011 to 2013, and White Stone Plant Manager for a brief period in 2004 to 2005.
Education and Expertise
Cara Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University, completed in 1998. She furthered her education with an MBA from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business from 2002 to 2005. Additionally, she obtained a Certificate in Women in Leadership from Cornell University in 2021. Her educational background supports her expertise in manufacturing and leadership.
Leadership and Coaching Skills
Cara Thompson applies her knowledge in communication, measurement, and leadership to train and coach leaders in both professional and volunteer settings. She advises leadership teams on fostering Operational Excellence cultures through effective communication, recognition, and leadership behaviors. Her focus on employee engagement aims to uncover hidden capacities within organizations.