Elevate Iowa Manufacturing: Building Talent; Celebrating Excellence

Elevate Iowa Manufacturing, a program of the ABI Foundation, is committed to strengthening Iowa's manufacturing workforce by connecting students with educational opportunities and promoting careers in the industry.A key part of that mission is providing scholarships to Iowa high school graduates pursuing manufacturing-related programs at Iowa's community colleges. These scholarships help students gain the skills and training needed to succeed in high-demand careers while supporting Iowa manufacturers' future workforce needs.

This year's scholarship recipients include:
• Gensley Cinoble - Indian Hills Community College
• Yani Lemuz - Kirkwood Community College
• Raygann Mileson - Marshalltown Community College
• Wyatt Skidmore - Iowa Central Community College
• Colin Snyder - Hawkeye Community College
• Reyden Wentz - Northwest Iowa Community College

Elevate also recognizes outstanding industry leaders through the annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards, presented by Nyemaster at the Iowa Manufacturing Conference. The awards honor individuals whose leadership, innovation and dedication have made a lasting impact on Iowa manu- facturing. Through this recognition, the program celebrates those who have strengthened Iowa's manufacturing industry and inspired future generations of leaders.

This year's honorees include:
• Under 100 Employees - Steve Anderson, Merrill Manufacturing (Storm Lake)
• 100-300 Employees - Lori Schaefer-Weaton, Agri-Industrial Plastics Company (Fairfield)
• 300+ Employees - Pat Weiler, Weiler (Knoxville)
• Manufacturing Champion - Terry Branstad, Former Governor of Iowa and Ambassador to China

By investing in future talent and celebrating manufacturing excellence, Elevate Iowa Manufacturing continues to support the growth and success of one of Iowa's most important industries. ABI