Covestro chemist named Emerging Leader in Manufacturing
- Michelle Montgomery honored by The Manufacturing Institute for industry leadership
PITTSBURGH, April 25, 2025 -- Covestro LLC is proud to announce Michelle Montgomery, a Senior Chemist at the company's Pittsburgh campus, has been named a 2025 Women MAKE Emerging Leader by The Manufacturing Institute.
The Women MAKE Awards honor 130 women at all levels of manufacturing who have demonstrated leadership and excellence in their careers and represent the future of the manufacturing industry. The Emerging Leader category specifically highlights women under the age of 30 who have achieved significant accomplishments at the beginning of their careers.
Since Michelle joined Covestro in 2017, she has embodied Covestro's mission to make the world a brighter place through her commitment to both technical innovation and to Covestro’s culture within the company and in the community. Her innovative work has resulted in two patents and combined with her work in the community, recently earned her recognition in the Pittsburgh Business Times’ 30 Under 30.
Michelle leads Covestro's Global Instrument Panel Technology Council in North America, where she champions sustainable automotive design. Her achievements include co-developing an award-winning lightweight polyurethane foam, reducing testing costs through enhanced in-house capabilities, and securing two patents for sustainable foam innovations—all before age 25. Michelle champions diversity in STEM through mentoring FOSSI scholars and inspiring over 150 young girls through Girls Inc., actively building a more inclusive future in science.
"We are incredibly proud of Michelle for this well-deserved recognition," said Julia Rubino, a Women MAKE awardee in 2018 and executive vice president and global head of Covestro’s Tailored Urethanes business. "Her community involvement, technical expertise, and innovative spirit exemplify the bright future of manufacturing and Covestro's commitment to fostering talent in our industry."
As part of her recognition, Michelle attended the Women MAKE Awards gala on April 24 in Washington, D.C. The event celebrated all honorees and featured professional development sessions aimed at fostering female talent in manufacturing.
"I am honored to receive this award and grateful for the opportunities Covestro has provided me," said Montgomery. "I hope to inspire more young women to pursue careers in manufacturing and demonstrate the exciting possibilities in this field."
Covestro's support of the Women MAKE Awards aligns with the company's broader commitment to supporting development, growth, belonging and excellence for all.
Read Montgomery’s full profile on the Women MAKE website, located on page 74.
About Covestro:
Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.