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Holistic is also an apt description for the way in which Massa speaking to the men instead of to me. One particular interaction helps to engineer solutions for its client’s needs, as it’s far more stood out. “When I introduced myself as being third-generation than simply developing technology for the sake of technology. leader of this technical business, he said ‘Geez, you must be “We also do the software and signal processing to different de- disappointed, you could have been a dress maker or something grees and different applications. But understanding not just what like that. I bet you’re really upset.” While this interaction left the application is and what the desired results are, but to design her in disbelief, she said it’s is more the exception than the rule.

the actual transducer to be able to achieve those results while “Most of all, I’ve found that (being a female leader) doesn’t minimizing the need for extra expensive or overly complicated stand in the way of something that’s important or worthwhile. electronics and software,” said Stancavish. “So we have a design There have been situations where I’ve been underestimated, but system for new products – from transducers through electron- that’s also worked to my advantage. Most of the time it’s just ics through software – designed to do what the customer really been normal, and that’s the best. It’s exciting to be the third gen- wants.” eration here in a technical ? eld, being the granddaughter that

This approach has helped Massa maintain its competitive tech- took it over.” nological edge while helping it expand its own footprint in in- dustries and applications where electroacoustics is not tradition- Technology Development: Cradle to Grave ally applied. “I haven’t run into a lot of other companies that Frank Massa (1906-1990), MIT Swope Fellow Graduate, be- have focused on the electroacoustics and the science of sound gan involvement in the sound industry since the early days of the to advance the products. And the fact that we design, engineer Victrola, working for Victor Talking Machine, RCA Victor, and and manufacturer all in-house, we’re not focused just on the in- later Brush Development Company. He developed new designs novation itself, but also how to make it so it’s mass producible.” and patents throughout his career. He worked on everything from the development of sound for motion pictures when silent

Women in Leadership ? lms were being replaced by “talkies”, to the perfection of the

Taking over your family high-tech business without a formal hydrophone. Some of Frank Massa’s early designs even became technical education is one challenge, taking leadership of a tech- iconic symbols, such as the ribbon microphone used for NBC. nical business as a woman in a male-dominated industry another The legacy of Frank Massa’s innovative spirit lives on in his challenge altogether. namesake company today, as the company serves commercial “I’ve enjoyed over the last few months meeting a lot of other and government clientele with a family of off-the-shelf products women in leadership. What I’ve found is that for the pioneers, to original engineered solutions.

it’s merit-based, everyone has earned their place,” said Stan- “(My grandfather) trained all of his people with the idea of cavish. “I hope that it continues along that path where women design through production,” said Stancavish, with an eye always are considered, but they’re not given a job just because they’re on designing, manufacturing and delivering a solution that is women. It’s important that every job is considered based on high-quality yet affordable. “Being that we’re one facility, we quali? cations, capability and merit.” have a strong engineering department. We have production en-

The path for Stancavish has had its fair share of ups and downs, gineers that work with the design engineers and a full-blown too. “It’s been interesting going to different shows because I’m production line too, with quality control in-house.” received in different ways. I’ve been in groups where I’ve been So everything from design through products is monitored, en- with male colleagues and sometimes people automatically start suring the kinks are worked out at the prototype level, with an

Frank’s son, Don Massa, and Don’s daughter, Dawn Massa Stancavish, have carried on and expanded the vision of the innovative founder. Today

Massa employees design, develop, and manufacture new, and modi? ed products. Hundreds of transducers and systems that operate in ? uid and gas at different frequencies spanning from 5 Hz to 500 kHz have been designed and manufactured by Massa.

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