Shawna Smith at Pioneer Industries elected to AWMI Board

Pioneer is very proud of Shawna Smith, buyer at Pioneer Industries, who was elected to the Board of Directors for the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI) Seattle Chapter. She is the first woman from Pioneer to be elected to the board.

AWMI is a national organization of professionals with local chapters in cities across America. It was founded in California in 1981, to promote and develop the growth of women in the metal industries. The organization believes that women in similar industries can benefit themselves and their companies through relationships, education and shared knowledge.

The programs and activities of AWMI are intended to enhance members’ skills and experience, address challenges confronting the industry, and promote members’ career growth with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of women employed in the metal industries. Membership is open to both women and men who are seeking to develop all aspects of their professional development and career advancement.

As a full-service sheet metal fabrication and machine shop, Pioneer Industries prides itself on producing high-quality products for the aerospace and commercial industries at competitive prices. In 2015, Pioneer Industries manufactured over 1.9 million parts and is a key Tier 1 supplier in the aerospace industry.

“I think it’s wonderful how diverse our work force is at Pioneer Industries. I’m proud to tell other manufacturers and suppliers at AWMI events that women have a strong presence throughout Pioneer’s whole shop. We’re a manufacturing shop that wants all employees to grow no matter what their background is or who they are; we are all encouraged to develop career goals and supported to pursue them through continuous education and programs like AWMI,” stated Shawna Smith.

In our plants, we train and employ women in a wide array of jobs to include production (deburring parts to water jet and CNC mill operators), assembly, finishing, purchasing, scheduling, materials management, and shipping and receiving. We are very grateful for the skill and professionalism that women have brought to our manufacturing plants to help build them into an award winning enterprise.