The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, announced the 130 recipients of its 2025 Women MAKE Awards, which honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers across all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite. Melanie Bruins, director of human resources at Fond du Lac’s Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation, is recognized among this year’s honorees.

Bruins was recognized for her union relations abilities and her leadership in the development of a new employee value proposition for the entire Brunswick Corporation enterprise. She was recently certified as a Just Culture champion and a Sherpa executive coach and is a member of Brunswick Corporation’s Women on Water and Mercury Marine’s WoW steering committee. She is a longstanding board member for the workforce development board of South Central Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Council Society for Human Resource Management, as well as a member of the Moraine Park Technical College Foundation board.

The Women MAKE Awards are part of the MI’s Women MAKE America Initiative working to close the talent gap in manufacturing. 

“Every year, more women are finding opportunity and breaking barriers in manufacturing,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “By elevating these outstanding women for their success, we are showing young women — and everyone else — that manufacturing is a rewarding industry with unlimited potential. At a time when there is such high demand for talent in our sector, these extraordinary women demonstrate the impactful careers that are available. By elevating role models that are paying it forward the Women MAKE Awards strengthens the future of the industry by inspiring the next generation.

The 2025 Women MAKE Awards will be presented April 24 in Washington, D.C.