Manufacturers need women to help fill jobs, and women can find fulfilling careers in the industry. Tuesday night in Davenport, the Manufacturing Institute and Arconic Foundation will help women learn from each other about opportunities, challenges, and best practices in the field.
A.J. Jorgenson, from the institute, says women only represent about one-fourth of the manufacturing workforce. The STEP Forward panel discussion will focus on how jobs in factories have changed a lot. The jobs are clean, highly technical, and innovative.
STEP Forward's panel will feature Terri DeRoin, production manager at Phoenix Closures, Sharon Holmes, continuous improvement manager at Arconic, and Beth Takemoto, an assembly supervisor at John Deere Harvester.
STEP stands for science, technology, engineering, and production. Jorgenson says manufacturing offers higher salaries to women who want to use their experience, skills, and background to make a difference.
The Manufacturing Institute and Arconic Foundation will host STEP Forward Tuesday evening from 5-7 at the Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport.