April 18, 2019 - The Manufacturing Institute has recognized Keya Grant, WestRock’s director of supplier diversity , with a Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C suite.
In her role, Grant is responsible for supplier diversity strategic planning and diversity sourcing and procurement. Since joining the company in 2016, Grant has increased diverse supplier spend year over year and expandedthe company’s classifications of diverse suppliers to include LGBTQ suppliers. She currently leadsthe first state-sponsored business development program of its kind, the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection Program. Since Grant became director of supplier diversity, WestRock has earnednine awards for various aspects of supplier diversity. The Atlanta Tribune named Grant one of its “Women to Watch” in 2017.
The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent. The Manufacturing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and serves as the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent.
