Brunswick Corporation : Three Brunswick Employees Recognized for Excellence in Manufacturing
Manufacturing Institute Announces Fifth Annual
Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Awards
LAKE FOREST, Ill. March 1, 2017 - Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today
announced that three employees have been selected among 130 recipients to
receive the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Production) Ahead Award from the Manufacturing Institute for 2016. Brunswick is
among a handful of companies to have three recipients chosen for the prestigious
award this year.
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. Selected from Brunswick were
the following:
* Jan Morton, vice president - supply chain, Brunswick Boat Group,
* Katelyn Vara, project engineer, Mercury Marine, and
* Marcea Weiss, plant operation manager, Mercury Marine.
Morton is based in Merritt Island, Fla., while Vara and Weiss work in Fond du
Lac, Wis.
Morton and Weiss are among 100 women chosen as honorees of the STEP Ahead Award,
while Vara was among 30 women designated as an "emerging leader."
"We are extremely honored to have three of our colleagues chosen for this highly
selective award," said Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark
Schwabero. "They are truly a source of pride for Brunswick. It speaks to the
quality of our workforce and their dedication as well as the ultimate purpose of
this recognition - to promote careers in manufacturing.
"Manufacturers face the growing challenge of finding, engaging and advancing
talent. STEP Ahead raises awareness of these issues by showcasing opportunities
and role models that can speak to the transformation of the industry - role
models like Jan, Katelyn and Marcea," Schwabero continued. "STEP Ahead
celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding leaders in
manufacturing, inspiring the future generations of women leaders to consider
full, enriching careers in manufacturing."
Jan Morton began her career with Brunswick in 1984, working in the lamination
department at the Company's sport boat manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
Through the years, Morton was promoted throughout various functions in warehouse
operations, purchasing, plant operations and sourcing. Recently, Morton led a
small team of sourcing professionals delivering several million dollars in cost
savings.
Katelyn Vara, an engineer, recently led a core team of about 12 engineers as
well as coordinated with numerous other departments throughout Mercury and
client boat companies to test and validate portions of Mercury Marine's totally
new sterndrive marine engines. A former college All-America volleyball player,
Vara volunteers as an assistant coach at nearby University of Wisconsin -
Oshkosh.
Recently promoted to plant operations manager, Marcea Weiss continues to be a
significant contributor to the overall success of Mercury Marine through her
skills and participation and leadership in the Company's Lean Six Sigma (LSS)
efforts worldwide. Weiss is a certified Master Black Belt, one of the highest
levels of certification, and led Brunswick's enterprise-wide Black Belt
Council. Weiss is also the commander and pilot for a MEDEVAC unit in the
Wisconsin Army National Guard, where she flies UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
With her background, she has been a strong advocate of both Mercury's Veterans'
and Women's Network.
"These women exemplify the path an exciting career in manufacturing can take,"
said Heidi Alderman, 2017 Chair of STEP Ahead and senior vice president of
Intermediates North America, BASF Corporation. "STEP Ahead recognizes women
nationwide for their significant achievements to the field of manufacturing, and
the positive impact on their companies and the industry as a whole."
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.
A recent survey from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute found that six out
of ten open skilled production positions are unfilled due to the talent
shortage. Part of closing the skills gap means closing the gender gap, Alderman
points out.
On April 20, 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 Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation's leading consumer
brands include Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser
sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick
and Whale marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, Payne's
Marine and BLA parts and accessories distributors; Bayliner, Boston Whaler,
Brunswick Commercial and Government Products, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris,
Lowe, Lund, Meridian, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet
and Uttern; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group and
SCIFIT fitness equipment; InMovement products and services for productive well-
being; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories and game room furniture. For
more information, visit http://www.brunswick.com.
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, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
Contact: Dan Kubera, Director - Media Relations and Corporate Communications
Phone: 847-735-4617
Email: daniel.kubera@brunswick.com
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Brunswick Corporation via GlobeNewswire
Released March 1, 2017