Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation Announces Board of Directors

The Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF) announces the election of 21 members to its 2023 Board of Directors, whose terms begin on April 1, 2023.

The board is led by chair Veronica Braker, senior vice president of global operations, ADM; vice chair Mary Ellen Grom, executive director, customer experience solutions, AFL; secretary Steve Speich, intelligent solutions group factory manager, John Deere; and past chair/treasurer Cara Herzog, director, diversity, equity and inclusion, people and culture, Southwire Company.

First-term members of the 2023 WiMEF board are:

• Kori Carlson, president, Brooklyn Tool Co.
• Joanna Perz, global sustainability leader, Ingersoll Rand

“On behalf of the entire WiM organization, I am excited to welcome Kori and Joanna to the WiMEF Board of Directors,” says WiM President and Founder Allison Grealis. “Education creates a roadmap for progress and, with this new board at WiMEF, we will continue to pave the way for women in the manufacturing industry to reach their full potential.”

WiMEF funds the Leadership Institute for Women in Manufacturing and STEM, the Leadership Consortium, the Management Development Program and the Empowering Women in Production Program, as well as a virtual learning series that provides monthly webinars.

Additional members of the WiMEF board who are continuing their service are:

• Michel Conklin, executive director, BotsIQ
• Melissa DeTamble, chief human resources officer, Burke Porter Group
• Sascha Harrell, IN-MaC director of education and workforce, Purdue University
• Mani Khanuja, senior artificial intelligence and machine learning specialist, Amazon Web Services
• Danielle Lancianese, director and tile stone, Shaw Industries Group Inc.
• Leslie LeMair, vice president of sales and business development, Federal Package
• Shameka Lewis, EHS supply chain category director, Kellogg Company
• Vanessa Li, program manager, Novelis
• Jenn Martin, engineering manager, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, North America
• Jo Ann Mitchell, MBA, JMitchell Consulting
• Melissa Rocha, director of global sourcing, Kymera International
• Catherine Ross, director of education, Smartforce development, The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
• Shauna Smith, vice president, global operations and product realization PPE, Idex Corporation
• Carrie Uhl, chief procurement officer, GE Healthcare
• Laura Wilde, senior director quality and mission assurance, Aerojet Rocketdyne

Grealis also thanked the following outgoing members of the WiMEF board for their service: Rachel Camarillo (Erin Air) and Kaitlyn Kelly (Trane Technologies).