WASHINGTON — The Manufacturing Institute will award Detroiter Nailah Ellis-Brown, CEO of Ellis Island Tropical Tea, with the Women in Manufacturing STEP Award.
The STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite.
Ellis Infinity is the Detroit beverage company founded by Ellis-Brown in 2008 that produces the luxury bottled tea. It was founded in 2008 by Nailah Ellis-Brown.
“These 130 women are the faces of exciting careers in manufacturing,” says Jennifer McNelly, president of the Manufacturing Institute. “We chose to honor these women because they each made significant achievements in manufacturing through positive impact on their company and the industry as a whole. The STEP Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent.”
Ellis Island Tea can be found throughout Southeast Michigan and Chicago in upscale markets such as Whole Foods, Westborn Market, Avalon International Bakery, Goodwells Natural Market, Detroit’s historic Eastern Market, Busch’s Fresh Market and, most recently, Better Health Markets
On March 26, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Awards program will highlight each honoree’s story, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing.
