As readers know, Nancy retired at the end of 2014, after 32 years of service to the lubricants industry, so it was thrilling to see this heartfelt tribute during the groups keynote session in Dallas, Texas. Outgoing STLE President Maureen Hunter of King Industries brought Nancy to the dais and saluted her many contributions to reporting, recording and educating the people who work in the global commercial lubricants industry. To honor those educational ideals, LubesnGreases publications seized the occasion to donate $2,000 to Auburn Universitys Tribology Minor.

What happened next impressed us, too. Hunter went on to present the STLE International Award to Dr. Selda Gunsel of Shell and to Prof. Jane Wang of Northwestern University, leaders in the challenging fields of lubrication engineering and advanced tribology. Then, former astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper gave a riveting description of her flights to outer space, and the space walk on which she replaced and greased the bearings on the solar arrays of the International Space Station.

Many in the audience were impressed as the realization dawned that all these high achievers – Hunter, DeMarco, Gunsel, Wang and Stefanyshyn-Piper – are women. Looking around, you could see the pride reflected there. The world is a better place because our industry opens the doors to women who want careers in business, science and engineering. So, if youre recruiting someone young, talented and ambitious to your company, show her this magazine – and watch her be inspired.

– Howard Briskin

HBriskin@LubesnGreases.com