Breaking Glass Leadership Series: Moving Manufacturing Mountains

Breaking Glass Leadership Series

The Women's Leadership Series "Breaking Glass" offers a unique learning experience to help women stretch their leadership potential, drive their careers with vision and purpose, and make a greater impact within their organizations. These workshops will challenge attendees to explore their role as a woman in the workforce.

February’s Breaking Glass Leadership Series, sponsored by Jane Fischer & Associates, features two local plant managers who are leading the way in the predominately-male field of manufacturing. Scheduled from 8-9:30AM on Thursday, February 20 Janelle Kruger (Kraft Heinz) and Jessica Reith (Cargill Protein). They will  eveal how they’ve “broken glass” in the manufacturing industry.

Janelle Kruger has more than 15 years of experience at Kraft Heinz and 23 years of manufacturing expertise. Kraft Heinz Company is the fifth largest food and beverage company in the WORLD. As a global powerhouse, the company wants the “best brands, best practices and, most importantly,
the best people.” Kruger has proven to be the best of the “best.” She is now overseeing a $62 million expansion of the Mason City facility.

Jessica Reith has 14 years of manufacturing experience at Cargill Protein. The company started with a single grain elevator in Conover, IA and has expanded to 70 countries representing 160,000 professionals in the business of food, agriculture, nutrition, and risk management. Reith recently took the lead on the $12 million Cargill expansion, creating more than 40 jobs in the community. She  versees multiple plants across the region, representing hundreds of employees.

As plant managers, Kruger and Reith are responsible for their company’s success and the success of their workers. They manage all operations and processes at their respective plants. Attendees will learn about the barriers they have faced, how they have overcome obstacles on their career paths, and why it is vital to encourage more women to pursue a career in manufacturing.