More than 60 women business leaders from companies like Toyota, Procter & Gamble, BASF and ALCOA will convene at GE Appliances, a Haier company, in Louisville to discuss efforts to attract, engage and retain women in manufacturing during the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Summer Leadership Conference July 22-23.
“We’re excited to have WiM in Louisville this summer,” said Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, Chief of Louisville Forward and a conference featured panelist. “GE Appliances is a major part of our community, and we fully support and applaud their efforts to continue recruiting and retaining women in this very important sector. Advanced Manufacturing, with its reliance on STEM and, increasingly, digital technologies, is one of five business clusters at the heart of our economic development efforts."
common industry challenges
"Forbes magazine has called Louisville a manufacturing ‘boomtown’ for two years running, and we want to keep that momentum going as the community that attracts the best companies and talent.” Louisville Forward is the city agency that leads economic and community development.
During the conference, participants will discuss solutions to common industry challenges, exchange ideas and best practices, and devise tangible next steps to improve their companies’ ability to attract, engage and retain women in manufacturing.
women in advanced manufacturing
At WiM, we know firsthand that manufacturing is a great career path for women"
“We want our team and operations to reflect the people who use our appliances,” said Bill Good, Vice President of Manufacturing for GE Appliances. “In the last six months, we have increased the number of women working in our supply chain operations by more than 10 percent. While this represents great progress, we want to be the best place to work for women in advanced manufacturing. We couldn’t be more thrilled to host WiM.”
“At WiM, we know firsthand that manufacturing is a great career path for women. Events like this year’s Summer Leadership Conference in Louisville are a vital part of our mission to support and inspire women in the industry so that they can find success,” said Karen Norheim, Executive Vice President, American Crane & Equipment Corporation and WiM board chair.
manufacturing career opportunities
"We are grateful to GE Appliances for hosting our fourth Summer Leadership Conference and are glad to partner with them to promote manufacturing career opportunities for women in Louisville and around the country.”
The Summer Leadership Conference is one of the signature events hosted by WiM for its National Board of Directors and corporate member companies. The conference will include a tour of GE Appliances’ manufacturing facilities; workshops on leadership brand and employee resource groups; and presentations and panel discussions from other women leaders about their career journeys.
