Women in Manufacturing STEP Awards Recognize Women for Excellence in Manufacturing
The Manufacturing Institute Honors Kim Ryan, President of Batesville
The Manufacturing Institute announced that Kim Ryan, president of Batesville, has been selected to receive the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award. Launched in 2013, the STEP Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers throughout all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C suite. The awards are part of a larger STEP Ahead Initiative implemented by the Manufacturing Institute to examine and promote the role of women in manufacturing through recognition, research and best practices for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent.
This year, the group will recognize 160 women from manufacturing organizations of all types and sizes. Honorees were nominated by their peers, company officials or professional service firms based on specific contributions made, considering outcomes, such as increased revenues, reduced costs, greater productivity, improved customer satisfaction, and other factors.
“Women like Kim Ryan are the face of exciting careers in manufacturing,” said Jennifer McNelly, president, The Manufacturing Institute. “We chose to honor them because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole. “
Kim Ryan is an accomplished leader with more than 23 years of experience and expertise in manufacturing organizations. Named president of Batesville in 2011, Kim sets an example for others by remaining focused on initiatives that create simplicity, alignment and agility across the enterprise.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by The Manufacturing Institute, and especially to be in the company of such an impressive group of women who are making a difference in their organizations,” said Ryan. “I am looking forward to having a chance to meet, share ideas and learn from their experiences.”
Kim started her professional life with Batesville after graduating from Iowa State University and has spent more than 2 decades contributing to the success of the Batesville, Hillenbrand and Hill-Rom organizations. She served as a senior executive in each company, leading a variety of functional areas, including finance, strategy, operations, information technology, and division management. Kim is equally active outside of work and in her local community. She serves on the board of Kimball International, Inc. (NYSE: KBALB) and as Vice Chair of the CREATE Foundation. She has also served on the boards of Margaret Mary Health Community Hospital, the Southeastern Indiana YMCA and the Public Works Water Board.
A recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that nearly 70 percent of American manufacturing companies have a moderate to severe shortage of available, qualified workers. Manufacturing faces a serious skills gap, part of which can be attributed to an underrepresentation of women in the industry. While women make up approximately 50% of the overall labor force, that number is only about 25% in manufacturing.
On February 6, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize the 160 recipients of the 2014 STEP Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Awards program will highlight each honoree’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing. A complete list of STEP Award recipients is available at www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
ABOUT BATESVILLE
Batesville, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), is the leader in the North American death care industry. For more than 125 years, Batesville has been dedicated to helping families honor the lives of those they love®. Our history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service and reliable delivery helped us become – and remain – a market leader. Today, Batesville offers the most comprehensive portfolio of quality burial and cremation products, memorial tributes, innovative technologies, and profit-enhancing business solutions. For more information, please visit www.batesville.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.
