Heather Muratore rises from stay-at-home mom to warehouse lead in Nevada mining

Heather Muratore went from 17 years as a stay-at-home mother to a leadership role in Nevada’s mining supply chain, building a career at Sandvik after starting with no warehouse experience. Her story highlights how mentorship, persistence and clear boundaries helped her move into a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Why it matters: - Heather Muratore’s career shows how a late start can still lead to leadership in a technical industry. - Her path highlights opportunities for women entering mining and warehouse operations. - The story underscores how skills built outside the workforce can translate into professional growth.

What happened: - Muratore spent 17 years raising her six children before returning to work. - She began as a contractor at a Komatsu warehouse in Spring Creek, Nevada. - She had no previous warehouse experience and little knowledge of the mining industry. - Muratore now works as a Warehouse Lead at Sandvik in Nevada.

The details: - Muratore learned warehouse operations on the job, including SAP, inventory management and order processing. - Her day-to-day work includes coordinating people, materials and orders. - She handles inventory management, order fulfillment, materials coordination, receiving and distributing parts, customer orders and truck activity. - She also helps keep the warehouse organized and efficient. - Muratore works rotating 12-hour shifts. - She leads a team and says leadership requires calm, clear communication and accountability. - She credits her first boss with recognizing her potential and encouraging her early in the transition. - Other leaders, coworkers and team members also helped her grow through guidance and opportunities. - She says not knowing something was not a dead end; it was the starting point for learning. - Through experience, Muratore developed confidence, technical knowledge and leadership skills. - Her work has also shown her that mining can offer advancement, professional development, travel and international connections. - She is interested in opportunities that expand her experience beyond her current role.

Between the lines: - Muratore’s story blends family experience and workplace development rather than treating them as separate chapters. - Skills tied to motherhood, including patience, adaptability, problem-solving and persistence, carried into her career. - Her experience in a traditionally male-dominated industry shaped her view that women do not need to change who they are to succeed. - She says women should set clear boundaries, expect respect and let the quality of their work speak for itself. - The story also suggests that mentorship can accelerate confidence for workers entering unfamiliar fields.

What's next: - Muratore wants to keep growing in the mining industry. - She is especially interested in opportunities that involve international travel. - She hopes to learn from mining operations and professional communities in other countries. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile.

The bottom line: - Heather Muratore built a new career from scratch, and her path shows that experience, persistence and support can open doors even after a long pause from the workforce.