The Manufacturing Institute presented 130 women with the 2023 Women MAKE Awards, which recognizes women in the manufacturing industry who exemplify leadership within their companies and communities.
About MI and the Awards
This national honor identifies successful women in the manufacturing industry and further encourages women to mentor and support the next generation of female talent to pursue manufacturing careers. The MI recognized 100 honorees and 30 emerging leaders, women under the age of 30 who have demonstrated leadership early in their careers.
Women constitute one of manufacturing’s largest pools of untapped talent. Women total about 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce, far below their representation in the U.S. labor force as a whole. Last year, the MI launched the 35×30 campaign aimed at increasing the representation of women from 29 percent to 35 percent by 2030, which could fill all the open jobs in the sector today.
What people are saying
“I’m humbled to be among so many extraordinary women, the creators, the dreamers, and the doers, the makers,” says MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “Our honorees and emerging leaders are champions at paying it forward and serving as mentors, and we’re aiming to replicate their example through the MI’s 35×30 campaign, which provides women in the industry an opportunity to mentor young women and girls, to be exemplary and uplifting role models.”
“In the day-to-day, it can be hard to appreciate the power of one example. But the ripple effect you can cause is incalculable,” says National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Bit by bit, we’re changing how people—most importantly young people—see the role of women in manufacturing. You’re doing more than setting an example for young people, amid uncertainty and upheaval; you’re a beacon of hope and reassurance, rising to meet the challenges of our time.”
Some honorees and emerging leaders
Honorees and emerging leaders within the glass/window and door industry include:
- Madison Benson, production manager, Pella Corporation
- Kayla Brown, project manager, Libbey Glass LLC
- Jennifer Garcia, senior environmental engineer, Hydro Extrusion North America
- Danyal Harris, director of human resources, Libbey Glass LLC
- Amy Hooper, director, Eastman Chemical Company
- Jodi Lindow, plant manager, Cornerstone Building Brands
- Christine Marvin, chief marketing and experience officer, Marvin
- Laura Phillips, engineering director, Pella Corporation
- Viktoria Tabeleva, operational excellence manager, OldCastle BuildingEnvelope
- Melinda Thompson, supply chain manager, Cornerstone Building Brands
- Kaitlin Weston, project engineer, Saint-Gobain
