Pressroom News September 17, 2021
GE Appliances' Leaders Receive 2021 Women in Supply Chain Award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive
This award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments leverage supply chains for competitive advantage.
Louisville, KY — Sept. 17, 2021 —Executive Director and Roper Corporation Plant Manager Lois Crandell and Alison Seward, program senior director for dishwashers – both GE Appliances, a Haier company employees – were named 2021 Women in Supply Chain award winners by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. The Women in Supply Chain award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company's supply chain network. From running GE Appliances' largest manufacturing plant in Georgia to leading an investment program for a new assembly line during a pandemic, both Crandell and Seward are outstanding role models of leaders driving transformation at the company.
"Lois Crandell and Alison Seward are incredible examples of successful leaders in manufacturing," stated Bill Good, vice president of manufacturing for GE Appliances. "Both are outstanding engineers who have each taken the time to encourage, motivate and mentor other women to ensure diversity of thought and talent within our manufacturing and technology teams."
As the leader of Roper Corporation since 2018, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GE Appliances, a Haier company located in LaFayette, Georgia, Crandell and her team produce a variety of cooking products, from free-standing ranges to wall ovens and cooktops. Crandell began her career as an industrial engineer with Corning, Inc, before joining GE Aviation in 1997. During her career with GE and GE Appliances, Crandell focused on supply chain, quality, and sourcing.
Crandell is committed to training and developing new talent. That commitment was recognized in 2018 when she was nationally recognized with a STEP Ahead Award by The Manufacturing Institute. The STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards honors women in manufacturing who are making a difference through advocacy, mentorship, engagement, promotion, and leadership. Crandell has also been an active member of GEA's Women's Network affinity group since 1997, which focuses on mentoring and development of women within the company.
Seward most recently led the startup of an $80 million dishwasher manufacturing line at the company's headquarters in Louisville, Ky. Seward is also a huge advocate for women in engineering. She has made it her priority to recruit and retain talented female engineers throughout GE Appliances and the Louisville community. In 2015, Seward partnered with the University of Louisville's engineering school to develop and fund the Engineering Women's Leadership Conference. Seward helped launch the initial conference by donating the $10,000 grant she received as a winner of GE's Edison Pioneer Award. In its first five years, the conference has served more than 500 undergraduate women at the University of Louisville.
As a proponent for working mothers at GE Appliances, she is a founding member and executive champion for the Working Mothers Committee and is passionate about supporting families. Seward has launched several small support teams to connect women at all stages of motherhood and has given vocal support and advocacy that led to the improvement of lactation rooms within the company and has worked with the benefits team to create a Maternity Planning Guide.
"These women are just absolutely amazing in so many ways. They've re-tooled, re-innovated and revamped how the world sees the supply chain and logistics industry. They've paved the way for future female supply chain leaders to become a part of an industry that matters. Because women in the supply chain matter. And, some of these women are young, which means, they're just getting started," says Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. "I'm honored to recognize and celebrate the achievements of so many female supply chain leaders."
Go to www.sdcexec.com to view the full list of 2021 Women in Supply Chain winners.
About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Go to www.SDCExec.com.
About GE Appliances
At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make "good things, for life." We're creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there's always a better way. We're a company powered by our people, made stronger through our diversity — allowing us to grow closer than ever before to our owners, anticipate their needs and enhance their lives. Since 1907, we've built innovative, quality products that are trusted in half of all U.S. homes. We sell appliances under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, wine & beverage centers, air conditioners, small appliances water filtration systems and water heaters.
To learn more about our company, our brands, our Corporate Citizenship efforts, our economic impact, and working for GE Appliances visit www.geappliancesco.com.
Tags: supply chain, women in supply chain, award, Roper, Lois Crandell, Alison Seward
Julie Wood
Senior Director of Corporate Communications
julie_wood@geappliances.com
Alison Seward Photo_9.2021
Lois Crandell Photo_9.2021
Download all files as ZIP
GE Appliances Recognized for Smart Appliance Innovation with 4th Consecutive IoT Breakthrough Award
GE APPLIANCES CELEBRATES MANUFACTURING EXPANSION PLANS IN GEORGIA WITH GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP
LET'S GET COOKING: GE APPLIANCES ANNOUNCES $118 MILLION INVESTMENT AT ITS ROPER CORPORATION PLANT IN GEORGIA
GE Appliances Announces Partnership with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Proving the Power and Durability of its New Commercial Laundry Line