Kristen Pforr, BASF Vice President of Operations, Care Chemicals, has been inducted into the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Hall of Fame. Pforr is one of 10 female manufacturing leaders selected for the global award, which recognizes women who have made, or are making, significant contributions to the manufacturing industry while supporting, promoting, and inspiring other women in manufacturing.

A BASF employee for 15 years, Pforr is responsible for more than 400 colleagues and more than a billion dollars in manufacturing assets across nine North America sites. She is a member of the site leadership team in Geismar, LA, BASF’s largest manufacturing site in North America. Pforr is also an active contributor to the community, supporting school STEAM programs to attract future female talent to manufacturing, while working to advance women who are working in manufacturing through mentorships and other programs.

“We applaud Kristen for this outstanding achievement and thank her for her leadership at Geismar and across the region. She is a role model for all of our colleagues in manufacturing, inspiring them with her every-day commitment to safety and innovation,” said Marc Ehrhardt, President, BASF North America. “Kristen is living proof of BASF’s dedication to attracting, developing and retaining top, diverse talent in manufacturing. We believe this commitment is essential to advancing innovation in manufacturing, and to our company’s overall success for the future.”

Pforr and her fellow WiM Hall of Fame inductees were nominated by their colleagues and industry peers and selected by a judging panel of Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF) Executive Committee Board Members. The inductees were chosen based on their contributions to the advancement of women in manufacturing. “The 10 honorees are a prestigious group, each of whom has made significant, lasting contributions to our industry,” said WiM President Allison Grealis. “They are true trailblazers whose work has created opportunity for countless other women. We are honored to recognize them in this special way.”

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place in San Diego, CA on September 26, 2023.

BASF is a proud sponsor and active member of WiM. Our employees have access to free WiM memberships, which include multiple resources for professional development. Cara Madzy, BASF’s Senior Director, EHS and Security serves on the organization’s board of directors, and many BASF employees are involved in local WiM chapters in the communities where they live and work.