Pam Senske, former leader of Pearson Packaging Systems, instilled a culture at the Spokane-based manufacturer that continues to drive the company, people who knew and worked with her say.

The longtime CEO, board director, and daughter of company founder Reinhold Albert “Lefty” Pearson died Jan. 7 in Spokane. She was 78.

She is credited with leading the company, originally named R.A. Pearson Co., out of financial distress 15 years after Lefty’s death when she joined as an unpaid adviser in 1986 and later that year stepped up on a full-time basis, bringing the company back under family leadership.

In her first year with the company, sales doubled, she said in an interview in 2020, when she was honored as a Journal of Business Inland Northwest Business Icon.

She became CEO in 1992, and Pearson Packaging Systems took on the current company name in 2002.

“Pam instilled in senior leadership of the organization, including me, the importance of focusing on three things,” says her son Michael Senske, who was named company CEO in 2003. “First, she really impressed on us the fact that as a privately held company, we had the opportunity to do good in serving customers.”

Second, he says, she believed the company also should create financial independence and career opportunities for employees.

“She believed that if we did one and two well, three—the value for shareholders—would be taken care of in the long term,” he says. “To this day, I continue to strive to run the organization that way. She set a terrific example.”

Today, the company, which initially developed a machine that formed six-pack bottle carriers, builds systems used worldwide by food, beverage, and personal care product makers to erect boxes and pack, seal, and palletize products.

Were it not for Pam’s leadership in making the company more efficient, “the company would almost assuredly have faded into obscurity and ultimately would have failed,” says Michael. “The reason we still have Pearson Packaging Systems here in Spokane is because of the hard work of Pam and her team to right the ship.”

Karen Covelli, chief operating officer at Pearson Packaging, joined the company 30 years ago as a young mechanical engineer at a time when there were no other female engineers there.

Covelli says Pam was more than a leader and mentor.

“She was one of my role models for life,” Covelli says. “She welcomed me and created an environment of kindness, warmth, and encouragement.”

Covelli says Pam taught her valuable lessons about balancing her personal life and managing a successful career while prioritizing family.

“Her unwavering support influenced who I am today,” Covelli says. “She’s going to hold a special place in my heart and a legacy in the company.”

Machelle Johnson, vice president of human resources at Pearson, says she was hired 22 years ago as the company’s day-to-day leadership was transitioning from mother to son.

As a working mother with prior executive experience at other companies, Johnson says she thought it was normal and expected to work at a pace that sometimes sacrificed family for career advancement. But Pam didn’t accept that notion.

“From day one, Pam said, ‘Machelle, you’re a mom first,’” Johnson says. “I didn’t have to choose one or the other.”

Pam was always thankful for the work everyone put into the company, Johnson adds.

Even as the company grew to over 200 employees, Pam knew most by name and whether they had families, Johnson says.

“She was a servant-leader before servant-leadership was a thing,” Johnson says.

As Michael was tabbed to lead the operations, Pam stayed on as chairman of the board.

“She came into my office almost every day. She loved to just come in and talk to me,” Johnson says. “Never did she interfere with decision making. She had such a strong relationship with employees and was there for support.”

She stepped down from the official board duties last year due to health reasons, Johnson says.

Pam was born and raised in Spokane and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1964. She attended Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington, for two years before transferring to Washington State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

After college, she married Michael Logan Senske, a son of Bill Senske, who founded Spokane-based lawn, tree, and pest-control company Senske Services.

Their sons Michael and Andrew, who is co-founder and president of Spokane-based CPAP-Supply.com, were born in 1970 and 1973, respectively.