Janette Courtney is the Division Environmental, Health, and Safety Director of Bonnell Aluminum in Newnan, GA.
Janette CourtneyShe was also recently elected Chairperson of the Aluminum Anodizers Council at its annual Board of Directors meeting during the Aluminum Summit in Nashville, TN, the first time the AAC has elected a woman to the position of Chair of the association.
Courtney has been on the AAC Board of Directors since 2015 and currently chairs the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee.
How did you get your start in the finishing industry?
After working in environmental consulting for 13 years, it was time to change things up. I began working for Bonnell Aluminum in late-2013 as the Environmental Manager at the Newnan, GA plant. This was my introduction to the finishing industry.
What do you enjoy best about the industry?
The finishing industry is dynamic – the people, the networking, the various finishing processes, and product lines.
Is your glass half-full or half-empty?
My glass is always half-full, with room to add more.
What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
A fueled-up boat, water, and a tarp.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Art; I love working with my hands and creating things.
What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?
Fried frog legs.
Do you collect anything?
I collect fridge magnets and shot glasses from places I've visited. My collection of Halloween and Christmas decorations seem to expand annually.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I am borderline. I can turn on my extrovert side when needed and tend to be more introverted when I need to recharge.
Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest?
Smell.
What do you do to keep fit?
Keeping up with my kids and their activities (marching band, soccer), helping my husband with our weekend warrior house projects, hiking when the weather is nice, and taking family vacations.
Does your family have a "motto" – spoken or unspoken?
"As far as anyone knows, we are a nice normal family."
If you were ruler of your own country, what would be the first law you would introduce?
Annual holidays; always start with something that everyone can support.
What three things do you think of the most each day?
My three kids.
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Warning: Honest to a fault with a touch of sarcasm, and usually right.
What song would you say best sums you up?
The Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?
Leonardo DiCaprio.
What's the most interesting thing you can see out of your office or kitchen window?
My office window faces Bonnell's Newnan plant, and periodically a train will pass by.
On a scale of 1-10, how funny would you say you are?
8.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Teaching my youngest child how to drive and possibly planning retirement.
What was your first job?
A part-time job at a frozen yogurt/ice cream shop. I may have eaten my salary's worth of ice cream.
How many languages do you speak?
One.
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
My dad was the most intelligent person I know. He could fix just about anything – he just needed the manufacturer's book or a YouTube video. He knew what the important things in life are and made those take precedent.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?
Pitbull.
What is one thing you will never do again?
I don't say never. I can only hope I learned the lesson the first time to avoid a repeat.
Who knows you the best?
My husband.
