The Manufacturing Institute will award Reesie Duncan, Shaw Contract Group creative director, with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award. The STEP Awards honour women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry.
Duncan is among the 100 recipients to be recognized as honorees. This year’s program was the most competitive to date, with hundreds of applicants from manufacturers across the country reflecting the diversity of manufacturing sectors and positions.
Duncan was selected for encouraging innovation and inspiring others to push the boundaries of what is possible in product design manufacturing, as evidenced by thirteen consecutive years of Best of NeoCon awards for the Shaw Contract Group brand.
“These women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing,” said The Manufacturing Institute President Jennifer McNelly. “We chose to honor these women because of their significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole.”
The STEP Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative launched in 2012 to promote the role of women in manufacturing through recognition and research.
“The perspectives, judgment, market knowledge, and innovation of women throughout our organization are critical for the long-term success of our company,” says Vance Bell, CEO, Shaw Industries. “We are fortunate to have the tremendous talent represented by these award-winning women.”
The efforts of the STEP Ahead program parallel those of the Shaw Women’s Innovation Network (WiN), a program Shaw launched in 2014 to support the development of leaders at Shaw through resources and opportunities that help women drive successful careers. WiN recognizes the important contributions of women within the workplace and provides members with access to educational resources and training focused on career development and core competencies, mentorship, volunteerism, networking and more.
Duncan will receive her STEP Ahead Award on Mar. 26 at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Awards program will highlight each winner, including her leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing. These stories will help inspire next generation female leaders in manufacturing and support current female talent within the industry.
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, visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org
About Shaw Contract Group
A leading global floor covering brand, Shaw Contract Group defines design through not only by great appearance, but also performance and sustainability. Its Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver EcoWorx broadloom and tile products perform in commercial spaces around the world, and can be endlessly reclaimed and recycled into new high-performance product. Shaw Contract Group has received Best of NeoCon awards for its carpet collections every year since 2002; is rated “best overall business experience” by facility managers and designers; and is recognized among Contract magazine’s top ten “Brands that Inspire.” A brand of Shaw Industries, Shaw Contract Group combines the expertise of the world’s largest carpet manufacturer with the financial stability of a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary.
For more information, visit www.shawcontractgroup.com
