Goodyear, Cooper women win STEP Ahead awards

AKRON — The Manufacturing Institute is honoring three women from the tire industry in the 2021 Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead awards.

Shawn Donaldson, Cooper Tire's research and development manager, composite development, and Ronda Williams, a regional quality manager, are both the STEP Ahead honorees. Ann Myers, a Goodyear engineering associate, is a STEP Ahead Emerging Leader award winner.

They will be feted Nov. 4 in Washington during an awards gala, said the institute, a nonprofit workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers.

"The STEP Ahead Awards is a chance for us to celebrate the success of exceptional women in our manufacturing business," Goodyear CEO Rich Kramer said. "Shawn, Ronda and Ann have all demonstrated strong project leadership and engaged mentorship in their day-to-day roles and beyond."

The three honorees are among 130 women being recognized through the annual awards program.

"Women in manufacturing proved themselves time and time again during the pandemic, driving innovation and progress, and they are now helping our industry build the next, post-pandemic world. We will honor these manufacturing leaders with the STEP Ahead Awards, elevating their success and providing them a platform to inspire the next generation of women manufacturing leaders," said MI Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

"The skills gap remains a top challenge for manufacturers, and our STEP Ahead Honorees will help us close it. They'll play a crucial role in bringing more talented, motivated women into modern manufacturing," she said.