AWMI 2007 Member of the Year

The Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI) Announces 2007 Member of the Year.

Cathy Heberlein
International Member of the Year

AWMI is proud to recognize Cathy Heberlein, of the Wisconsin Chapter, as the recipient of our 2007 International Member of the Year Award.

Cathy started in the metals industry in 1989, working at Independent Metals, Germantown, Wisconsin, while she completed her degree in Marketing, with a minor in Finance, from the Milwaukee Area Technical College.

During Cathy's nine years at Independent Metals, she held positions in accounting, traffic, and mill claims, ultimately discovering her niche in purchasing. She started purchasing Brass and Copper, added Aluminum, and was promoted to the position of Aluminum Flat Rolled manager, after Independent Metals was acquired by Metal USA in 1998. In 2003, Cathy accepted the opportunity to create a new position of Purchasing Manager at Basic Metals, an aluminum service center also in Germantown, Wisconsin.

In 1996, while at Independent Metals, Cathy joined AWMI and soon after accepted a nomination to the chapter board. She held the positions of Marketing and Fundraising for two years before being elected Vice-President and subsequently President of the Wisconsin Chapter. She has also been an enthusiastic and engaging member of multiple International committees - mentoring and programs, to name a few.

Currently, Cathy holds the International Board position of Central Regional Director; unofficially, she is "mentor extraordinaire."

Concurrently during her tenure as an AWMI Board member, Cathy served in every officer's position in Toastmasters, a service association; for several years now, she has volunteered and spoken passionately on behalf of women faced with domestic violence.

Cathy is an avid golfer and joined the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) to help promote AWMI among local businesses in Southeastern Wisconsin. She is currently a high bowler for her bowling league, the "Mixed Nuts." In earlier times, Cathy played softball with the Women's Semi-Pro travelling league.

When asked why she does what she does, Cathy replied, "It's very simple... I try to always do the best job possible. I like to help women achieve their goals; to help them find the confidence and tools to reach their highest potential. We all have the ability to be successful, but sometimes it takes that one person who believes in you, to believe in yourself."

Cathy credits her late father, William Heberlein, for giving her strong foundations to build success on. She also thanks Judy Bullock and Phil Parsche, Lori Masset and Barb Tucholke for believing in her and helping her along the journey to today.

Cathy lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her beloved cat, Miller Lite, and is looking forward to hitting the greens with the AWMI Wisconsin Golf League, "if the snow ever melts."

The International Member of the Year award is the highest honor awarded by AWMI. Members are nominated and selected by their peers for exemplifying the Association's goals of Education, Mentoring, Networking, and Growth.