September 12, 2023|7:30 am – 9:30 am (ET)

Women of FABTECH

  • Location: Room S100C
  • Price: $40.00
How Did I Get Here? My Pathway to Manufacturing.   
Representing a variety of manufacturing roles within the primary FABTECH industries, our panelists will share their personal career stories. Even our moderator will have stories to share! Learn from the experience of others as they reveal what led them to manufacturing, challenges they faced, successes, tips, and more. This session is interactive and will include ample time for Q&A.  Breakfast included. 
Sponsored By
Panelists

Teresa Beach-Shelow

Owner

Superior Joining Technologies Inc.

Amanda Reel

Training Engineer

TRUMPF Inc.

Marhya Osheaski

Vice President Sales

IFS Coatings

Lisa M. Habe

President and Chairman of the Board

Interlake Industries Inc.

Karen Gilgenbach

Zone Vice President

MATHESON

Event Speakers

Teresa Beach-Shelow

Owner, Superior Joining Technologies Inc.

Teresa Beach-Shelow is president of Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. Founded in 1992 by her husband Tom, SJTI is a precision-welding laboratory that provides micro-welding, laser welding, TIG welding, tool and die repair, multi-axis laser cutting and welding, NDT and fabrication services to customers in the aerospace and metalworking industries, nationally and globally. As the Compliance officer Teresa has led her company to prestigious registrations such as NADCAP for laser welding—one of 11+ companies in the United States with this distinction. Teresa is a recognized leader in the successful efforts to strengthen the manufacturing industry in northern Illinois. She is frequently requested to speak about women in manufacturing, public-private collaboration, workforce attraction, entrepreneurship, and related fields. Print articles have focused on Teresa’s achievements and opinions about the workforce and women’s ability to bridge the manufacturing workforce gap. In her spare time, Teresa likes to swim, bicycle, and spoil all her family, which includes 2 daughters (who have both worked at SJTI) and 5 grandchildren.   

Amanda Reel

Training Engineer, TRUMPF Inc.

Amanda Reel attended a technical high school with the intention of pursuing culinary arts. She had the opportunity to try out a variety of the programs the school offered and discovered welding. To her surprise, she enjoyed it and in 2014 she graduated with a certificate in welding.  

Before graduation, Amanda was hired by TRUMPF Inc., a global sheet metal fabrication equipment manufacturer and industrial laser manufacturer, as their first female welder. She advanced her skills through TRUMPF’s internal certification program and a short three years later, at just 21 years old, became the welding team lead managing a department of 13.  

In 2019 Amanda hung up her welding helmet and joined TRUMPF’s training department as a training engineer. In this role, she provides operator and programming training to both employees and customers on the company’s TruBend Cell 5000 automated press brake system.  

Amanda was featured in Connecticut Public Television’s “Making the Future” video series that tells the stories of up-and-coming young talent in manufacturing careers and was selected to TRUMPF’s Brand Ambassador program that highlights employees excelling in their careers.  

Amanda is a member of Women in Manufacturing and is pursuing an associate degree in engineering. 

Marhya Osheaski

Vice President Sales, IFS Coatings

Marhya is a business development expert who delivers sales objectives and achieves continued business growth. With a background in corporate sales and leadership, her manufacturing career spans more than 20 years. Originally from Canada, her manufacturing journey started with a temporary job on the very first day her work permit came through, and she’s never looked back!  

Marhya served in a variety of positions with Clariant, a global provider of sustainable solutions for the plastics and coatings industry, including purchasing, scheduling, and customer service. These roles prepared her for an inevitable move to the company’s sales team where she enjoyed success in territory and regional sales management positions. Marhya then took her sales knowledge and leadership experience from the plastics industry to the finishing world joining Axalta’s powder coatings division where, at the time, she was the only female sales leader. In 2020 she joined IFS Coatings in her current role as vice president of sales. 

Marhya is married, has two children and a dog (the real love of her life). She juggles work, family, travel, and her sanity to keep things fun! 

Lisa M. Habe

President and Chairman of the Board, Interlake Industries Inc.

Lisa is President and Chairman of the Board of Interlake Industries Inc., a leader in short to medium run metal stampings with facilities in Ohio and Florida. Lisa oversees all aspects of operations at Interlake Industries. She has vast experience in the metal stamping industry and has guided the company in its continued reputation of unmatched excellence throughout the regions Interlake Industries serves. 

Currently, Lisa has been an active member in the Precision Metalforming Association, contributing to both the Roundtables and Women in Metalforming groups. She also served as a Board Member of the Lakeland Foundation, Women in Manufacturing, Precision Metalforming Association and Lake County Port Authority. 

Karen Gilgenbach

Zone Vice President, MATHESON

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan State, a Master of Science in Weld Engineering from Ohio State, an MBA and a Master of Science in Finance through Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She has been a Certified Welding Inspector since 2006 and is a Certified Welding Supervisor as well as a Certified Robotic Arc Welder- Technician.  

Professionally, Karen is a Zone Vice President for Matheson Gas, a distributor of gas and welding supplies, where she is responsible for nine states and 36 locations. In this role, she enjoys helping her team utilize technical knowledge and automation to support their customer base and provide leading-edge solutions in manufacturing and metal fabrication.  

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