Women MAKE Awards Recognize Husco Emerging Leader Rachel Hunter
The Manufacturing Institute Will Honor Rachel Hunter, Project Engineer at Husco, at the Women MAKE Awards
The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers—announced that Rachel Hunter, Project Engineer at Husco has been recognized as a 2024 Women MAKE Awards Emerging Leader. This annual national awards program honors 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.
“I am honored to have been recognized among so many talented and successful women for the Emerging Leader award. To be included on a list with women across the country who share the same goal is extremely exciting, and I look forward to continuing the work I do in our community to elevate women in STEM,” said Rachel Hunter.
In addition to Rachel’s work at Husco, she serves as the Executive Director of STEM to Stern, a national non-profit focused on increasing diversity in STEM spaces and on competitive rowing teams. The program removes barriers for students who would not otherwise be exposed to either STEM or rowing, and provides them with academic and athletic support from middle school through college. “Husco is extremely supportive of the work I do with STEM to Stern and they place a high value on community involvement. I am extremely grateful to be part of the Husco team and am honored to represent them at the Women MAKE Awards.”
The Women MAKE Awards are part of the MI’s Women MAKE America initiative, which is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. Women MAKE America aims to build the 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the industry.
“The Women MAKE Awards showcase the vibrant, diverse and rewarding careers in the industry and how women have excelled as manufacturing leaders, paying it forward to inspire and uplift the next generation to pursue opportunities in modern manufacturing,” said Caterpillar Group President of Resource Industries and Women MAKE Awards Chair Denise Johnson.
The Women MAKE Awards gala honors 100 industry leaders (“Honorees”) and 30 rising stars (“Emerging Leaders ”) who have been nominated by their companies as the “go-to” women, recognized for their innovation, dedication, contributions and good counsel. Honorees are further rewarded with access to a two-day leadership development conference in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to the evening awards gala. Since its launch in 2011, the program has honored and recognized more than 1,400 Honorees and Emerging Leaders.
“Women’s passion and creativity can drive innovation and fresh perspectives in any organization, especially in manufacturing. Rachel’s pay-it-forward approach to community work dovetails well into building strong relationships with customers, as well as colleagues, to help them solve their toughest challenges,” said Angela Stemo, Husco’s Vice President of Global Human Capital Management.
“With more than 600,000 open jobs in manufacturing today and the continued need to fill millions more jobs by the end of the decade, it’s critical for manufacturers to engage the largest underrepresented pool of talent: women,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “The 2024 Women MAKE Awards gala promises to be an inspirational, powerful event, where some of the brightest stars in manufacturing will be recognized for the incredible work they have done—both to grow our industry and to uplift others like them.”
On April 18, the MI will recognize 130 recipients of the Women MAKE Awards in Washington, D.C. The evening will highlight the story of each Honoree and Emerging Leader, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.
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ABOUT HUSCO
Husco is a manufacturer specializing in the design and manufacture of hydraulic and electro-mechanical control systems for the Automotive and Off-Highway markets.
ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE
The Manufacturing Institute builds, diversifies and strengthens the modern manufacturing workforce, with the goal of furthering individual opportunity, community prosperity and a more competitive manufacturing industry. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions for the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
