PMA event to feature speakers from Kashi, Harley-Davidson, plant tours

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More than 200 leading women manufacturing executives, managers and supervisors from across the country will meet in Milwaukee, WI on October 29-30, 2012 for the Women in Manufacturing Summit 2012, hosted by the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA). Designed exclusively for women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry, this second annual summit is the largest gathering of women manufacturing leaders in the country and provides a unique opportunity for participants to share perspectives and network with colleagues and other female executives in the manufacturing sector.

This year’s event includes roundtables led by top female leaders on professional development, leadership and mentoring, and marketing and creativity, and four new educational tracks on negotiation, talent attraction, project and risk management, and maintaining business in a tough economy.

“Because of the overwhelmingly positive response PMA received from our inaugural Women in Manufacturing Summit, we decided to create a broader program that includes year-round networking opportunities, mentoring programs, publications and an online directory,” said Allison Grealis, head of PMA’s Women in Manufacturing initiative. “The fact is that women can provide a solution to the estimated 600,000 skilled manufacturing job openings in this country that currently remain unfilled. Women have the skills needed by our industry; it’s up to us to show them the opportunities available in manufacturing. This summit will help develop ideas and programs to attract more women to our industry.”

Featured speakers at the 2012 summit include:

• Gayle Tauber, entrepreneur and founder of Kashi Company
• Gail Lione, former chief compliance officer, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Harley-Davidson
• Jennifer McNelly, president of The Manufacturing Institute
• Laurie Harbour, president and CEO of Harbour Results

The program concludes with the unveiling of the nominees for the Manufacturing Institute’s first annual STEP Awards to recognize women who have demonstrated science, technology, engineering and production excellence at all levels of manufacturing from the factory floor to the corporate office.

In addition, attendees have the option to participate in factory tours of Kohler Co. and MillerCoors.

For program details visit www.womeninmanufacturing.org, or contact Allison Grealis at 216-901-8800 or agrealis(at)pma.org.