Page 31 - MetalForming November 2016

Lynette Ellman
Chief Financial Officer Superior Die Set Corp. Oak Creek, WI
Typically the first to arrive and last to leave, Lynette handles Superior Die Set’s top-level accounting functions for its three companies, including two plants in Poland. With zero manufacturing knowl- edge in her first days at the company 34 years ago, Lynette now understands more shop-floor controls and manufac- turing techniques than most engineers.
“I have always strived to be prepared for where I want to be in my career, not where I am,” she says. “This philosophy, coupled with hard work, education, and an employer that has recognized my abil- ities and given me the opportunity to prove myself, has taken me from an invoicing clerk to CFO.”
With a constant eye on the compa- ny’s financial statements, she is able to indicate trends and areas of improve- ment that are crucial to success, and par- ticipates in several local financial groups to keep abreast of constant fluctuations in practices and techniques.
“This industry has provided me with amazing growth and stability throughout my career. I would argue that manufac- turing can offer a woman an interesting, flexible, satisfying and lucrative career path. The continual growth, education, social networks and opportunities are vast in the manufacturing sector.”
Liz Ramirez
Quality Engineer ACE Clearwater Torrance, CA
A go-to person, ‘can't do it’ is not in Liz’s vocabulary. With a challenging posi- tion in a high-volume, low-mix metal- forming facility, she strives to solve prob- lems and treat all of her colleagues with total respect...and has earned theirs.
Starting as document-control clerk, through on-the-job training, outside classroom instruction and her work ethic, Liz rose through the ranks to become a manufacturing engineering assistant, and with her attention to detail, became a full-time manufacturing engineer. And when a quality-engineer position became available, she was immediately recommended for the promotion.
She also volunteers to speak with young people, especially young women, encouraging them to consider careers in manufacturing. Liz is actively involved in the company’s Manufacturing Day event, where more than 500 local students, educators and parents are invited to visit and experience first-hand the innovation and exciting challenges that exist on a real-world shop floor.
“Women contribute to manufacturing every day. We can be more than teach- ers, nurses or moms and be part of a great workforce that makes things. Being a part of a team brings us together to share in our successes. It’s tremen- dously rewarding, having created some- thing special at the end of the day, every day. And doing it together, it counts.”
Diana Peters
Executive Director Symbol Training Institute Skokie, IL
As the executive director and founder of Symbol Training Institute, Diana leads its initiative to combat the skilled-labor shortage by providing hands-on training (including NIMS credentialing) and job placement, and strongly advocates for women's equality in manufacturing by promoting the profession to women and employing several female instructors to assist in her efforts.
In addition, Diana sits on U.S. Con- gresswoman Tammy Duckworth's National Manufacturing Advisory Council and has started Manufacturing Next, a not-for-profit organization designed to help combat the skills and gender gaps in the manufacturing industry.
Her tireless efforts have been recog- nized by colleagues and the community alike—she’s been named to Crain’s Busi- ness Chicago “2013 40 Under 40” class and also named to the Daily Herald's “Entrepreneur of the Year” class of 2015, among other honors.
“Women should enter the manufac- turing industry because it offers them an exciting and financially rewarding career. Women are typically very detail oriented and thus thrive in such a career where parts must adhere to tight toler- ances and the margin for error is very minimal. It is great to get a diverse per- spective on solving a problem. Women can do it all!”
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