BASF manufacturing leader honored at the 2025 Women MAKE Awards

FLORHAM PARK, NJ and WYANDOTTE, MI, May 28, 2025 – BASF’s Site Director in Wyandotte, Michigan, Michele Barney, has been honored with a 2025 Women MAKE Award. Barney is one of 130 women recognized by the Manufacturing Institute (MI), the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). The national Women MAKE Awards honor manufacturing leaders who have made significant contributions to their companies and communities, and who support efforts to encourage the next generation of female talent to pursue modern manufacturing careers.

“We congratulate Michele on earning this prestigious award, which recognizes her exceptional leadership and meaningful contributions to both manufacturing and the community,” said Heather Remley, BASF Corporation President and CEO. “In her two decades with BASF, Michele has led operations as Site Director in three states and overseen procurement and safety across dozens of global sites. Michele’s dedication to promoting efficiency plus her unwavering focus on safety make her an outstanding leader and a true asset for team BASF.”

With more than 30 years of manufacturing experience, Barney is Site Director of one of BASF’s largest manufacturing facilities in North America. Skilled at bringing teams together to improve business results through cost optimization, process improvements, planning, project management, employee engagement and team building, she has created a lasting legacy at BASF and the broader manufacturing community. Her efforts have improved operational excellence, fostered strong relationships with local communities and developed future leaders for the organization.  

BASF sponsored the annual awards ceremony, which was held in Washington, D.C. on April 24.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $19.7 billion in 2024. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us. 

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.