Toyota executive to be recognized for excellence in manufacturing | Business

Leah Curry, general manager of Assembly and Conveyance at Toyota Indiana, will be recognized by The Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte, University of Phoenix, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers with a Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award for her excellence and leadership in manufacturing.  She will join 121 other woman honorees in Washington, D.C., for the recognition ceremony.

“I truly enjoy what I do every day, and I am very humbled to be recognized along with 121 other women,” said Curry.  “When I joined the team at Toyota in 1997, I knew it was a great company, but I never dreamed of the numerous development opportunities that would be available to me.”

The STEP 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 best practices for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent.

“The STEP Ahead initiative was founded to change perceptions of the manufacturing industry and create new opportunities for women in the sector,” said Latondra Newton, group vice president at Toyota Motor North America, and chairwoman of the STEP Ahead initiative.  “This initiative is the call for action to transform the face of today's manufacturing talent and ensure that women can contribute to the future of this industry.”

Norm Bafunno, Toyota Indiana president, said Curry has earned this national recognition through her tireless efforts, both at work and in the community.  “She is dedicated to advancing programs and experiences to create a high performing future manufacturing workforce.  The demand for skilled team members is growing rapidly, and I believe students who pursue careers in manufacturing will have no shortage of opportunities.”