Cornerstone Building Brands, the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, is proud to announce that Melinda Thompson, supply chain and logistics manager in North Brunswick, N.J., and Jodi Lindow, plant manager in Walbridge, Ohio, have been selected to receive the 2023 Women MAKE Award from The Manufacturing Institute.
CARY, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Women MAKE Awards are part of the larger Women MAKE America Initiative, formerly called the STEP Women’s Initiative, which is committed to increasing women’s representation in manufacturing. The awards honor women at all levels of the manufacturing industry — from the factory floor to the C-suite — who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers. With a commitment to increasing women’s representation in manufacturing, the goal of the initiative is to shrink the gender gap and increase innovation through research, skill development, networking, mentorship and recognition of role models who can inspire the next generation.
The annual Women MAKE Awards honor women who represent the past, present and future of women manufacturers. Among them will be Cornerstone Building Brands’ Thompson and Lindow, who have been selected for their work as trailblazers, mentors and proven leaders in the industry.
“This year’s Honorees and Emerging Leaders are excellent role models committed to inspiring and supporting women and girls of all ages,” said Rose Lee, President and CEO of Cornerstone Building Brands. “I am encouraged by the work being done to create an industry that is as diverse as the communities we serve. Melinda and Jodi are immensely talented and accomplished, and they exemplify Cornerstone Building Brands’ commitment to developing outstanding female leaders.
About Our Honorees
Thompson manages more than 250 critical employees at one of Cornerstone Building Brands’ largest windows production facilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she transformed her logistics team and enabled an increase in production to historic levels. Lindow brings nearly 30 years of manufacturing industry experience to her role at Cornerstone Building Brands. Since joining the company in 2021, she has systematically improved operating metrics, including reducing customer backorders and improving delivery performance, customer lead times and efficiency.
Thompson and Lindow use their leadership skills and experience beyond their core management roles. As strong advocates for recruiting, developing and advancing female talent, both are involved in mentoring programs at Cornerstone Building Brands as well as in their communities where they introduce girls to potential careers in STEM. As part of the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) program, Thompson serves as co-leader for the UNITY employee resource group (ERG) for people of color and allies. In addition, she has played an integral role in coordinating Manufacturing Day activities at her facility and is an active volunteer with the nonprofit organization Jersey Cares, where she previously served on the board. Lindow remains active with her alma mater, the University of Michigan, and with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), using her platform to inspire, recruit and advance rising female talent.
Thompson and Lindow will be two of 130 women recognized at the annual Women MAKE Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2023, and represent the fourth and fifth honorees from Cornerstone Building Brands since 2020. To date, the program has honored more than 1,300 women.
Cornerstone Building Brands is a strong partner and supporter of the work of the National Association of Manufacturers and its workforce development and education partner, the MI. President and CEO Rose Lee serves on the NAM Board of Directors and was named 2023 chair of the Women MAKE Awards.
