USG managers are a STEP Ahead
Building products manufacturer USG Corporation announced that Ann Franzen, a plant manager in Rainier, Ore., and Jenna Leger, a ceilings production manager in Cloquet, Minn., have been recognized by The Manufacturing Institute as part of its annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Awards.
Building products manufacturer USG Corporation announced that Ann Franzen, a plant manager in Rainier, Ore., and Jenna Leger, a ceilings production manager in Cloquet, Minn., have been recognized by The Manufacturing Institute as part of its annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Awards.
The STEP Ahead 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. This marks the fourth consecutive year a USG employee has received this honor for her contributions to the manufacturing industry.
“It is an incredible honor for two USG employees to be recognized for their contributions to the manufacturing industry,” said Joe Holmes, SVP of manufacturing, technology, and global operations for USG Corporation. “Ann and Jenna are role models for their peers at USG and across the manufacturing community.”
Franzen, a STEP Ahead Honoree, joined USG more than 20 years ago. She climbed the ranks to become USG’s first female plant manager and has played an instrumental role in USG’s lean management initiative. Franzen is also a founding member of USG’s Women in Manufacturing group, which connects female plant employees across the USG network and promotes career advancement.
Leger was recognized by the Manufacturing Institute as an Emerging Leader, a category that honors women under the age of 30. She leads one of the most complex departments in the USG Ceilings division, implementing strategies for safety, quality and efficiency. Leger is an active participant in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and holds multiple leadership positions within USG’s Women in Manufacturing group.
“Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. Through the STEP Ahead Awards, we hope to take another step toward closing this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation,” said Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. “The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that offer significant opportunities for growth.”
The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent. In five years, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals — from peers in the industry to school-aged children.
Based in Chicago, USG serves the construction industry through its manufacturing of gypsum, performance materials, ceilings, and its USG Boral division. The company produces wall, ceiling, flooring, sheathing and roofing products.
The STEP Ahead 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. This marks the fourth consecutive year a USG employee has received this honor for her contributions to the manufacturing industry.
“It is an incredible honor for two USG employees to be recognized for their contributions to the manufacturing industry,” said Joe Holmes, SVP of manufacturing, technology, and global operations for USG Corporation. “Ann and Jenna are role models for their peers at USG and across the manufacturing community.”
Franzen, a STEP Ahead Honoree, joined USG more than 20 years ago. She climbed the ranks to become USG’s first female plant manager and has played an instrumental role in USG’s lean management initiative. Franzen is also a founding member of USG’s Women in Manufacturing group, which connects female plant employees across the USG network and promotes career advancement.
Leger was recognized by the Manufacturing Institute as an Emerging Leader, a category that honors women under the age of 30. She leads one of the most complex departments in the USG Ceilings division, implementing strategies for safety, quality and efficiency. Leger is an active participant in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and holds multiple leadership positions within USG’s Women in Manufacturing group.
“Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. Through the STEP Ahead Awards, we hope to take another step toward closing this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation,” said Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. “The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that offer significant opportunities for growth.”
The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent. In five years, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals — from peers in the industry to school-aged children.
Based in Chicago, USG serves the construction industry through its manufacturing of gypsum, performance materials, ceilings, and its USG Boral division. The company produces wall, ceiling, flooring, sheathing and roofing products.
