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Laura Mahany doesn’t just serve as a plant manager at Air Liquide. She’s also mentoring women within the organization and recruiting top engineers to increase female presence in manufacturing.

“I usually talk about sitting at a desk all day,” she says. “In manufacturing, you almost never do that.”

When she speaks to other young women on college campuses, she stresses the collaborative environments that manufacturing offers and the opportunities to interact with operators and technicians that make her work more interesting and engaging. From these conversations, she’s learned sustainability is an important issue for young people, who have become more vocal about being part of a grand environmental solution. And she has found that one of the biggest challenges for recruiting new manufacturers is simply a lack of visibility.

“When you talk to a child, they always know what a doctor does or a teacher does because they interact with those people,” Laura says. “But it’s not very often that they get to interact with engineers or visit a manufacturing plant.”

While in college, Laura provided some of those interactions herself as a mentor to underprivileged kids learning math and science. Each session involved experiments centered around different subjects and activities, from building roller coasters to making ice cream to using liquid nitrogen. By changing different elements of the experiments and studying how changes affect outcomes, Laura helped drive home scientific concepts – and gave kids a real-life example of what manufacturers do.

“Manufacturing is just a big word to them,” she says. “We need to make it real.”

Laura has learned firsthand how real manufacturing challenges can be. In 2017, she was tasked with preserving operations at her plant in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and although she and her team evacuated during the hurricane itself, they returned to a scene that she calls “something out of a zombie apocalypse.” Because her plant was critical to the safety of the community – it produced nitrogen, which other industries use to prevent the release of dangerous chemicals – she had to restore operations quickly, even before the local government had given the all-clear for residents to return.

“We had to collaborate with other industries to get what we needed, like cooling water and electricity,” she says. “Luckily, I had good relationships with people at other companies – it really made such cooperation possible.”

Laura credits college internships with convincing her that she was destined for a career in manufacturing. Although she had always had an aptitude for math and science – as a child, she took part in academic competitions to improve her skills – a college program for women in engineering made the larger engineering program feel more approachable and drew her into more applied opportunities.

“I realized I liked the more hands-on work of manufacturing – the direct interaction with the meat of a business,” Laura says. “I liked how every day was different, fast paced, challenging.”

Laura Mahany won a 2019 ��Emerging Leader Award. This profile was adapted from an original interview for the Input, the 51�Թ���’s members-only e-newsletter.��

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� today released the results of the ��for the first quarter of 2019, which shows nine consecutive quarters of record optimism, with an average of 91.8 percent of manufacturers positive about their own company’s outlook over that time frame, compared to an average of 68.6 percent across 2015 and 2016. The survey’s release coincided with Vice President Mike Pence’s address to the 51�Թ���’s 2019 Spring Board of Directors Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Manufacturers’ concerns about our nation’s crumbling infrastructure continue to rise, with more than 77 percent saying the state of infrastructure is not up to standards and threatens their competitiveness. The 51�Թ��� continues to press Congress for a robust investment with the release last week of its infrastructure blueprint, “.”

The inability to attract and retain a quality workforce remained manufacturers’ top business concern (71.3 percent) in the first quarter. The workforce shortage has forced more than one in four manufacturers surveyed to turn down new business opportunities.

Manufacturing in the United States is on the rise, and manufacturers are confident about the future, said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons. Empowered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturers are investing in our communities and in our people. But to keep up this momentum, we have to get serious about infrastructure investment and attracting, recruiting and training our people for the high-tech, high-paying modern manufacturing jobs of today and tomorrow. As laid out in the 51�Թ���’s ‘Building to Win’ blueprint, a bold infrastructure plan will help secure American prosperity, job creation and our leadership in the world.

Conducted by 51�Թ��� Chief Economist Chad Moutray, the Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey has surveyed the association’s membership of 14,000 large and small manufacturers on a quarterly basis since 1997 to gain insight into their economic outlook, hiring and investment decisions and business concerns.

The 51�Թ��� releases these results to the public each quarter. Further information on the survey is available��.

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The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Scottsdale, AZ –��Tomorrow, Vice President Mike Pence will deliver remarks at the 51�Թ���’ 2019 Spring Board of Directors Meeting. The Vice President’s remarks will be streamed live at��.

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The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C.��– The 51�Թ��� traveled to California on Tuesday, February 26, and Wednesday, February 27, to highlight the state’s modern manufacturing industry as part of the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. During the visit, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons and Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee met with students, business leaders and local manufacturers to discuss the industry’s optimistic outlook for the future, the high-tech, high-paying opportunities in modern manufacturing and the urgent need to recruit the next generation of manufacturers. Fluor Corporation Chairman and CEO and 51�Թ��� Board Chair David Seaton joined Timmons and Lee for these events.

We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that will actually spur job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind, said Timmons.

We should not fear the future. Powered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturers in America are keeping our promise to invest in our people and our communities. Modern manufacturing is vital to the California economy, and we’re driving innovation in agriculture, bioscience, electronics, energy and more. We’re stronger than ever, and that means we need to hire more innovators and creators than ever. With 428,000 jobs open today and 4.6 million to fill over the next decade, manufacturers across America are saying ‘creators wanted.’

We should not fear the future. Powered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturers in America are keeping our promise to invest in our people and our communities. Modern manufacturing is vital to the California economy, and we’re driving innovation in agriculture, bioscience, electronics, energy and more. We’re stronger than ever, and that means we need to hire more innovators and creators than ever. With 428,000 jobs open today and 4.6 million to fill over the next decade, manufacturers across America are saying ‘creators wanted.’

Timmons and Lee then visited Bishop-Wisecarver, an automation solutions provider, to tour the facility. Following the tour, Timmons and Lee met with Bishop-Wisecarver President and 51�Թ��� Board Member Pamela Kan and local stakeholders to discuss workforce opportunities and how manufacturing companies can champion science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the community to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.��Lee ended the day visiting Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California, where she met the school’s robotics team and discussed how STEM education is inspiring their future career aspirations.

On Wednesday, Timmons, Lee and Seaton started the day at Salesforce for a panel discussion with��Achyut Jajoo, vice president of manufacturing, automotive and energy industries at Salesforce, andLance Hastings, president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association.��Business and community leaders and industry representatives heard from panel participants about how technology is transforming the manufacturing industry and the looming workforce crisis for California’s manufacturers.

MEDIA RSVP:��Members of the media interested in covering the tour or attending an event should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��here.

Washington, D.C.��– The 51�Թ���today traveled to Minnesota to highlight the state’s modern manufacturing industry as part of the fifth annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. During the visit, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons and Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee met with students, business leaders and local manufacturers to discuss the industry’s optimistic outlook for the future, the high-tech, high paying opportunities in modern manufacturing and the urgent need to recruit the next generation of manufacturers.

We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that will actually spur job creation, boost wages and help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind, said��Timmons.

We should not fear the future. Powered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturers in America are keeping our promise to invest in our people and our communities. Modern manufacturing is vital to the Minnesota economy, and we’re driving innovation in agriculture, bioscience, energy and more. We’re stronger than ever, and that means we need to hire more innovators and creators than ever. With 428,000 jobs open today and 4.6 million to fill over the next decade, manufacturers across America are saying ‘creators wanted.’

Timmons and Lee began the day at Protolabs, touring its state-of-the-art facilities in both Plymouth and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Students from Dunwoody College joined the tour and participated in a roundtable discussion about workforce opportunities with current employees, executives and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Protolabs President and CEO and 51�Թ��� Small and Medium Manufacturers Group Vice Chair Vicki Holt talked about the company’s partnerships with local colleges in the area and how Protolabs is prioritizing career development among their staff.

It’s our mission to provide an environment where our employees continue to learn and develop their manufacturing skills, said Holt. We know that investing in our current employees and the next generation of manufacturers is essential if we want to continue to compete in our field. Manufacturing offers incredible workforce opportunities for those who are willing to work hard, and we are constantly looking for those individuals.

Timmons, Lee and Mayor Frey then joined the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for a roundtable discussion with the Chamber’s Manufacturers Coalition.

We are actively working to strengthen the state’s overall business climate. We believe the pathway toward economic prosperity is achieved by supporting private-sector innovators to fuel future growth and not make it more costly to do business in Minnesota, said Doug Loon, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. We are excited to have the 51�Թ��� here today to share ideas about how we can continue to foster an environment where manufacturing thrives.

Timmons spent the second half of the day in Medina, Minnesota, touring Polaris, a local manufacturer that has grown into an international powerhouse in powersports vehicle manufacturing. Timmons met with a group of Polaris employees to discuss continued innovation in manufacturing and how Polaris has expanded its capabilities over the past six decades.

Lee visited Metal Trade Solutions, a machining, fabrication and mechanical design business in Winsted, Minnesota. She met the young co-founders Tobias Flood and Mark Eiden, their former shop teachers and members from Southwest Initiative Foundation. They discussed what drove the entrepreneurs to open their own business and the impact the technical program at St. Cloud Technical and Community College had on their career path.

For the past five years, the annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour has focused the nation’s attention on the industry that is the backbone of America’s economy, highlighting the more than 12.8 million men and women who are building our future and solving tomorrow’s challenges today. The tour has traveled the country, bringing policy discussions and conversations about the future of work in the manufacturing industry to shop floors, schools, economic clubs, television studios, the White House and more. This year’s tour will spotlight the industry’s next frontier, while also focusing on manufacturing’s well-paying careers, the industry’s diverse workforce and the policy solutions that are essential for manufacturing’s continued growth.

Members of the media interested in covering the tour should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.

Washington, D.C. – The 51�Թ��� today traveled to North Carolina to highlight the state’s manufacturing industry and its promising future as part of the fifth-annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour. During the visit, 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons and Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee met with students, business leaders and local manufacturers to discuss the industry’s optimistic outlook for the future, manufacturing’s high-tech, innovative nature and the urgent need to recruit the next generation of creators and innovators.

We’re at the next frontier of manufacturing in the United States. We’re leading in technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality, that will actually spur job creation, will boost wages and will help us lift everyone up and leave no one behind, said 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons.

We should not fear the future. Powered by tax reform and regulatory certainty, manufacturers in America are keeping our promise to invest in our people and our communities. Modern manufacturing is vital to the North Carolina economy, and we’re driving innovation in research, pharmaceuticals, automotive and more. We’re stronger than ever, and that means we need to hire more innovators and creators than ever. With 428,000 jobs open today and 4.6 million to fill over the next decade, manufacturers across America are saying ‘creators wanted.’

Timmons and Lee began the day at ABB in Raleigh, North Carolina, for a conversation with Alamance Community College students and ABB employees about the rewarding career opportunities in manufacturing. The 51�Թ��� and ABB shared their efforts to help recruit and inspire the next generation of workers for the skilled jobs that new technologies are creating.

North Carolina’s business community, especially the manufacturing industry, is booming, and employers are looking to hire skilled employees and create new jobs, said David Johnson, president of Johnston Community College. In 2005, our business and industry leaders saw a need to attract and build a strong workforce, and they acted by creating the Johnston County Workforce Development Center. Because of the center, we are meeting the needs of our employers and retaining strong talent in our own community. We are proud to showcase our facility and our students on the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019.

Following ABB, Timmons and Lee visited the Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center, which was formed by a unique partnership between Johnston Community College, the Johnston County Economic Development Office, the Johnston County government, Grifols and Novo Nordisk to help meet the significant talent needs of the bio-manufacturing industry. Timmons and Lee joined Johnston Community College President David Johnson for a tour of the Workforce Development Center and participated in a discussion with county leaders and students to determine the most impactful ways to attract new talent into the advanced manufacturing field.

Timmons and Lee also joined members of the NC Chamber for a productive conversation surrounding the business climate in North Carolina and across the country. To end the day, Timmons and Lee traveled to Protolabs to view its 3-D printing facility and to meet with employees.

Manufacturing is essential to the success of the North Carolina economy—and the entire U.S. economy, said Vicki Holt, president and CEO of Protolabs. And it’s not the industry it was 20 years ago, or even five years ago. It’s powered by new technology that is allowing us to do more, and it’s improving lives beyond our imagination. We need to inspire the next generation to continue this momentum.

For the past five years, the annual 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour has focused the nation’s attention on the industry that is the backbone of the American economy, highlighting the more than 12.8 million men and women who are building our future and solving tomorrow’s challenges today. The tour has traveled the country, bringing policy discussions and conversations about the future of work in the manufacturing industry to shop floors, schools, economic clubs, television studios, the White House and more. At a time when the future of work is top of mind for workers and thought leaders alike, this year’s tour will spotlight the industry’s next frontier, while also focusing on manufacturing’s well-paying careers, the industry’s diverse workforce and the real-world solutions for manufacturing’s continued growth.

Members of the media interested in covering the tour should contact��[email protected]. To learn more about the 51�Թ��� State of Manufacturing Tour 2019, click��.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� (51�Թ���) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs��more than��12 million men and women, contributes $2.25��trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for��more than three-quarters��of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit��www.nam.org.