SCMA announces 2024 Woman of the Year

Lindsay Leonard, Senior Director for Government Operations at Boeing South Carolina, was today named the 2024 South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) Woman of the Year at the annual Palmetto Women’s Manufacturing Forum hosted at Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation in West Columbia.

The award was created by SCMA to honor an outstanding leader for her contributions to the state’s manufacturing industry. Previous awardees include:

• Lou Kennedy, CEO & Owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation;
• Sky Foster, Communications Manager at BMW Manufacturing Co. (Retired);
• Barbara Melvin, President & CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority;
• Jann Moore, Manager of State Government Affairs for Caterpillar, Inc.
• April Allen, Director of Government Relations for Continental

Lindsay Leonard is Senior Director for Government Operations for Boeing South Carolina and a member of the BSC leadership. Named to her position in June 2014, Lindsay has been a leader in building the site culture and operations and is directly responsible for external stakeholder engagement in South Carolina. She leads a team responsible for public affairs, public policy, corporate social responsibility, and community outreach.

Before joining Boeing, Lindsay was an Associate at the law firm of White & Case LLP, in New York, where she served in both the firm’s Competition & Commercial Litigation Group. She previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable David C. Norton, U.S. District Court, in Charleston, and also served in the U.S. Senate for two US Senators.

Lindsay holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of North Carolina, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Fordham University School of Law. She currently serves the Economic Leadership Council of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, SC State Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and Chair of the Manufacturing Committee, Clemson Industry Advisory Board, SustainSC, and Meeting Street Schools boards. She is also a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow and a Sustainability Leadership Initiative Fellow, both through Furman University.

“Lindsay’s dedication and tireless efforts to advance the manufacturing sector have left an indelible mark on South Carolina,” expressed Sara Hazzard, President and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. “Her commitment to excellence, community involvement, and leadership has elevated the impact manufacturing has throughout the Palmetto State. Lindsay exemplifies the transformative power of women in manufacturing, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps and champion progress for our industry.”

“I am honored to receive this award from SCMA, but I am just one of many women in the South Carolina manufacturing industry,” said Leonard. “Every day, thousands of females in manufacturing and STEM-based fields are innovating, improving efficiency, and setting new standards of excellence across industries. Their expertise and leadership are pivotal to the success of manufacturing in the Palmetto State.”