Manufacturing Institute Recognizes Ann Franzen and Jenna Leger for Excellence in Manufacturing

USG Corporation (NYSE:USG), an industry-leading manufacturer of building products and innovative solutions, announced today that Ann Franzen, plant manager in Rainier, Ore. and Jenna Leger, ceilings production manager in Cloquet, Minn., were recognized by The Manufacturing Institute as part of its annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Awards. This marks the fourth consecutive year a USG employee has received this honor for her contributions to the manufacturing industry.

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.

“It is an incredible honor for two USG employees to be recognized for their contributions to the manufacturing industry,” said Joe Holmes, senior vice president of manufacturing, technology and global operations for USG Corporation. “Ann and Jenna are role models for their peers at USG and across the manufacturing community. We are committed to continuous improvement and the advancement of our workforce, and both have made a significant impact on the success of our operations.”

Franzen, a STEP Ahead Honoree, joined USG more than 20 years ago. She climbed the ranks to become USG’s first female plant manager and has played an instrumental role in USG’s lean management initiative. Franzen is also a founding member of USG’s Women in Manufacturing group, which connects female plant employees across the USG network and promotes career advancement.

Leger was recognized by the Manufacturing Institute as an Emerging Leader, a category that honors women under the age of 30. She leads one of the most complex departments in the USG Ceilings division, implementing strategies for safety, quality and efficiency. Leger is an active participant in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and holds multiple leadership positions within USG’s Women in Manufacturing group.

“Companies across the U.S. agree there is a talent shortage in manufacturing. Through the STEP Ahead Awards, we hope to take another step toward closing this gap by highlighting the stories of successful women in manufacturing and giving them a platform to encourage other women to join the industry and be role models for the next generation,” said Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. “The women being honored demonstrate what modern manufacturing careers are all about: making an impact in their communities with meaningful careers that offer significant opportunities for growth.”

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. In five years, STEP Ahead Award winners have impacted more than 300,000 individuals — from peers in the industry to school-aged children.

The Manufacturing Institute will recognize all 130 recipients of the STEP Ahead Awards on Tuesday, April 10, at a reception in Washington, D.C.

For more information about USG and its commitment to promoting the achievements of women in the fields of STEM and manufacturing, visit usg.com.

About USG Corporation

USG Corporation is an industry-leading manufacturer of building products and innovative solutions. Headquartered in Chicago, USG serves construction markets around the world through its Gypsum, Performance Materials, Ceilings, and USG Boral divisions. Its wall, ceiling, flooring, sheathing and roofing products provide the solutions that enable customers to build the outstanding spaces where people live, work and play. Its USG Boral Building Products joint venture is a leading plasterboard and ceilings producer across Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. For additional information, visit www.usg.com.

About the Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation’s manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification and development of world-class manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

USG CorporationKathleen Prause, 312-436-6607kprause@usg.com

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