Park Industries’ Schatz Honored

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Joan Schatz, co-president of Park Industries, will be among the honorees of the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award next month.

Schatz is among the 130 recipients of the award, given by The Manufacturing Institute.

SchatzThe awardees will be feted at an April 10 reception in Washington. Schatz’s achievements will be recognized on a national stage with a formal gala to celebrate the honorees’ accomplishments and further encourage women to mentor and support the next generation of female talent to pursue manufacturing careers.

The STEP Ahead Award honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and are making a difference in the industry. Since its inception, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals, from peers in the industry to school-age children.

In addition to her work at Park, Schatz actively promotes manufacturing and careers in manufacturing in Central Minnesota. Joan has advocated for women in STEM careers through her involvement in many initiatives, committees and boards.

As a mentor for the Women in Stone program from the National Stone Institute, Schatz went above and beyond for the development and growth of her mentee. Schatz also created and launched the concept of “Manufacturing on the Road,” which joined 14 local manufacturers to showcase industry opportunities to more than 1,000 high school students.

She has served on a variety of community boards and is a frequent speaker on leadership issues for an array of local and national groups. In addition to supporting VEX robotics teams, Schatz supports Park’s involvement in the National Association of Manufacturers’ State of Manufacturing Tour, which inspires and educates the community on the innovation of modern manufacturing.

“Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing,” said Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. “Through the STEP Ahead Awards, we hope to take another step towards closing this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation.

“The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that offer significant opportunities for growth.”

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