Two Arkema employees were recently awarded with the 2024 Women MAKE Award, presented by the Manufacturing Institute in Washington, D.C. They are among a prestigious group of 100 women leaders and 30 rising stars who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers at all levels of the manufacturing industry.
“We are proud to celebrate our two 2024 Women MAKE Award recipients. Carla Crysell and Julia Verone’s strong technical knowledge contribute to the safety and effectiveness of our operations,” said Sr. VP NA Group Manufacturing Chris Glover. “Women remain underrepresented in the U.S. manufacturing sector. We hope that Carla and Julia’s success stories will help inspire others to pursue a career in the industry.”
Honoree: Carla Crysell, Operations Manager, Axis, Ala.
Carla is responsible for operations across multiple product chemistries in Arkema’s Axis plant. In her more than 19 years at Arkema, she has led important capital improvement projects to increase Axis’s production capability by over 50% and ensure on-going high quality manufacturing jobs in the local community. Carla has also been integral in maintaining the Axis site’s recognition as a “Star” site within OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), a recognition given to less than 0.02% of sites under OSHA’s jurisdiction. On the shop floor and beyond, Carla has mentored and supervised numerous young talents, many of whom have gone on to become leaders at Arkema sites.
She also actively supports the next generation of engineering talent, ensuring the summer engineering interns from Alabama Southern University, her alma mater, receive diverse work assignments throughout their internship with Arkema. Carla is also active in her community, partnering the site with the local elementary school to assist with quarterly awards days and reading in classrooms. She also served as a mentor with the Arkema Science Teacher Program, assisting elementary school teachers with STEM curriculum.
Emerging Leader: Julia Verone, Project Manager and Improvement Engineer, King of Prussia, Pa.
As an Emerging Leader Julia is among 30 women who have made significant contributions early in their careers. Julia manages $1-20M capital projects and leads floor level problem-solving trainings at plants, empowering all levels of the manufacturing workforce to proactively create solutions that strengthen our processes. She led the development and execution of companywide problem solving workshops which resulted in 400 problems solved across 25 sites in just six months, resulting in significant cost savings, enhancements to plant efficiency and reduction of plant down time.
Julia is a leader and mentor both inside and outside the workplace. She is a lead recruiter and former graduate of the Arkema Developing Engineers Program. Her efforts have resulted in a robust pipeline of entry-level engineering talent from Drexel. Julia is also a weekly volunteer at the Los Angeles Team Mentoring e-Works program for middle school students living in a challenging urban environment. She successfully relationship builds with her mentees, guiding them to recognize their personal strengths and help them make positive choices during critical life situations.
The Women MAKE Awards are a cornerstone of the Manufacturing Institute’s Women MAKE America initiative, which is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing by fostering a 21st-century manufacturing workforce that empowers and inspires women in the industry. The Women MAKE Awards honor exceptional women in manufacturing through an annual awards gala and associated leadership training program.
Photos courtesy of the National Association of Manufacturers.