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MiMfg Magazine
November 2019
Michigan’s Next Generation of
Leadership and Talent
Manufacturing is ever-evolving. To continue that
progress, employers need to fill their facilities with
the leaders and talent to push the industry into the
next decade and beyond. For their efforts to ensure a
strong future for manufacturers, MMA recognized
Cheslie Stehouwer of Continental Dairy Facilities and
Erika Nielsen of BorgWarner and the Michigan Alliance
for Greater Mobility Advancement (MAGMA).
Cheslie Stehouwer started as an administrative
assistant with no experience in manufacturing. Her
confidence in herself and her willingness to step up
and lead is an example for all future industry leaders
and she was honored with the MFG Emerging
Leader Award.
“Graduating with a degree in criminal justice, I
think I can say that manufacturing wasn’t the first
choice, but it has been the right choice,” Stehouwer
expressed. “I am forever grateful to the leaders at
Continental who have helped to show me the way,
supported me as I’ve worked to grow and encouraged
me to grow. I hope I can live up to this award, follow
in their footsteps and be the leader they see me as.”
Discover what drives Stehouwer on page 20.
Through Erika Nielsen’s efforts, multiple winning
talent partnerships have been forged for both BorgWarner
and MAGMA members located across Michigan.
She believes in collaboration, has started a dialogue
between stakeholders, keeps conversations going even
when it gets difficult and exemplifies a true MFG
Talent Champion.
“I’m proud to be a third-generation worker in
automotive manufacturing — I’ve traveled the world,
immersed myself in a variety of cultures, seen some
extraordinary technology and met some awe-
inspiring world leaders. I can think of no better
industry to have grown up in,” said Nielsen. “In
Michigan we have compelling talent initiatives like
the Going PRO Talent Fund and alliances like MAGMA
that work to ensure companies are communicating
their talent needs with educators so that the curriculum
of the future can help fill those needs. It is more
important than ever that we be students of the
industry, continue to learn and advance our skills.”
Learn more about what makes Nielsen a talent
champion for all manufacturers on page 24.
Recognizing Great Companies
Get More!
Check out MMA’s Facebook album for more
highlights from the 2019 MFG Excellence
Awards: facebook.com/MIManufacturers
The manufacturers who will lead the industry
forward are deeply involved in their communities and
focused on innovating new products and better processes.
In 2019, two companies were highlighted for their
efforts to elevate the reputation of manufacturing —
DeWys Manufacturing and KMS Designs Inc.