Yvonne Giddings
Senior Mold Design Engineer
Libbey, Inc.
I have a sense of community within our industry. We all take pride in seeing the product of our labor in the real world. And together, with coworkers from every walk of life, from design to manufacturing, we know that we have an important role in this endeavor.
With more than 40 years of experience in the field, Yvonne is an outstanding glass mold design engineer, with seven U.S. design patents to her name. One of her most noteworthy skills is her ability to conceptualize complex shapes and translate them into 3D CAD models, a vital skill needed to make the most of modern glassmaking technology.
Libbey is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, which is often called the Glass City because of the industry’s importance there. The city has recognized Yvonne’s knowledge and expertise by inviting her to help design and manufacture the glass keys that are traditionally presented to visiting dignitaries by the mayor.
Yvonne is a role model at Libbey and for women in manufacturing in particular. She has been a mentor to many associates and interns, both male and female, throughout her career. She is often sought out as a mentor due to her amiable and patient demeanor and her natural teaching ability. Yvonne has also mentored and taught associates from Libbey’s facility in China; she successfully bridged cultural and language barriers to create and maintain meaningful relationships with these distant colleagues.
For the past two years, Yvonne has served on the board of directors for the Libbey House Foundation, where she works to help renovate and maintain the historic residence of Edward Drummond Libbey, the late founder of Libbey Glass and one of the leaders who put Toledo on the map as the Glass City. Throughout her life, Yvonne has also given significant time and energy to organizations including the Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, the Salvation Army’s Food Basket Program and the Frank Merry Park Association. She has also volunteered with the Toledo Public Schools, tutoring young people in a low-income area and helping out with coat and toy drives held for the local community.
