Page 42 - MetalForming November 2017

Christine Gregory
Operations Manager Millenia Products Group, Inc. Itasca, IL
Christine has done it all at Millenia, having worked in manufacturing, pur- chasing, customer service, shipping, out- side processing, quality, lean manufactur- ing and continuous improvement. Now she’s using her extensive knowledge of the company’s operations to transform Millenia into a forward-thinking, auto- mated facility.
Over the course of the past year- and-a-half, Christine has been working to implement a new, cloud-based soft- ware system at the company’s main plant in Itasca. She has done this while maintaining all product-management responsibilities for a facility that has been running 24 hr./day for nearly a year, and while overseeing the addition of a new automotive spectrum to the company’s product line. Handling both day-to-day responsibilities and big-pic- ture company direction, Christine navi- gates a challenging, always-changing environment to provide company lead- ership and the best possible service to the toughest customers in North Amer- ica, says her nominator.
“Manufacturing, at its core and most simplistic definition, is the process where the independent becomes the whole. Attention to detail and the ability to multi-task are where women strengthen manufacturing.”
Leslie Brown
Owner/Chairman of the Board Metal Flow Corp.
Holland, MI
As the owner of Metal Flow Corp., Leslie oversees 275 employees and strives to make her company one that all others are measured against in the met- alforming industry. She regularly is involved in community outreach pro- grams in Western Michigan, and in 2013 she received the Grand Rapids Athena Award, which recognizes women’s con- tributions to leadership through distinct professional and personal attributes such as relationships, advocacy and giving back. Because of these traits, Leslie’s nominator calls her “a true example of strength and leadership.”
“Great opportunities abound for women in manufacturing at every level. The good news is that more young girls and women understand the value of STEM careers. Over my 15 years at Metal Flow, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of women serving in manufac- turing roles. I encourage women in busi- ness schools to consider joining manu- facturing companies. Women can thrive in operations, engineering, quality, sup- ply chain and technical areas. Lean in!”
Deb Benning
Chief Relationship Officer Ace Metal Crafts Co. Bensenville, IL
During her 17-yr. tenure at Ace Metal Crafts, Deb has seen her responsibilities grow exponentially as she has climbed to the executive ranks. Today she develops and executes the company’s strategic plans, creates and implements company policies and guidelines, and meets rev- enue and profitability goals. Deb’s role in creating a customer-first culture has helped power company growth, says her nominator, who also lauds Deb’s integral role in helping create a workplace envi- ronment at Ace that ultimately earned the American Psychological Association’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2015.
“She is selfless in her efforts to unleash potential,” says Deb’s nomina- tor, describing an attitude that extends to customers, the Ace team and the next generation of manufacturers.
“While I did not set out for a career in manufacturing, it has certainly been an unbelievable journey. To be excited to go to work every day after 28 years speaks for itself. Manufacturing allows you to use your creativity to innovate new ways to do things. In this industry I have been both a teacher and a student, and I’ve made lifelong friends.”
40 MetalForming/November 2017
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