Rochester Hills, MI - Liz Kautzmann, laser/fabrication program manager at FANUC America, has been awarded the 2014 Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production) Award from the Manufacturing Institute.
The STEP Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers in the manufacturing industry. "My passion for learning, growing and improving drives me in every aspect of my life, including my career, and I am honored to be recognized for it. I encourage the next generation to pursue a rewarding career in manufacturing as well,” says Kautzmann.
"These women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing," said Jennifer McNelly, president of The Manufacturing Institute. "We chose to honor these women because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole. The STEP Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent."
“More fondly known by her peers and contemporaries as Laser Liz, she has been a frequent and valued contributor to the education of those interested in industrial laser material processing, as a speaker, author and instructor,” said David Belforte, Editor-in-Chief of Industrial Laser Solutions, www.industrial-lasers.com. “She has been a contributor to ILS, challenging our readers to consider the possibilities of future uses of this powerful processing tool.”
Kautzmann's real world experiences at Laser Lab International, Edison Welding Institute, and Armco Research are the substance that fueled her passion for laser cutting. She has worked with groups like FIRST Robotics and The Science Olympics to ensure young people are exposed to laser technology and manufacturing. She was previously named Chairman (2012-2013) and Vice Chairman (2010-2011) of the Industrial Laser Technology Council. Kautzmann is currently laser/fabrication program manager at FANUC America.
The Manufacturing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers.