Neha Dave and Silham El Kasmi will be honored for their dedication to inspiring the next generation of leaders in manufacturing
Malvern, Pa., April 11, 2019– Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, announcesthat Neha Dave, Business Manager of Specialty Materials at Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics in Worcester, has been named a 2019 STEP Ahead Emerging Leader by The Manufacturing Institute. Additionally, the Institute is recognizing Silham El Kasmi, Operational Director for Saint-Gobain Crystals in France, as a 2019 STEP Ahead Award Honoree. Dave and El Kasmi will be honored this evening during the Awards Dinner Gala in Washington, D.C.
The STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards highlight the achievements of real women in manufacturing as part of a larger initiative focused on celebrating women in the industry that are making a difference through advocacy, mentorship, engagement, promotion and leadership.
“As we continue to face a skills gap in the industry, Saint-Gobain is committed to building the careers of the women in our company and elevating their unique voice and perspective,” said Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America. “We offer resources such as the Women’s Network—an Employee Resource Group—to celebrate diversity and help women with career advancement. We’re proud to see the contributions of Neha and Silham being recognized as leaders at Saint-Gobain.”
Dave, who received a B.S. in mechanical engineering with a concentration in manufacturing from Boston University, a MEng from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard Business School, began her career as a Manufacturing Engineer for Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials. For the last seven years, she has held multiple positions within the company, most recently serving as Business Manager of Specialty Materials. In her role, Dave manages commercial activity, product lines and manufacturing operations for new business units formed to support and enable growth technologies for customers through the use of specialty materials.
El Kasmi graduated from an engineering school specialized in wood chemistry and received a master's degree in wood chemistry at the University of Oregon as well as an executive MBA from NEOMA School. She has spent nearly twenty years as a Saint-Gobain employee, holding numerous positions in different businesses: R&D manager, business product and development manager for Saint-Gobain Solar, Plant Manager and business unit manager for Saint-Gobain Abrasives and currently as Operational Director for Saint-Gobain Crystals and Detectors.
For more information on Saint-Gobain’s Employee Resource Groups, please visit https://www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com/company/culture-and-values/employee-resource-groups.
About Saint-Gobain in North America
Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, helps create great living spaces by combining comfort and sustainability. For more than three-and-a-half centuries, Saint-Gobain has been enhancing the wellbeing of people everywhere, whether it’s by addressing climate change, delivering true sustainable development, advancing the information revolution, participating in medical breakthroughs or playing a vital role in space exploration.
In North America, Saint-Gobain has approximately 160 locations and more than 15,500 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $6.5 billion in 2018. Learn more about Saint-Gobain North America by visiting www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com and connect with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About The Manufacturing Institute
The 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 to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
###
Press Contacts:
Brownstein Group for Saint-Gobain in North America:
Lauren Mayer
215-735-3470 x131 (office)
lmayer@brownsteingroup.com
Dina Pokedoff
Saint-Gobain in North America
Director of Brand and Communication
484-919-2103 (mobile)
610-893-5518 (office)
dina.pokedoff@saint-gobain.com