Elena Popova, finished product inspector at the finished goods shipping department of Solikamskbumprom, has been awarded the “Labor Pride of Perm Krai” medal.
The award, initiated by trade unions and established by a decree of Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin in November 2024, has found its heroes this year – 22 residents of the region have been honored with it.
Path to the ProfessionThe award, initiated by trade unions and established by a decree of Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin in November 2024, has found its heroes this year – 22 residents of the region have been honored with it.
Her introduction to production began with classes at a industrial training center. At that time, School No. 13, where Elena studied, was under the patronage of the pulp and paper mill. Therefore, after graduating from school in August 1987, she joined the enterprise. This choice was largely a family one for her: her mother, Valentina Ponomareva, worked at the mill’s power plant, and her father, Nikolai Ponomarev, was a driver in the garage. Today, her sister, Lyudmila Antonova, works as a metrology engineer in the chief metrologist’s department.
Elena began her career as a 3rd-grade finished product inspector. On-the-job training, she obtained specialized education at the Solikamsk Pulp and Paper Technical School. In 1993, thanks to her professionalism and ability to organize people, Elena Anatolyevna became a team leader and has been successfully managing the team to this day.
Leader and Mentor
Popova’s team works as a single, well-coordinated mechanism. It is precisely due to this cohesion that the team manages to achieve excellent production results year after year. Elena herself constantly learns new things to be an example and support for her team.
In 2025, she completed “Effective Mentor” training program. Under her careful tuition, many employees have mastered the profession of inspector, and now they themselves act as mentors and share their experience with newcomers.
Proactive Attitude
Elena Popova has been a member of the Solikamskbumprom trade union organization for 38 years and serves on the workshop committee. All members of the team she leads are union members and active participants in corporate sports events.
Elena Anatolyevna’s professional merits and public engagement have been repeatedly recognized with high awards: a Letter of Gratitude from the Mayor of Solikamsk (2013), a Certificate of Honor from the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade of Perm Krai (2017), and a Certificate of Honor from the Perm Krai Trade Union Organization of Forest Industry Workers of the Russian Federation (2021).
— For me, being awarded the “Labor Pride of Perm Krai” medal came as a complete surprise, — Elena Anatolyevna admits. — Of course, it is very pleasant, but I consider this award not only my personal merit. For me, it is, above all, recognition of the many years of diligent work, professionalism, and contribution to the development of the pulp and paper industry by our entire workforce. My team and the entire staff of the department stands behind me. This medal is an evaluation of the work of each of us.