Women in Manufacturing creates national trade group

Gretchen Zierick named first WiM chair as organization focuses on role women will play in manufacturing growth.

By Women in Manufacturing April 10, 2015

Women in Manufacturing (WiM), a national organization dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women in manufacturing, is officially its own 501(c)6 national trade association. WiM originated in 2011 as a networking group powered by the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA). 

PMA 2010 Chair of the Board Gretchen Zierick, president of Zierick Manufacturing Corp. in Mount Kisco, N.Y, was elected to serve as WiM’s first chairperson.

Additional members of the WiM board include:

  • Karla Aaron, President, Hialeah Metal Spinning, Inc., Hialeah, Fla.
  • Elizabeth Engels, Director, Business Development, rp+m
  • Lisa Habe, President & Chairman of the Board, Interlake Industries, Inc., Willoughby, Ohio
  • Sheila LaMothe, Manager, Marketing & Public Relations North America, TRUMPF Inc., Farmington, Conn.
  • Una Lauricia, Senior Intellectual Property Attorney, Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Diana Perreiah, President, Building and Construction Systems–North America, Alcoa, Atlanta, Ga.
  • Anne Ross, Partner/Office Managing Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP, Madison, Wis.
  • Catherine Werner, Environmental, Health and Safety Leader, General Electric, Louisville, Ky.

The first board meeting of the newly filed organization was held in Washington, D.C., on March 26. The group discussed several resolutions, including the establishment of executive and nominating committees, the appointment of officers, a review of the association’s financial position and approval of the association’s budget. WiM President Allison Grealis also provided an update on the organization’s programs and services.

“I could not be more pleased to welcome this outstanding group of women leaders in the manufacturing sector to our inaugural WiM board,” said Grealis. “Now, more than ever, the American manufacturing sector needs strong and creative leadership to overcome obstacles and continue on the path toward growth and prosperity. With the help of our newly constituted board, we will continue to demonstrate that not only are women great for manufacturing, but that manufacturing is great for women.”

Full board member bios are available at www.womeninmanufacturing.org/about/board 

The next board meeting, scheduled for June 18 in Cleveland, will focus on strategic planning.