College to Career: Next Steps in STEM
Join us for an all-day career development and networking event connecting students, young professionals and industry leaders.
Advancing Women & Students in Manufacturing
The Timken Company is collaborating with the team behind the Manufacturing Institute’s 35×30 Campaign to host an all-day career development and networking event for students, young professionals and manufacturing industry representatives.
The 35×30 Campaign provides women and students interested in manufacturing careers with an opportunity to hear from industry leaders, connect with their peers, and learn best practices to succeed.
8:30 am – 9:00 am | Registration & Light Breakfast
9:10 am – 9:25 am | Welcome: Opening Remarks & Keynote Speaker
9:30 am – 10:15 am | Young Professionals Panel Session
Presenters: The Timken Company
Session Overview: A diverse lineup of female leaders from The Timken Company will discuss highlights from their manufacturing careers and explore the many opportunities for women in the industry. The panelists, who’ve worked in a range of cross functional roles in various locations, will talk about their professional journeys, compare their experiences and offer advice for others considering careers in manufacturing. Stop by the session to explore the rewards of a career in manufacturing!
10:15 am – 10:55 am | Networking Break & Career Fair Opens
11:00 am – 11:45 am | Reciprocity Ring: Leveraging Your Networks Activity
Presenters: The Manufacturing Institute
Session Overview: Reciprocity Ring is a facilitated workshop to collaborate and find solutions to issues while focusing on contributing to others. Built on the concept of paying it forward, the session is designed to support problem solving by building and expanding individual networks.
11:45 am | Networking Lunch feat. Resume Review & Open Jobs Fair
Session Overview – Resume Room & Open Jobs Fair: Students are invited to sit down with hiring managers and HR representatives to discuss the best ways to enhance their resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles for a better chance of being noticed by employers. Learn about the types of interview questions and onboarding processes to expect before networking with companies onsite that are currently hiring.
1:30 pm | Event Concludes
Speakers
Dr. Kasey Ashton
Dr. Kasey Ashton is the Director of Wake Invests in Women (WIIW) a collaborative public, private, and nonprofit initiative working to close the gender wage and representation gaps in Wake County. Prior to joining WIIW, Kasey was the Associate Director of NC State’s Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Living and Learning Program. She has nearly two decades of experience working towards intersectional gender equity in higher education and STEM fields. Dr. Ashton’s research centers around understanding gender wage/participation disparities in the workplace and beyond, intersections of identities, and the experiences of women in STEM fields. Kasey received both her Master of Education (M.Ed) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Higher Education Administration with a specialization in Student Affairs from NC State.
Kaleshia Fletcher
Kaleshia Fletcher is the senior manufacturing engineer at The Timken Company’s engineered bearing plant in Canton, Ohio. Serving in this position since 2022, Kaleshia manages the deployment of new products, Timken’s management of change process, the plant’s capital budget projects and supports manufacturing operations.
Kaleshia has more than 10 years of experience in the manufacturing industry with roles in quality, project engineering and manufacturing engineering.
Prior to The Timken Company, Kaleshia held the position of manufacturing engineer, overseeing large equipment installs, managing projects and supporting manufacturing operations. She was also a founding member of the Conductors employee resource group to support, uplift, engage and professionally advance Black/African Ancestry employees.
Previously, Kaleshia also held a project engineering role in the automotive industry, where she served as the interface between the design and manufacturing teams to ensure design-to-production success.
Kaleshia earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron.
Abby Hines
Abby Hines is the operations manager at The Timken Company’s Shiloh Plant in Rutherfordton, N.C. She is responsible for the operation of three value streams that produce high-precision ball bearings for the aerospace, commercial and machine tool markets. She is continuing to develop her team’s talents in continuous improvement, problem-solving and leadership.
Abby graduated from Timken’s Operations Development Program (ODP), completing quality, supply chain, lean and supervisor rotations at Timken’s Lincolnton, N.C., and Lebanon, N.H., manufacturing plants. Upon completion of the ODP program, Abby held positions of senior group lead and area manager at the Lebanon plant.
Abby earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Clemson University. She is currently completing an MBA in information systems and business analytics from the University of New Hampshire.
Aisha Holt
Aisha Holt serves as the manager of talent acquisition for The Timken Company in North Canton, Ohio. She plays a pivotal role in spearheading global talent acquisition initiatives and collaborates closely with Timken businesses, HR leads and business partners to oversee recruitment professionals and ensure the successful execution of recruitment activities. Aisha is dedicated to building and nurturing strategic relationships with stakeholders, while also leading initiatives to drive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion across the Timken organization.
Before joining Timken, Aisha held positions in talent and workforce development within the public and service sectors, accumulating over eight years of recruiting experience. Aisha holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in corporate social responsibility from Ursuline College. Additionally, she is a certified professional with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is a member of the Ohio Diversity Council, where she helps plan networking events.
Carolyn Lee
Carolyn Lee is the president and executive director of the Manufacturing Institute, the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Ms. Lee leads the MI in its goal of building a resilient manufacturing workforce prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future. She was named to the leadership role at the MI in 2017, and during her leadership tenure, the MI has grown significantly, evolving for scaled impact nationwide across the manufacturing industry. She led the MI as it developed new programs, initiatives and events, including taking stewardship from Toyota of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education in 2019 and growing its reach; inaugurating the annual MI Workforce Summit; launching the 35×30 mentorship initiative for women and young girls; expanding the MI’s Heroes MAKE America initiative; working with the NAM to develop Creators Wanted—the manufacturing industry’s largest national workforce development and education campaign; and partnering with organizations such as Stand Together Trust to create the MI’s second chance hiring initiative.
Through implementing groundbreaking programs, convening industry leaders and conducting innovative research, the MI furthers individual opportunity, community prosperity and a more competitive manufacturing industry. The MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions to address the toughest workforce issues.
Ms. Lee was raised in a manufacturing family; as the daughter and granddaughter of manufacturers, she saw from a young age the transformative impact manufacturing can have on communities, families and the men and women who build the world around us. Now it’s what drives her values as she works to bring manufacturing’s powerful potential to more Americans, sharing the many pathways to opportunity and ensuring that the industry and America can compete in the global economy.
Prior to her role leading the MI, Ms. Lee served for many years on the domestic policy team at the NAM. She also worked in leadership positions with the Telecommunications Industry Association and 3M and in the offices of former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and former Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY).
Tara Moore
Tara Moore is the product manufacturing principal at The Timken Company’s Lincolnton engineered bearing plant in Iron Station, N.C. In this role, she manages the introduction of products used in automobile manufacturing to the package bearing production streams.
Tara has held this role since November 2022. Her focus includes ensuring product/process changes are compliant with customer-specific requirements while maintaining the integrity of Timken procedures. She acts as the liaison between the plant and automotive manufactures to ensure products conform to Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) standards.
Hannah Smith
Hannah Smith is the plant manager of The Timken Company’s engineered bearing facility in Asheboro, N.C.
Named to her current position in 2023, Hannah is responsible for leading the overall operations of the Asheboro plant. A change-oriented and results-driven leader, Hannah is focused on improving employee safety, ensuring the quality reputation of Timken’s brand and advancing Asheboro’s customer service through increased manufacturing flexibility.
She also drives strategic business planning to improve plant operational efficiency, profitability and growth in the markets her plant serves.
Hannah previously served as manager of Timken’s Gaffney, S.C., plant, as well as operations manager, supply chain manager and various other positions with responsibilities focused on continuous improvement. Hannah joined Timken in 2011 through the company’s Operations Development Program for recent college graduates.
Hannah earned a master’s degree in business management from the University of South Carolina and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Valparaiso University.
Women MAKE America & 35×30 Campaign:
The Manufacturing Institute’s mission is to build a resilient manufacturing workforce prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future. As a part of our 35×30 Campaign to help combat the labor shortage in manufacturing by attracting more women into the industry, we are hosting development and recruiting events in partnership with local manufacturers. Please contact Isabelle Powell, National Director of Women’s Engagement, at [email protected] for additional event details.
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