VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 1, 2022—The Manufacturing Institute (MI)—the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers—announced it will recognize Erin Ashcroft with a STEP 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.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the Manufacturing Institute for this award,” said STIHL Inc. assistant general counsel Erin Ashcroft. “STIHL Inc. continues to empower me to make an impact both within the company and in my professional community. Whether I’m engaging with the next generation of attorneys at the Federal Bar Association or mentoring STIHL Inc. interns, I feel my work makes a difference.”
“While not working directly on the production floor, Erin’s work behind-the-scenes—from a legal and compliance standpoint—ultimately plays a crucial role in keeping the STIHL Inc. manufacturing machine moving,” said STIHL Inc. general counsel Scott Tilley. “In short, she exemplifies the STIHL standard of excellence through her passion for the law, leadership skills and collaborative mentality. She’s an invaluable member of the STIHL team.”
“The 2022 STEP Ahead Honorees and Emerging Leader awardees are excellent representatives of the exciting opportunities available in manufacturing,” said Denise Rutherford, 2022 STEP Ahead chair. “These remarkable women and the leadership they show help inspire next generation of female leaders to consider careers in manufacturing.”
“The STEP Ahead Awards are central to the industry’s efforts to recognize and empower women,” said MI President Carolyn Lee. “Our Honorees and Emerging Leaders serve as role models and have their own multiplier effect on the number of women in the workforce, paying it forward to help others find their way into a successful, rewarding career in modern manufacturing. After 10 years of STEP Ahead Awards, we’ve honored more than 1,100 women leaders in manufacturing, who in turn have impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals through mentoring and volunteer work. We’re so proud of all these women, and we can’t wait to see what STEP and its Honorees and Emerging Leaders will accomplish in the next 10 years.”
The STEP Women’s Initiative is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. STEP works to foster a 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research and leadership, as well as by motivating alumnae to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation. The STEP Ahead Awards honor exceptional women in manufacturing and motivate them to mentor the next generation through an annual awards gala and associated leadership training program. 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 the program’s first five years, STEP Ahead Award winners impacted more than 300,000 individuals—from peers in the industry to school-age children.
The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisis—the shortage of skilled talent to fill open positions. Manufacturers can close the skills gap by 50% simply by bringing 10% more women into the industry. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. STEP Ahead empowers and inspires women in the manufacturing industry. The goal is to build networks for women to have support in their industry and to elevate the role models who can motivate and mentor the next generation.
On April 28, the MI will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP Ahead Awards in Washington, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards program will highlight each Honoree and Emerging Leader’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.
About the Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute grows and supports the manufacturing industry’s skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The Manufacturing Institute’s diverse initiatives support all American workers, including women, veterans and students, through skills training programs, community building and the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America,* as well as the number one selling brand of chain saws in the world. STIHL is also the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment among U.S. landscape professionals.** STIHL products are sold through a network of more than 10,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers from coast to coast – not big box stores. Located in Virginia Beach, Va., STIHL Inc., the U.S. affiliate of the global STIHL Group, exports to more than 80 countries around the world; and the majority of STIHL products sold in America are also made in America.*** STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL Dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of a local STIHL Dealer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHLusa.com.
*”Number one selling brand” is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2021 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers. **“Number one selling” claim based on 2007-2021 syndicated Irwin Broh Research of the U.S. professional landscaper market. ***A majority of STIHL products sold in America are made in America from U.S. and foreign materials.
STIHL Inc. is pleased to support the work of Independent We Stand, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), National Association of Landscape Professionals, the National Association of State Park Directors, and the North American Retail and Paint Association.
For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to www.stihlcareers.com. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.
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