On November 19, 2024, Annette Clayton, the former chairwoman, CEO, and president of Schneider Electric North America, was awarded the prestigious Bernard H. Falk Award by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). This award recognizes lifetime achievement in various fields related to electrical manufacturing, highlighting Clayton's significant contributions to the industry [7a8eeba5].
Clayton served on NEMA’s Board of Governors from 2016 to 2024 and held the position of Board Chair in both 2021 and 2022. She expressed her pride in being the second female recipient of this award in two decades, emphasizing the importance of women in leadership roles within the electrical manufacturing sector [7a8eeba5].
Her career spans notable positions at Schneider Electric since 2011, as well as roles at Dell Technologies and General Motors. NEMA, which represents over 300 manufacturers contributing approximately 1% of the U.S. GDP and nearly 460,000 jobs, continues to celebrate leaders like Clayton who drive innovation and sustainability in the industry [7a8eeba5].
In addition to recognizing Clayton, NEMA has recently expanded its membership and board, welcoming nine new member companies and appointing four new board members. This expansion reflects NEMA's commitment to enhancing its representation of the electrical equipment manufacturing industry and fostering collaboration and innovation [39d3c574].
Furthermore, NEMA has honored Patrick Hughes, senior vice president of Technical Affairs, with the Howard Coonley Medal from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for his contributions to voluntary standardization and support for grid modernization and clean energy transition [c1821615].