OBE Emerging Leader Among Women MAKE Awards Excellence In Manufacturing Recognition

The Manufacturing Institute Will Honor Viktoria Tabeleva Leal, OBE Operations Excellence Manager in Terrell, Texas

DALLAS – (March 31, 2023) – The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers—announced that  Viktoria Tabeleva, Operational Excellence Manager at Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, has been recognized as a 2023 Women MAKE Awards Emerging Leader. This annual national awards program honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite.

“I am honored to have been selected as one of the 30 Emerging Leaders by the Manufacturing Institute,” said Tabeleva. “It would not be possible without the leaders who continue to give me new opportunities to learn and grow through successes, challenges and failures. I am also proud to be able to make meaningful contributions by helping employees adapt to new technology and making the workplace safer while showing other young women the joy and benefits of working in an industrial profession.”

The Women MAKE Awards are part of the MI’s Women MAKE America initiative, which is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. Women MAKE America aims to create a 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the industry.

“There is no doubt that the 2023 Women MAKE Awards Honorees and Emerging Leaders are immensely talented and accomplished,” said Rose Lee, Cornerstone Building Brands President and CEO and 2023 Women MAKE Awards Chair. “They serve as excellent role models committed to inspiring and supporting women and girls of all ages. Their example is how we will create an industry that is as diverse as the communities we serve.”

The Women MAKE Awards honor exceptional women in manufacturing and motivate them to mentor the next generation through an annual awards gala and associated leadership training program. The stories of these women and the leadership they exemplify will help inspire the next generation of women leaders in manufacturing and support talent already within the industry.

“We congratulate Viktoria on her achievement, and we are glad that her dedication to delivering excellence for our team and customers is being recognized,” said Bruno Biasiotta, CEO, OBE. “As part of our commitment to diversity and developing our people, we proudly support the Women MAKE Awards program as it shines the spotlight on the importance of increasing representation of female talent in our industry.”

“The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisis, and women are the industry’s largest talent opportunity; bringing just 6% more women into manufacturing would fill all open jobs in the sector today,” said Carolyn Lee, MI President and Executive Director. “That is exactly why the Women MAKE Awards are so important and powerful. These are the women who will inspire our next generation of female talent to pursue a career in this industry.”

On April 20, the MI will recognize 130 recipients of the Women MAKE Awards in Washington, D.C. The evening will highlight each Honoree and Emerging Leader’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.

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About Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope^® Inc.

Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Inc is North America’s leading vertically integrated manufacturer, fabricator and distributor of architectural hardware, glass and glazing systems. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, OBE is a world-class building products company with significant presence in every major market in the U.S. and Canada. OBE manufactures high-performance architectural glass products and aluminum framing systems and distributes complementary hardware and glazing supplies. OBE delivers products to a broad customer base of architects, glaziers, contractors, and developers serving diversified residential and commercial construction end-markets. With approximately 7,000 employees, OBE operates 85 manufacturing and distribution facilities in six countries. For more information visit www.obe.com.

About The Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute builds, diversifies and strengthens the modern manufacturing workforce, with the goal of furthering individual opportunity, community prosperity and a more competitive manufacturing industry. The MI engages underrepresented communities and shifts perceptions about careers in modern manufacturing, leads skilled training and career development programs, provides thought leadership and research on the changing state of the workforce and builds partnerships to scale up its impact on manufacturing in the United States. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions for the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.