Our Leadership

Yolanda Smit

President

Yolanda Smit has 12+ years of professional experience in agricultural, automotive, and medical equipment manufacturing.  She has extensive experience in quality management, project management, operational excellence, continuous improvement, business process engineering, manufacturing quality, and supplier quality. 

She is energized about solving real world problems in the transactional and manufacturing spaces and has a proven track record of leading cross-functional project teams, driving out process and cost inefficiencies, and building consensus across multiple organizational levels.

Yolanda graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.  Yolanda also possesses a Master of Science in Quality Assurance from California State University and is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and Six Sigma Green Belt.  Yolanda lives in Mooresville, NC with her husband David and three children; Kent, Cydney, and Cylas-Jude.

Connect with Yolanda.

Kai B.

Vice-President

Kai is the Director IIoT Connected Factory at Stanley Black and Decker. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from the Stuttgart Academy of Economics. Kai started her career as a software engineer, working for multiple companies in Germany before she moved to the United States in 2008. In early 2016 Kai graduated from the University of Connecticut’s MBA program and later that year she was recognized as Woman of Excellence in the Metal Forming Industry 2016 for her leadership skills and for being a great role model for other young women in the industry.

Connect with Kai.

Christine Cathcart

Treasurer

Ms. Cathcart is a registered professional mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in design and test, systems engineering, and program management. She currently works as an Technology Senior Project Leader for Corning, Inc. Her SWE interests focus on outreach and professional development. She has been a SWE member for over 25 years.

Connect with Chris.

Dr. Sheila Chickene

Secretary

Sheila joined Corning in 2018 after 17 years with BASF Corporation as well as other global companies. In addition to her previous experience leading manufacturing teams, Sheila led teams in a variety of functions including quality, product line management, supply chain, sales management, logistics, contract management, customer care, product stewardship, foreign trade, and business management. Throughout her career, Sheila has worked in diverse industries including fasteners, precious metals, chemicals, minerals, pigments, agriculture, chemical catalysts, dispersions, and resins. 

A native of the Chicago area, Sheila holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Bradley University, a Master of Science in engineering management from University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a doctorate in management from University of Maryland, with a focus on the cultural integration of M&A.

Connect with Sheila.