About the WiMEF

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The Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF) is a 501(c)(3) organization, created in 2016 by the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) and our founding members to design and develop training and educational programs that support the advancement and development of women at all stages of their manufacturing careers. 

Led by a 21-member board of directors, WiMEF is working to close the gender gap, increase the number of women in leadership roles, and inspire the next generation of women in manufacturing.

To achieve this vision, we work with employers and strategic partners to provide women with career-building resources and training on essential workforce skills through the following programs:

Leadership Institute for Women in STEM & Manufacturing, a partnership with Case Western Reserve University's world-renowned Weatherhead School of Management, was the first program offered by WiMEF. This executive-level program's comprehensive curriculum is presented by world-class instructors and is offered once per year to 35 participants. Since 2017, more than 130 WiM members have graduated from this program.

Management Development Program (MDP) supports the unique professional development needs of new and aspiring women managers in manufacturing. MDP participants develop skills to make the transition from individual contributor to team leader while building a deep professional network with their peers. This program is limited to 30 participants per cohort and is offered twice per year. Since 2018, nearly 200 women have graduated from this program.

Empowering Women in Production (EWiP) supports the leadership development of shop-floor employees by teaching core professional skills needed to advance in manufacturing careers. Offered as an asynchronous learning platform to meet the unique scheduling needs of production workers, this program is offered three times each year with class limits of 90 participants. Since 2021, more than 720 women have participated in this program. 

Virtual Learning Series (VLS) was launched in 2016 to deliver live and on-demand learning on a variety of professional development and industry topics. The monthly, one-hour webinars feature diverse subject matter experts on topics relevant to women leaders in their professional and personal lives. Webinars are recorded and saved in the Virtual Learning Library with unlimited availability for WiM members to view on their own or as training / learning opportunities in the workplace. To date, more than 20,000 women have registered for these learning sessions.

Virtual Career Fair (VCF) attracts top talent from across the nation who are looking to join companies that value diversity, equity, and inclusion. The event is offered twice per year and features more than 40 manufacturing employers and over 350 job seekers.