AI Skills

2021 STEP Ahead Award Winners

DOWNLOAD PDF

STEP Ahead Award Honorees and Emerging Leaders have accomplished success within their companies and have proven to be leaders in the industry as a whole. The Institute has also chosen to recognize a select few for the Emerging Leaders category – representing young women who are the future of the industry and have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments at just the beginning of their careers.

See All Honorees

2021 Honorees and Emerging Leaders

The following women were honored with STEP Ahead Awards. Take a look at the amazing stories of these impressive women in the 2021 STEP Ahead Awards profile book.

Julie Adkins
BorgWarner Inc.
Krina Agnew
McCormick & Company, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Jai Aja*
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Lauren Alban
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Erika Alvarez Pino*
Cooper Standard
Erika Anderson*
ExxonMobil
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Gillian Armstrong
Caterpillar Inc.
Woman smiling in professional attire, representing manufacturing leadership.
Amanda Baca
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Professional woman smiling, representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Betty Baker
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
Businesswoman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Cindy Barnett
Arconic Corporation
Portrait of a woman representing The Manufacturing Institute leadership team.
Carrie Bartkowiak
Kennametal
Leadership team at The Manufacturing Institute promoting manufacturing excellence.
Jennifer Bennett
NXP Semiconductors
Professional woman in business attire representing The Manufacturing Institute.
Pamela Berry-Solomon
The Dow Chemical Company
Woman executive representing The Manufacturing Institute leadership team.
Emilee Bianco*
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Professional portrait of Manufacturing Institute leader, smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a p.
Jennifer Boland-Masterson
The Boeing Company
Executive woman representing The Manufacturing Institute, industry leadership, manufacturing experti.
Susan Bonivich
Volvo Penta of the Americas
Professional woman smiling, representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Kalie Boot
Ovintiv Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute leader speaking at an event, smiling outdoors.
Shari Briggs
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Professional woman in business attire representing manufacturing leadership.
Roseane Campos
AGCO Corporation
Professional woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute, smiling confidently.
Denise Carlson
DENSO
The Manufacturing Institute logo with a professional woman smiling in the background.
Jill Carraway
Grady-White Boats, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo featuring a gear and factory icon.
Rebecca Chmelev*
Toyota Motor North America
Rahnuma Chowdhury*
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Trasa Coffil
STIHL Inc.
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Emilee Cook*
Apprentice.io
Young woman smiling at The Manufacturing Institute event, professional setting.
Elaine Cope*
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Ashley Daugherty
Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Professional woman smiling, representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Jessica Dedeaux*
The Boeing Company
Executive leader of the Manufacturing Institute smiling confidently.
Mellinda Devese
GE Healthcare
Professional woman leader representing The Manufacturing Institute.
Biljana Dewsbury
John Deere
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Shawn Donaldson
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Professional woman in business attire representing the Manufacturing Institute.
Amanda Durk Frye
Astra
Woman smiling at the Manufacturing Institute event, representing industry leadership.
Ann Eddy*
Ingredion Incorporated
Woman smiling, representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Amanda Edwards
Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo showcasing industry leadership and innovation.
Iraina Edwards*
3M
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Nichole Elff
Boston Scientific Corporation
The Manufacturing Institute logo showcasing industry leadership and innovation.
Christine Enge
AGCO Corporation
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Gabrielle Ferrara*
Ferrara Manufacturing
Professional woman leader representing The Manufacturing Institute.
Jennifer Fleming*
Faurecia Interior Systems
Professional woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute event.
Melanie Flowers
Samsung Austin Semiconductor
Professional portrait of a woman leader at the Manufacturing Institute, emphasizing diversity and in.
Sharon Floyd
Siemens Energy, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Emily Frantz*
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Professional woman representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Claudia Fresnillo Martinez
Caterpillar Inc.
Portrait of a smiling woman representing The Manufacturing Institute leadership team.
Sarah Friedman
Brown-Forman Corporation
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Veronica Gadson
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Woman smiling in professional attire at Manufacturing Institute event.
Melissa Goodwin
Ecolab Inc.
Young woman smiling, representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Margaret Graham*
Whirlpool Corporation
Leadership team at The Manufacturing Institute promoting manufacturing excellence.
Jill Greene
Faurecia
Professional portrait of a woman representing The Manufacturing Institute leadership.
Nadine Gropp
3M
Leadership team at The Manufacturing Institute promoting manufacturing excellence.
Melissa Hadley
Koppers Inc.
Prominent woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute event.
Liz Haggerty
Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo featuring industry-related graphics and text.
Lauren Hampton*
BASF Corporation
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a brick wall background.
Rachel Harris*
PPG
Woman smiling, representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Melissa Headland*
The Dow Chemical Company
The Manufacturing Institute logo showcasing industry leadership and innovation.
Kally Hodgson
International Paper Co.
Manufacturing Institute leader speaking at an event, promoting manufacturing excellence.
Carey Holden
The Dow Chemical Company
Professional woman representing The Manufacturing Institute leadership team.
Heather Hollis
Cornerstone Building Brands
Professional woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute event.
Brandi Hooven
National Gypsum Company
Professional woman representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Erica Hoyos
Johnson & Johnson
The Manufacturing Institute logo on a professional background.
Tammy Hudson
Molson Coors Beverage Company
The Manufacturing Institute leadership event with professionals networking.
Katie Iyengar*
Pratt & Whitney
Woman smiling at The Manufacturing Institute leadership event, professional setting.
Maria Jackson
Trane Technologies
Woman smiling outside the Manufacturing Institute building, representing industry leadership.
Sophia Jacobs*
INEOS Olefins & Polymers
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a professional background.
Manju Jalali
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Professional woman smiling, representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Christi Justice
Eli Lilly and Company
Woman smiling outdoors, representing manufacturing leadership and workforce development.
Fallon Kappus*
ITAC
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Miral Khairy
USG Corporation
Professional portrait of a woman representing The Manufacturing Institute leadership.
Fariyal Khanbabi
Dialight PLC
Woman smiling, representing manufacturing leadership and innovation.
Kim Kipin-McDonald
Arconic Corporation
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a professional background.
Swati Kumari
Unilever
Woman engineer in safety helmet smiling at manufacturing event.
Dedra Leal
ExxonMobil
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Stephanie Locks-Hartle
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Professional woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute event.
Tamera Long
Oshkosh Corporation
Professional woman representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Tracy Long
ABB Inc.
Young woman smiling outdoors, representing manufacturing leadership and innovation.
Marie Lorentz*
Parker Hannifin Corporation
Woman smiling, representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Deepa Malhotra
Emerson
Julie Martin
89 North
Jennifer McIntosh
Lear Corporation
Woman smiling at the Manufacturing Institute event, representing industry leadership.
Megan Molling*
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Elizabeth Monroe
BASF Corporation
Portrait of an elderly woman representing manufacturing leadership.
Sylvia Moore
Shintech, Inc.
Woman in green polo shirt representing The Manufacturing Institute.
Teresa Mullen
Huntington Ingalls Industries
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed outdoors with autumn foliage background.
Summer Multer
Ecolab Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Michelle Murphy
Trane Technologies
Woman smiling, representing manufacturing industry leadership and innovation.
Kelly Myer
The Procter & Gamble Company
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership and innovation.
Ann Myers*
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Female manufacturing worker wearing safety gear and helmet, smiling confidently.
Kristen Nelson
Novelis Inc.
Portrait of Manufacturing Institute leader in professional attire.
Sandy Nott
Toyota Motor North America
The Manufacturing Institute logo featuring industry-related graphics and text.
Kristin Nuzzio
PPG
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed outdoors with greenery background.
Jordan Oligmueller*
Advansix Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Lori Pfahler
Merck & Co., Inc.
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Neha Phadke
Covestro LLC
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a professional background.
Kristie Pickering
BASF Corporation
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Lee Polance
H.B. Fuller
Professional woman representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Vienna Polanco*
IBM
Professional portrait of Manufacturing Institute leader in business attire.
Brandy Anne Powell
Emerson
Sylvia Propps
3M
Liza Resley
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Jillian Ryan
Henkel Corporation
Rochelle Samuel
Saint-Gobain/CertainTeed
Woman in professional attire at Manufacturing Institute event.
Sherri Schad
Welbilt, Inc.
Professional woman smiling, representing leadership at the Manufacturing Institute.
Lori Schaefer-Weaton
Agri-industrial Plastics Co.
Woman smiling, representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Kelly Schroedl
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Professional woman representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Julia Semenchenko
The Proctor & Gamble Company
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a professional background.
Lakshmi Shanmugam
Fresenius Medical Care
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed outdoors with greenery background.
Oryna Shevchenko
Fresenius Medical Care
Prominent woman leader at the Manufacturing Institute event.
Lisa Skidmore
GE Appliances, a Haier Company
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership and innovation.
Galen Smith
IBM
Prominent woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute event.
Jona Smith
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Professional woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute event.
Bryn Snow
HarbisonWalker International, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a professional background.
Nandini Srinivasan
Plex Systems, Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo showcasing industry leadership and innovation.
Shannon Steiniger*
Greene Tweed
Professional portrait of a woman representing the Manufacturing Institute leadership.
Dawn Stock
Spirit AeroSystems
The Manufacturing Institute logo on a professional background.
Donna Tallent
Malibu Boats
The Manufacturing Institute logo featuring a gear and factory icon.
Victoria Tester*
ABB Inc.
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed outdoors with trees in the background.
Nyssa Thongthai
WestRock
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership and innovation.
Rayssa Ticom Cavalcante*
The Proctor & Gamble Company
Portrait of Manufacturing Institute leader, smiling woman with glasses, in professional attire.
Susanne Troutt
Sealed Air Corporation
The Manufacturing Institute logo representing manufacturing industry leadership.
Kemberly Umaña Calvo
Cargill
The Manufacturing Institute leader woman portrait, professional headshot.
Sara Venkatachalam
Dover Fueling Solutions
Woman smiling, representing leadership at The Manufacturing Institute.
Alexis Wang
Ball Aerospace
Leadership team at The Manufacturing Institute promoting manufacturing excellence.
Hui-Ping Wang
General Motors
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed outdoors with greenery background.
Diana Wegner
General Motors
Portrait of a woman leader at The Manufacturing Institute, smiling confidently.
Ronda R. Williams
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
The Manufacturing Institute logo displayed on a professional background.
Rhonda Willigan
Pratt & Whitney
The Manufacturing Institute logo showcasing industry leadership and innovation.
Mei Cheng Wong
Intel Corporation
Connie Worbington
Mars, Inc.
Nina Yang
Jabil Inc.
Yan Zhou*
Fresenius Medical Care
Jennifer Zuniga
INEOS Olefins & Polymers

*Asterisk indicates an Emerging Leader