2018 STEP AHEAD AWARDS MEDIA KIT

Transcription

1 MEDIA KIT

2 Dear Reader, This media kit has been designed to introduce you to the STEP Ahead initiative and awards and help you develop a media plan that leverages The Manufacturing Institute s national communications strategy. STEP Ahead is a growing grassroots movement of manufacturers dedicated to overcoming the shared challenges facing manufacturers today. The most pressing issue facing manufacturers is a gap in skilled labor: 84 percent of executives agree there is a talent shortage in U.S. manufacturing, and six out of ten open skilled production positions are unfilled due to the talent shortage. Part of the skills gap is the underrepresentation of women in the industry. While women make up nearly half of the labor force, that number is only about 29 percent in the manufacturing labor force. With the looming talent shortage, the industry has an opportunity to mitigate the gap by encouraging more women join the ranks of manufacturing employees. STEP Ahead gives manufacturers an opportunity to raise awareness of these issues and to begin to address them by showcasing female talent. Through this collective eort, STEP Ahead draws public attention to manufacturing s present-day reality and encourages job seekers to develop the skills they need to qualify for a long-term career in this secure and growing sector of the economy. This media kit provides information about the movement, including links to key online resources, a sample press release, and provides manufacturing facts and graphics. Please also visit to learn more about the 2018 STEP Ahead Awards. If you need additional information or resources, we encourage you to STEPahead@nam.org. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Carolyn Lee Executive Director The Manufacturing Institute

3 STEP AHEAD OVERVIEW Manufacturing faces a serious skills gap. Part of this gap is the underrepresentation of women in the industry. Women make up about 47 percent of the labor force, but only 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce. To help improve upon this, The Manufacturing Institute is promoting the role of women in manufacturing through the STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production) Ahead initiative, which serves to mentor and recognize women while also leading research eorts tackling this important topic. The Manufacturing Institute launched the STEP Ahead initiative in 2012 to celebrate women in the manufacturing industry that are making a dierence through advocacy, mentorship, engagement, promotion, and leadership. The STEP Ahead Awards highlight the achievements of real women in manufacturing on a national stage with a formal gala to celebrate their accomplishments. The 2018 STEP Ahead Awards will take place from April 9 through April 11, with the Awards Dinner Gala on the night of April 10 in Washington, D.C. We know that the Institute s STEP Ahead initiative has made a dierence since its inception, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals, from peers in the industry to schoolage children. To date, we have honored 672 women who are making a dierence in their companies and communities, and we are excited to continue building this army of leaders in 2018.

4 PRESS The Manufacturing Institute will publish press releases about significant, initiative-wide developments, building momentum to the STEP Ahead Awards on April 10, All the STEP Ahead press releases will be posted on The Manufacturing Institute s website on the press page as they are released. Highlights to date include: 3/1/18 Honorees/Emerging Leaders and companies are publicly announced 3/19/18 Program details announced 4/10/18 6th STEP Ahead Awards The Manufacturing Institute will also be working with companies to release local op-eds regarding women in manufacturing beginning in March Please contact Cristina Crawford at ccrawford@nam.org if your company s Honoree or Emerging Leader is interested in authoring a piece. SOCIAL MEDIA Follow the national conversation on social media through the hashtag #MFGwomen Follow The Manufacturing Institute s STEP Ahead LinkedIn Page: STEP LinkedIn Page National Association of Manufacturers Twitter National Association of Manufacturers Facebook page: NAM Facebook WEBSITE All of the Honorees profiles will be added to The Manufacturing Institute s website on March 1, The Manufacturing Institute will publish news items about the above-mentioned press releases, building momentum to the STEP Ahead Awards on April 10, 2018.

5 STEP AHEAD FAQ WHAT ARE THE STEP AHEAD AWARDS? The STEP Ahead Awards celebrate women who have demonstrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Production excellence in manufacturing. The STEP Ahead Awards recognizes women and their achievements at all levels of a manufacturing organization, from the factory floor to the C-suite. HOW ARE THE HONOREES SELECTED? Honorees are nominated by their peers, company oicials, or professional service firms. Nominators are asked to articulate how the nominee made significant achievements in manufacturing through their positive impact on a company and the manufacturing industry as a whole. Nominators also had to explain, and support with specific outcomes, the contributions the nominee made to her company as a leader. Nominators qualified the specific technical contributions the nominee made, considering outcomes like increased revenues, reduced costs, greater productivity, improved customer satisfaction, and development of employee talent, etc. HOW MANY HONOREES ARE THERE? There are 130 Honorees from 88 companies; this includes Honorees and Emerging Leaders (women under 30 years of age). They represent all levels of manufacturing, and show the diversity of manufacturing careers. The Honorees companies are of all sizes and represent varying sectors of manufacturing. WHY ARE YOU RECOGNIZING WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING? Manufacturing faces a serious skills gap. Part of this skills gap can be attributed to an underrepresentation of women in the industry. While women make up approximately 47% of the labor force, that number is only about 29% in the manufacturing labor force. WHAT CAN THESE WOMEN DO TO HELP THAT? By telling the real stories of these women, we will demonstrate leadership and opportunities in a diversity of manufacturing careers and use them to inspire the next-generation of talent to pursue careers in the industry. The STEP Awards are also meant to empower Honorees to lead in their companies, communities, and networks on the importance of manufacturing and issues related to attracting, advancing, and retaining strong manufacturing talent. WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE STEP AHEAD AWARDS? The 2018 STEP Ahead Awards will take place from April 9 through April 11, with the Awards Dinner Gala on the night of April 10 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE STEP AHEAD AWARDS? The STEP Awards are meant for anyone who supports women manufacturers, and would like to help close the gender gap in manufacturing. This includes manufacturers, educators, media, civic leaders, and local communities.

6 PRESS RELEASE FOR HONOREE For Immediate Release 6TH ANNUAL STEP AHEAD AWARDS RECOGNIZE WOMEN FOR EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING The Manufacturing Institute Will Honor HONOREE, TITLE at COMPANY CITY, March 1, 2018: The Manufacturing Institute announced they will award HONOREE with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C suite. QUOTE from Honoree QUOTE from Company Executive The women who we are celebrating represent the exciting career opportunities available in manufacturing, said Natalie Schilling, 2018 Chair of STEP Ahead and Vice President of Human Resources at Arconic. The STEP Ahead Award honors successful women in this industry for their significant achievements and the positive impact they have made on their companies, their communities and the industry as a whole. Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. Through the STEP Ahead Awards, we hope to take another step toward closing this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation, said Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that oer significant opportunities for growth. The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent. In five years, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals from peers in the industry to school-aged children. Women constitute one of manufacturing s largest pools of untapped talent. Women totaled about 47 percent of the U.S. labor force in 2016, but only 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce. Not only does the STEP Ahead initiative bolster manufacturing s attractiveness to women, it also plays an important role in improving the perception of careers in the industry among younger generations. On April 10, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP Ahead Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards program will highlight each honoree s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing. ### ABOUT COMPANY Sentence about company. For more information, please visit ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) ailiate 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, please visit

7 SAMPLE LETTER TO ELECTED OFFICAL The Honorable Dear Governor/Senator/Representative/Etc. The Manufacturing Institute of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is pleased to inform you that NAME of HONOREE from COMPANY will be honored with a STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award on April 10, We request that you recognize NAME of HONOREE receiving this national honor with an oicial proclamation. We have provided a sample proclamation below, for your convenience. Manufacturing is the strength of our nation, and our workforce is the power behind that engine. Manufacturers of all sizes and sectors need a skilled and qualified workforce. Yet, the skills gap we face continues to grow, and a large part of that gap is the underrepresentation of women in our industry. The STEP Ahead Awards are part of a larger initiative, inspiring the next generation of female leaders to pursue a career in manufacturing and showcasing the boundless opportunities the manufacturing industry oers. These awards honor women in the manufacturing industry who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C-suite. The manufacturing industry is the backbone of the United States economy, supporting millions of American jobs. Our eorts and the STEP Ahead Award initiative continues to support the growth of this industry. For more information about this award please visit, Women-in-Manufacturing/STEP-Awards.aspx. Thank you in advance for your consideration and approval of our request. Please contact AJ Jorgenson at ajorgenson@nam.org or by phone at with any questions or more opportunities to commend NAME OF HONOREE s achievements. Sincerely, NAME

8 SAMPLE PROCLAMATION FROM ELECTED OFFICAL Whereas, The Manufacturing Institute s STEP Ahead Awards will be observed on April 10, 2018 as an eective way to change the perception of manufacturing careers and to showcase the rewarding and high-paid manufacturing jobs in the industry; and WHEREAS, each day hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs go unfilled because of misperceptions and a lack of skill; and WHEREAS, women are an untapped talent resource for manufacturers, representing only 29% of the workforce; and WHEREAS, NAME of HONOREE, from COMPANY, will be honored as [HONOREE/EMERGING LEADER] to inspire them to consider a career in manufacturing; and WHEREAS, by honoring women leaders, manufacturers will begin to address the skills gap they face, connect with future generations and take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry; and WHEREAS, the STATE commends and supports this important cause and the organizations involved; NOW, THEREFORE, I, NAME, Governor of STATE, do hereby proclaim XXXXX.

9 TALKING POINTS U.S. MANUFACTURING AND THE SKILLS GAP Manufacturers power the economy. Investments in manufacturing multiply across the economy, creating jobs and growth in other sectors. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.89 is added to the economy. That is the highest multiplier eect of any economic sector. To ensure continued success, we must focus on two drivers: innovation and a skilled talent pipeline. According to U.S. manufacturing executives, a skilled, educated workforce is the single most critical element of innovation success, but the hardest asset to acquire. Today, 80 percent of manufacturers can t find the skilled workers they need. Part of this skills gap can be attributed to an underrepresentation of women in the industry. While women make up approximately 47% of the labor force, but only about 29% in the manufacturing labor force. STEP AHEAD In 2012, The Manufacturing Institute launched the Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead initiative to honor and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership. The STEP Ahead Awards, part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, were launched to examine and promote the role of women in manufacturing. The STEP Ahead Awards celebrate women who have demonstrated excellence in manufacturing. They are the best of the best; only a fraction of the female talent in the industry. The STEP Ahead Awards recognizes women and their achievements at all levels of a manufacturing organization, from the factory floor to the C-suite. Honorees were nominated by their peers, company oicials, or professional service firms. This year, there are 130 Honorees and Emerging Leaders (women under 30) from 88 companies. To date, 672 women have been recognized. Emerging Leaders connect tomorrow s leaders with today s mentors, creating a talent pipeline for decades to come. In five years, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals from peers in the industry to school-aged children. By telling the real stories of these women, we inspire the next-generation of talent to pursue careers in the industry and encourage current female talent within the manufacturing industry. We are empowering honorees as ambassadors of the manufacturing industry to lead in their companies, communities, and networks on the importance of manufacturing and talent issues. f f STEP Ahead calls upon these women to LEAD by example by leveraging their strengths for personal development, engaging the next generation, advocating for the manufacturing industry, and developing their networks.

10 ARTWORK Below are low-resolution versions of the oicial STEP Ahead logo. If you would like high-resolution copies for publication, please contact The logo has been trademarked and cannot be edited or modified, except as shown below. When using the logo, it also must be include proper recognition for The Manufacturing Institute. Please contact nam.org for any specific questions. PRINT AND SOCIAL GRAPHICS The Manufacturing Institute has developed several social media graphics for your use. Please contact for high-resolution copies.

11 SAMPLE COMPANY STORY FOR INTERNAL NEWSLETTERS/WEBSITES/ETC On April 10, The Manufacturing Institute recognized NAME of HONOREE as well as 129 other women in Washington, D.C. as recipients of the sixth-annual Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women at all manufacturing levels who have demonstrated leadership and excellence in their careers. The women who we are celebrating represent the exciting career opportunities available in manufacturing, said Natalie Schilling, 2018 Chair of STEP Ahead and Vice President of Human Resources at Arconic. The STEP Ahead Award honors successful women in this industry for their significant achievements and the positive impact they have made on their companies, their communities and the industry as a whole. Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. The STEP Ahead Awards works to close this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation, said Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that oer significant opportunities for growth. The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative launched to promote the role of women in manufacturing through recognition and research. The stories of these women and the leadership they show will help inspire next generation female leaders in manufacturing and support current female talent within the industry. In five years, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals from peers in the industry to school-aged children. The manufacturing industry is currently experiencing a shortage of women in the workforce, representing only 29 percent of the manufacturing labor force. Women represent manufacturing s largest pool of untapped talent, which makes them a critical factor in closing the skills gap. The STEP Ahead initiative continues to support and encourage women to become leaders in manufacturing and inspire others to pursue the amazing career opportunities available in this industry. For more information about the STEP Ahead Awards, please contact STEPahead@nam.org.

12 DRAFT AGENDA 2018 STEP AHEAD AWARD PROGRAM APRIL 9 APRIL 11, 2018 APRIL 9, 2018 Location: Mayflower Hotel 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. STEP Ahead Honoree Development Sessions and Welcome Reception APRIL 10, 2018 STEP Ahead Honoree Leadership Program Location: Mayflower Hotel 7:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. STEP Ahead Development Sessions STEP Ahead Awards Reception and Dinner Location: National Building Museum 6:00 p.m. Reception 7:30 p.m. STEP Ahead Award Dinner Program 9:30 p.m. Program Conclusion STEP Ahead Awards After-Party Location: Mayflower Hotel 9:30 p.m. 11:00 p.m. APRIL 11, 2018 Location: Mayflower Hotel 8:00 10:00 a.m. STEP Ahead Development Sessions 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Hill Visit: TBC

13 MEDIA RELEASE Subject: Location: I grant to The Manufacturing Institute, its representatives and employees the right to take photographs of me and my property in connection with the above-identified subject. I authorize The Manufacturing Institute, its assigns and transferees to copyright, use and publish the same in print and/or electronically. I agree that The Manufacturing Institute may use such photographs of me with or without my name and for any lawful purpose, including for example such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, and Web content. I have read and understand the above: Signature Printed name

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