The Society of Women Engineers Welcomes Jessica Rannow as President

CHICAGO, Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) installed Jessica Rannow, project manager at AmerisourceBergen, as president of the Society, effective July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. Rannow has been a SWE member since before she started college, and her career as a woman engineer spans 15 years. Throughout the different phases in her career, one thing that has always remained constant is SWE and the Society's perpetual support.

"As I moved around the country for my career, working at eight different companies, SWE helped me meet new people and learn valuable professional development skills," Rannow said. "As president, I hope to show young engineers that SWE can be their constant during their evolving careers in engineering."

Rannow's career has taken her from retail distribution centers to supply chain logistics to consulting to software. One of Rannow's most notable projects as an industrial engineer was facilitating a new distribution center for Limited Brands' Victoria's Secret. The building opened in 2007 and has since remained one of the most advanced distribution centers in the U.S.

Women tend to leave engineering studies with a higher grade point average than their male counterparts – a sentiment familiar to Rannow. When discouraged by the challenging coursework of an industrial engineering undergrad, Rannow rethought her major before turning to SWE.

"SWE got me through when I had a lot of doubts," she explained. "If I didn't have SWE my freshman year, who knows what I would be doing now."

Rannow's experience has since made her a mentor and advocate for young women engineers. To provide encouragement for girls pursuing engineering, Rannow has immersed herself in initiatives to promote integration of professional and collegiate members. Rannow will use her presidency at SWE to continue pushing these programs and showing girls that they can be whatever they want.

SWE officially welcomed Rannow as president at an installation ceremony Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 at The Ohio State House in Columbus, Ohio.

"Jessica is an exemplary model of what SWE represents – mentorship and encouragement for women to achieve their full potential as engineers, as leaders and as women," said Karen Horting, CEO and executive director of SWE. "We look forward to what's to come under her leadership."

For more information about SWE, visit www.swe.org.

About SWE
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is the world's largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. The not-for-profit educational and service organization is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. To ensure SWE members reach their full potential as engineers and leaders, the Society offers unique opportunities to network, provides professional development, shapes public policy and provides recognition for the life-changing contributions and achievements of women engineers. As a champion of diversity, SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in their personal and professional lives.

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SOURCE The Society of Women Engineers

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http://www.swe.org