Wendy B. McDonald was one of the power transmission/motion control industry’s true pioneers. To honor her memory, the PTDA Foundation established the Wendy B. McDonald Award in 2014. The award is given to a woman who has established herself as a critical contributor to her company’s success and has affected positive change within the power transmission/motion control industry. This year’s recipient of the Wendy B. McDonald Award is C.C. Vest of Midpoint Bearing.

Vest began her bearing and power transmission career in 1979 at Bearings & Drives. Hired as an office clerk, she gained favor with the branch manager by conducting any and all tasks required to advance her understanding of her role in the industry. It was a short time before she was promoted to assistant manager followed by a new job in sales for a bearing manufacturer/rebuilder company.

In 1985, Vest became the co-founder of a new bearing distribution company called Midpoint Bearing. Vest was instrumental in creating a business strategy in which the company focused on supplying bearings to the electric motor repair industry. Additionally, Midpoint Bearing found success with a local steel mill. Vest oversaw the account with determination, making Midpoint Bearing a local company to reckon with and respect.

In her career, Vest navigated the power transmission industry with a never-give attitude and determination that helped blaze a trail leading to the acceptance of women salespeople in the bearing industry. 

In an interview with PTDA Foundation Program Director Mary Jawgiel, Vest offered the following advice for women going into the field, “Do the best you can, be true to your values and remember integrity is everything.”

The award was presented to Vest during the PTDA Virtual Industry Summit.