Two ABB employees are being celebrated for their industry contributions.
The Manufacturing Institute recognized Tracy Long, ABB’s global head of communications for the NEMA Motor Division, as a STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Honoree and Victoria Tester, ABB supply chain manager for NEMA Motors, as an Emerging Leader in Washington, D.C. last month. The STEP Ahead Award honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C-suite.
Long, who is based in the ABB Motors and Mechanical manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a champion for women in the industry. In 2019, she participated in a local chamber of commerce panel discussion on women in manufacturing and was also a speaker at the 2020 Empowering Women in Industry Awards gala. In 2020, Long co-founded the Encompassing Women—NEMA Motors Chapter, an ABB diversity and inclusion resource group. Long has connected the local Girl Scout Council to young ABB women engineers in the chapter, and they have hosted several STEM discussions and activities, including the ABB Virtual Cardboard Boat Regatta. In 2019, she and several others led the charge for ABB to become an official partner of Girl Scouts and introduced an ABB Girl Scout patch that girls may earn through STEM-related activities. Since the program launched, nearly 1,000 Girl Scouts have earned their ABB patch.
“Manufacturing makes everything around us possible,” Long said. “It is an essential industry and one which has provided me with unimagined job opportunities.”
Tester, who is based in the ABB NEMA Motors facility in Ozark, Arkansas, and believed to be the youngest woman ever to serve as supply chain manager in ABB’s NEMA division, has made a lasting difference in the lives of future female manufacturing leaders. Throughout her career, she has mentored, developed and engaged with the next generation of talent, through ABB’s global apprenticeship program and the local high school youth apprentice program. Tester has been a valuable resource to her community, teaching Girl Scouts troops about manufacturing and STEM, and exposing them to career opportunities in those fields. She spent many hours planning events and giving student tours of the Fort Smith plant during National Manufacturing Week.
“I am passionate about manufacturing,” Tester said, “because it provides a challenging, fast-paced and ever-changing environment in which I am part of creating tangible products that inherently save lives.”
About ABB
ABB is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.
