STEP Ahead Awards recognize women for excellence in manufacturing

The Manufacturing Institute has honored 130 women at the Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Awards at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.

The awards dinner gala was keynoted by GoldieBlox founder and CEO Debbie Sterling.

Attendees also heard stories from:
● Sheila Tierney, vice president, global procurement, Ingersoll Rand, STEP chairwoman
● Heidi Alderman, senior vice president, petrochemicals, BASF Corporation, STEP vice chairwoman
● Jennifer McNelly, executive director, The Manufacturing Institute
● Jay Timmons, president and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers
● Emerging Leader Nichole Williams, lean six sigma black belt, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
● Honoree Valerie Young, vice president, international supply chain, 3M Company

Before the awards, the honorees and emerging leaders visited Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY), Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN). The 130 women also participated in personal and leadership development sessions throughout the day.

The Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C suite. The STEP Ahead Awards program highlighted each honoree’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing. The chosen women are asked to make a pledge to help advance women in manufacturing and promote the importance of a diverse workforce. Through this pledge, women commit to advocating for the manufacturing industry, mentoring young women, engaging employees resource groups to generate ideas and share best practices, promoting personal development, and leading as an ambassador for manufacturing education.

“We are trying to get to action with STEP Ahead,” McNelly said. “Every class of honorees and emerging leaders is building the army, an army that will promote diverse workforces and recruit the next generation of manufacturing leaders to secure the future of this industry. These women are the best of the best and exactly what America needs to make a difference in manufacturing.”

A recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that 84% of executives agree there is a talent shortage in U.S. manufacturing. Contributing to this gap is the under-representation of women in the industry. While women make up nearly half (47%) of the labor force, that number is only about over one-fourth (27%) in the manufacturing labor force. STEP Ahead works to close this gap through the attraction of women into the industry, as they are an untapped and vital resource.

Click here for a full list of honorees and emerging leaders.