Notable Women in Manufacturing: Mary Isbister

Class of 2024

Mary Isbister purchased Mequon-based GenMet Corp. with her husband in 1999. Since then, the company has quadrupled in revenue, become ISO certified and undergone a lean transformation.

As co-owner of the full-service custom metal fabricator, Isbister is responsible for business operations and the ongoing development of the executive leadership team.

She began her career in 1987 at Pfizer Inc. as a medicinal chemist and eventually became chief of staff to Pfizer’s drug discovery and development team. After leaving Pfizer to move to Wisconsin, Isbister started a consulting practice, Synergy Solutions.

Isbister has served on numerous national and local boards, including the National Institute of Science and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Council, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. In 2012, she was appointed by then-Gov. Scott Walker as chair of the Council on Workforce Investment.

“Mary is passionate about improving primary, secondary and technical STEM education and ensuring that manufacturing continues to be a pillar of the U.S. economy,” said Eric Isbister, Mary’s husband and GenMet co-owner.

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