Date: 2 March 2015
The Manufacturing Institute recognized Anne Hardy, Director of Saint-Gobain’s Northboro Research and Development Center in Massachusetts, with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award.The STEP Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C-suite. The STEP Awards are part of a larger initiative aimed at promoting the role of women in the manufacturing industry that focuses on the attraction, development, advancement and retention of high potential female talent.
“As a nearly 350-year old company in the manufacturing industry, we are acutely aware of the gap in skilled labor and presence of women in the industry,” said John Crowe, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Corporations. “Saint-Gobain is committed to helping the next generation of job seekers, particularly women, view manufacturing as a career option with a bright future and aiding them in the development of the technical skills they need to qualify for a career in this industry. It’s an honor for our company to see one of our leaders recognized as a role model for young women.”
Since joining Saint-Gobain in 1992, Anne has held various positions within research and development, working with a range of materials, including ceramics, polymers and construction products in centers from Massachusetts to France. As director of the second largest research and development center in Saint-Gobain, Anne has a far reaching impact on nearly all of the solutions Saint-Gobain offers. She also currently has 10 patents.
Anne is the driving force behind the company’s strategic relationships with leading universities and the community, and she often speaks at STEM (science, technology, education and mathematics) events to educate and engage young people about the career opportunities that exist in the manufacturing industry. Anne holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. in Material Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jennifer McNelly, president of The Manufacturing Institute said, “We chose to honor these women because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole.” STEP Ahead is designed to help improve the retention of existing female talent and highlight role models that can help raise awareness about careers for women in manufacturing. Currently, women represent 25 percent of all manufacturing employees but 51 percent of the potential workforce.
On March 26, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize recipients of the STEP Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Awards program will highlight each Honoree’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.
About Saint-Gobain in North America
For 350 years, Saint-Gobain, the world leader in sustainable environments, has designed and manufactured high-performance building materials that improve the lives of people the world over. From the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and the glass pyramid at the Louvre, to The Statue of Liberty and The World Trade Center, and even components that allow the Mars Rover Curiosity to seek out life on another planet, Saint-Gobain has been a part of the fabric of human history, advancement and improvement for three and a half centuries – and 2015 is the company’s commemorative year.
In North America, the company upholds this rich history of innovation by making a material difference in the spaces where people work, live, play, heal and learn. Along with its North American headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Saint-Gobain has more than 265 locations in North America and approximately 15,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $6.3 billion in 2014. Join Saint-Gobain in a celebration of the company’s 350 years of innovation, wonders and advancements by connecting with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook and Twitter.
About The Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
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