AFL executive to lead national Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation board

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Mary Ellen Grom, executive director of customer experience solutions at AFL, has been appointed as the chair of the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation national board of directors.

WiMEF is dedicated to developing and supporting powerful programs and resources that advance women in the manufacturing workforce, according to a news release.

“What a dynamic board of first term and returning members. Now is the time for us to continue creating impactful change through education and learning programs that advance the development of women in manufacturing,” Grom stated. “I am privileged to have the support of a diverse, creative tribe of women in industry at AFL. The sky is the limit on opportunities ahead for all of us.”

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With more than 25 years of experience in the IT channel marketing industry, Grom joined AFL in 2017 to lead the company’s marketing communications efforts, the release stated. In 2021, she added customer service, inside sales, and order entry teams to her commercial portfolio.

Grom has also been instrumental in the creation and development of AFL’s employee resource group, Women Everywhere Connect (WeCONNECT), which celebrates and empowers women pursuing careers in manufacturing, the release stated. Before joining AFL, she served as vice president of U.S. mMarketing at TD synnex and was on the board of directors for CompTIA.

“We rely on our board to provide leadership and expertise during an exciting season of growth and innovation within both WiMEF and the manufacturing sector,” Gretchen Moore, executive director of WiMEF, said in the release.

The WiM Education Foundation is the 501(c)(3) arm of Women in Manufacturing Association, a more than 6,000-member-strong national association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have chosen a career in manufacturing, according to the release.