In recognition of their contributions to advancing women in manufacturing, Covestro employees Rebecca Lucore and Paige Kassalen will be honored today as recipients of the “Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Awards,” presented by The Manufacturing Institute at the fifth annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women and their achievements at all levels of the manufacturing industry – from the factory floor to the C-suite. 

Click to tweet: .@CovestroGroup’s @LucoreRebecca and @PaigeKassalen honored by @TheMfgInstitute as #STEP Ahead recipients: http://bit.ly/2oSJhmy

The Covestro honorees were among 130 women nationally receiving the honor which is part of the larger STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead initiative. Launched in 2012, the initiative examines and promotes the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research and leadership for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Rebecca and Paige, who continue to make our company proud through their individual contributions to advancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and promoting sustainability in the manufacturing industry,” said Jerry MacCleary, president of Covestro LLC. “Paige and Rebecca are an inspiration to our own employees, as well as the next generation of innovators who have an interest in STEM and using it to solve global problems.” 

Lucore, head of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability at Covestro LLC, oversees the company’s i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate) CSR initiative in the United States. A 20-year veteran leading the company’s corporate citizenship, philanthropy, environment/sustainability, STEM education and diversity efforts, Lucore also has personally mentored dozens of women and other recently hired professionals throughout her career.  

Kassalen, cited as an emerging leader, is a market analyst for the Future of Mobility team at Covestro LLC. As the youngest and only U.S. female engineer on the ground crew of Solar Impulse, the world’s first completely solar-powered aircraft, she has redefined gender barriers in engineering. She also serves as a role model for the next generation of women in STEM.

“These women exemplify the path an exciting career in manufacturing can take,” said Heidi Alderman, 2017 chair of STEP Ahead and senior vice president of Intermediates North America, BASF Corporation. “STEP Ahead recognizes women nationwide for their significant achievements to the field of manufacturing, and the positive impact on their companies and the industry as a whole.”

About Covestro LLC:
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business with 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion. Covestro manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical and sports and leisure industries. The Covestro group has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 15,600 people at the end of 2016.

Find more information at www.covestro.com.

About i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate):
i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate) is Covestro LLC’s companywide corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that aims to spark curiosity, to envision what could be and to help create it. Built on the three pillars of philanthropy (i³ Give), employee volunteerism (i³ Engage) and STEM education (i³ STEM), i³ seeks to create sustainable and lasting impacts. i³ Give is designed to innovate corporate philanthropy strategies that combine both human and financial resources to build stronger communities. i³ Engage re-imagines the way employees from for-profits and nonprofits engage with one another for more effective outcomes. And, i³ STEM ignites young minds to become the innovators of tomorrow through support of hands-on, inquiry-based STEM education, workforce experience and employee volunteerism.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available on the Covestro website at www.covestro.com. Covestro assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Covestro LLC

Covestro LLC

Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business. Covestro manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical and sports and leisure industries. i³ (ignite, imagine, innovate) is Covestro LLC’s companywide corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that aims to spark curiosity, to envision what could be and to help create it. Built on the three pillars of philanthropy (i³ Give), employee volunteerism (i³ Engage) and STEM education (i³ STEM), i³ seeks to create sustainable and lasting impacts.

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