5th STEP Ahead Awards Recognize Women for Excellence in ManufacturingThe Manufacturing Institute Will Honor Aneesa Muthana, President and Owner at Pioneer Service Inc.Addison, IL March 1, 2017: The Manufacturing Institute announced they will award Aneesa Muthana, Presidentand Owner of Pioneer Service Inc., with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering andProduction) Ahead Award. The STEP Ahead Awards honors women who have demonstrated excellence andleadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C-suite.“I am honored to receive this award.” said Aneesa. “Manufacturers are makers, and women have been underrepresented in this industry for too long. The process of bringing people together to MAKE something that will go on to serve a bigger purpose is where my passion lies. Knowing that the parts that leave my shop are contributing to the world at large, touching lives and benefiting people fuels my passion.”“These women exemplify the path an exciting career in manufacturing can take,” said Heidi Alderman, 2017 Chairof STEP Ahead and Senior Vice President of Intermediates North America, BASF Corporation. “STEP Aheadrecognizes women nationwide for their significant achievements to the field of manufacturing, and the positiveimpact on their companies and the industry as a whole.”The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role ofwomen in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, andretaining strong female talent.A recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that six out of ten open skilled productionpositions are unfilled due to the talent shortage. Closing the skills gap means closing the gender gap.On April 20, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP Ahead Awards at a reception inWashington, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards program will highlight each honoree’s story, including their leadershipand accomplishments in manufacturing.About Pioneer Service Inc.Pioneer Service is a precision machine shop providing Swiss CNC machined parts for the medical, automotive,aerospace and other industries.About the Manufacturing InstituteThe Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services tothe nation’s manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development ofworld-class manufacturing talent.