Today is International Women’s Day and Women in Construction Week is underway so let’s take a look at some of the women who are making strides and positively impacting the metal forming and fabricating industry. MetalForming Magazine, in conjunction with the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) and with the support of the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), presented its Seventh Annual Women of Excellence (WoE) in Metal Forming and Fabricating Awards at the end of last year. The annual program is designed to recognize the increasing role of women in manufacturing and to spur continued advances. From scores of entries, 35 honorees were selected, representing a full range from leadership positions to those on the shop floor.
Brad Kuvin, MetalForming editorial director, shared, “While women make up only about one-third of the U.S. manufacturing industry workforce, for many companies they fill a variety of critical roles, from working on the production line to filling a variety of management roles to running their own manufacturing businesses. The 2022 WoE class provides excellent examples and inspiration for those who may follow in their footsteps.”
Allison Grealis, WiM president and founder comments, “Congratulations to the 2022 class of MetalForming magazine’s Women of Excellence in Metal Forming and Fabricating winners, who exemplify the ingenuity, grit and passion held by so many women in industry. We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s group of honorees, and we hope that their stories inspire future women to pursue careers in this industry and current women in industry to aspire to great things.”
PMA, MetalForming’s parent organization, actively seeks to promote manufacturing opportunities for women while recognizing their skills, as does WiM, an organization that grew out of PMA’s commitment to these efforts.
Meet the 35 honorees — for more details on each honoree and their achievements, check out the full article in MetalForming Magazine.
Cindy Barron – Materials and Logistics Supervisor, ARaymond Manufacturing Center North America Inc., Logansport, IN
Alicia Bortone – Vice President Supply Chain, Loftis Steel & Aluminum Inc., Nashville, TN
Paula Burkett – Order Entry Coordinator, JV Manufacturing Co., Natrona Heights, PA
Toni Cardinale – Office Manager, Marion Manufacturing Co., Cheshire, CT
Michele Cherney – Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer, Winco Stamping, Menomonee Falls, WI
Kristi Coles – Shipping and Receiving Supervisor, Marwood International, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Rene Cooper – Applications Engineer, T.J. Snow Company, Inc., Chattanooga, TN
Ellen Dougherty – Strategic Account Specialist, Okay Industries, New Britain, CT
Meredith Hackathorn – Purchasing Director, C.E. Smith Co., Greensboro, NC
Rita Hemmert – Project Manager/Administrative Office, Nidec Press & Automation-Nidec Minster Corp., Minster, OH
Esther Holewa – OEM Sales Manager, Schuler Inc., Canton, MI
Heidi Julian – Customer Service Manager/Logistics Manager, Bettcher Manufacturing LLC, McAllen, TX
Teresa LaMay – Program Manager, AJ Rose Manufacturing Co., Avon, OH
Marianne Langford – Account Manager, American Fabricators Inc., Division of Kloeckner Metals Corp., Nashville, TN
Ronda Lee – General Manager of Operations, Steel Technologies, Greensburg, IN
Rebecca Lichwalla – Director of Quality Assurance, Connecticut Spring & Stamping, Farmington, CT
Lizeth Loya – Head Estimator and Project Manager and Drafter, New Mexico Steel Fabricators Inc., Las Cruces, NM
Ilda Mandujano – Plating Department Lead, Metalfx, Willits, CA
Heather McKinley – Production Planning and Customer Service Manager, New Standard Corp., York, PA
Amanda Menchinger – President and General Manager, Globe Tech, LLC, Plymouth, MI
Pamela Neale – Senior Tool Designer, JK Tool, New Kensington, PA
Ana Neves – Sales Manager, Ramco Equipment Corp., Hillside, NJ
Louann Peri – CNC S/U Programmer, Southco, Inc., Honeoye Falls, NY
Marianne Petosa – Customer Relations and Inside Sales, Accurate Machine and Tool Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
Karen Phillips – Health, Safety and Environmental Manager, O’Neal Manufacturing Services, Ambridge, PA
Mahasin Pledger – Human Resources Coordinator, Magna/LMV Automotive Systems, Liberty, MO
Cathie Pragano – Human Resources Manager, Stewart EFI, Thomaston, CT
Maria Rivas – Global Human Resource Director, Termax Co., Lake Zurich, IL
Cori Schubert – Customer Service Representative,Eagle Metals, Leesport, PA
Lisa Servello – Customer Service Manager, NN, Inc., Power Solutions Group, Attleboro, MA
Mary Simpson – Leveling Center Sales, Arku Inc., Cincinnati, OH
Sarah Simpson – Inside Sales and Purchasing Manager, CMC of Georgia, Toccoa, GA
Missy Smith – Plant Manager, Kirchhoff Automotive, Lansing, MI
Sherry Stepp – Global Marketing Manager, Kyzen, Nashville, TN
Erin Wilson – Senior Learning and Organizational Development Specialist, JTekt North America, Greenville, SC
About the Women in Manufacturing Association
The Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) is a national and global trade association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. It provides year-round support to more than 15,000 individual members representing more than 2000 manufacturing companies from 48 U.S. states and 40 countries. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function—from production to the C-suite. Membership is available to anyone working within or with the manufacturing sector.
About Precision Metalforming Association
The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) is the full-service trade association representing the $137-billion metalforming industry of North America—the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its more than 850 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry.
About Women in Construction Week™
WIC Week™, or Women in Construction Week™, celebrates and promotes the role of women in