Three Toyota employees were honored by the Manufacturing Institute (MI) with STEP Ahead Awards at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., according to the company's news release.

The STEP Ahead Awards honor female leaders in science, technology, engineering, and production careers for their outstanding leadership. Each year, MI recognizes 100 peer-nominated honorees and 30 emerging leaders. The 2022 honorees and emerging leaders come from 97 companies and represent all levels and the diversity of careers in manufacturing.

The three Toyota winners, including one emerging leader and two honorees, are:

• Haley Antoine, engineer – Vehicle Mobility & Engineering, Toyota Motor North America R&D, Michigan (emerging leader)

• Jenny Bartley, group manager – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (honoree)

• Earnée Gilling, group manager – Technical Strategy and Planning Office, Toyota Motor North America R&D, Michigan (honoree)

These women join a group of 23 Toyota employees who have previously received this prestigious honor.

“We are so proud of these three exceptional women from across our U.S. operations. At Toyota, we aim to empower everyone to achieve their highest potential and inspire the next generation of leaders,” said Leah Curry, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana.

Antoine was recognized for her contributions to pedestrian protection development, in addition to her community activities. As group manager at Toyota Indiana, Bartley was honored for leading a team of over 1,000 and serves as a mentor for women in manufacturing. Gilling was honored for leading Toyota R&D to a digitalized future.

The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead Initiative, launched in 2012 to honor and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership. To date, more than 1,000 women have been recognized.

“The STEP Ahead Awards are central to the industry’s efforts to recognize and empower women,” said Carolyn Lee, MI president. “Our honorees and emerging leaders serve as role models and have their own multiplier effect on the number of women in the workforce, paying it forward to help others find their way into a successful, rewarding career in modern manufacturing.”