Featured Panelists are Women Making a Difference through Inspiring Contributions in STEMM
TOLEDO, Ohio, October 31, 2024 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Toledo for over 75 years, announced today that Adrienne Taylor, PE, Division Manager of the firm’s Chemical Process business unit, will participate in a panel discussion at The Sisters of Notre Dame’s Third Annual SHINE Women’s Summit. SSOE is a proud Shimmer-Level Sponsor for this event at Parkway Plaza in Maumee, Ohio—a Toledo suburb—that brings together women of all faiths, ages, and backgrounds to celebrate women. Proceeds raised will help fund the work of the SHINE Coalition and other ministries supported by the Sisters of Notre Dame (SND).
On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the evening will begin with a welcome expo and reception starting at 4:00 p.m. (EST), followed by dinner and the speakers’ program at 5:30 p.m. (EST). This year’s event, themed “Reach for the Stars,” will highlight the remarkable contributions women have made to the Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEMM) fields. The event includes a keynote conversation with Dr. Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, moderated by former reporter and local celebrity Chrys Peterson. Following the keynote, Peterson will then facilitate a panel discussion with Toledo-area women making a difference in the community through their work in STEMM. Panelists include SSOE’s Taylor, along with Sister Ethel Parrott, SND, Adrienne Bell of First Solar, DeVon Overton of the United Way of Greater Toledo, and Andrea Gwyn from Mercy Health’s St. Anne Hospital.
“Empowering women has been a common thread in our ministries since the Sisters of Notre Dame was founded in 1850,” said Sister Mary Carol Gregory, SND’s Mission Advancement Advisor. “As a congregation, SND has always responded to the needs of the times. Positive encouragement of, and among, women is certainly a need right now.”
Taylor commented on her participation in the panel, stating, “I’m honored to share my career experiences and community outreach as a woman in engineering, while also learning from the other panelists. We must keep pushing forward to make progress. For nearly two decades, I’ve dedicated myself to education and outreach, encouraging grade school and high school students, especially girls, to explore technology and engineering. It’s crucial to spread the word about the possibilities, provide exposure to the industry, various fields, and career paths, and share my own career journey and passion to try and inspire and be the role model I needed to see more of growing up.”
From University of Dayton Engineering Student to Division Manager
Taylor joined SSOE in 2005 as an engineer for the firm’s Industrial Process business unit, and by 2011 she had become a Licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio responsible for leading projects. In 2012, she was named “Young Engineer of the Year” by Toledo Society of Professional Engineers and the esteemed designation of the same name the following year by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. She’s risen through the ranks, becoming Department Manager for SSOE’s Energy, Glass, Chemical, and Manufacturing business unit and then Division Manager of Chemical Process. Taylor holds a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton.
In addition to SHINE, Taylor has been an active participant in numerous other local organizations that are putting in the effort to help the cause, particularly driving young girls’ interests in technical careers and providing access to women in STEM fields for support. These organizations include Toledo Society of Professional Engineers, the University of Toledo, and local science center Imagination Station through engineering demonstrations, discussion panels, Engineers Week, and mathematics competitions.
Milestones in Gender Diversity
SSOE is making significant strides in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within its organization. Over the past five years, the firm has achieved a notable milestone with a more than 20% increase in the number of women in leadership roles. In 2020, SSOE appointed its first female President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Continuing this momentum, the firm hired its first Corporate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in 2022 and established a DEI committee on its Board of Directors, led by an external member, both of whom are women.
In 2023, SSOE formed its first Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are voluntary, employee-led groups that offer opportunities to network internally, attract a diverse employee vase, provide the inclusion of ideas and solutions, and create opportunities for mentoring and career development. Among these ERGs is SWAN, which stands for SSOE Women and Allies Network, where Taylor leads the technical sub-group. This group empowers women and allies by offering robust avenues for professional and personal growth through a suite of programs, resources, and a supportive community and aims to cultivate development and opportunities. The group is dedicated to highlighting the unique challenges faced by women and equipping our community with the tools to support their female colleagues effectively.
The firm’s consistent efforts have led to a steady increase in the hiring of women over the years, culminating in a significant 12% rise in the fourth quarter of its 2024 planning year alone.
