Karla Trotman

Karla Trotman is the President and CEO of Electro Soft, Incorporated (ESI), an American electronics manufacturing company serving critical industries including defense, aviation, and transit. ESI manufactures custom wire harnesses, cable assemblies, printed circuit boards, and military electronics entirely in-house at their Pennsylvania facility—never outsourced. Karla brings extensive corporate experience from Fortune 500 companies including Honeywell and Gap, as well as global retailer IKEA, combined with her B.S. in Business Logistics from Penn State and MBA from Drexel University. Under her leadership, ESI has strengthened American manufacturing capabilities while maintaining ISO 9001 certification and just-in-time delivery standards. Named a Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Greater Philadelphia Award winner and recognized as a Top 25 Leader Transforming Manufacturing, Karla has tackled critical industry challenges as past Co-Chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Alliance (SEPMA), where she led collaborative efforts to address workforce development, supply chain resilience, and manufacturing competitiveness. She serves on prestigious boards including the Museum of the American Revolution, Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, and African Women’s Entrepreneurship Collective. Author of “Dark Dirty Dangerous – Building the Vibrant Future of Manufacturing,” Karla demonstrates how domestic production creates jobs, strengthens national security, and builds thriving communities.