Chrysler Group Employee Named "Working Mother of the Year"

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 23, 2013 /3BL Media /PRNewswire/ -- Mary Ann Kirsch, Senior Manager, Indirect Purchasing, Chrysler Group LLC, has been selected by Working Mother magazine as a recipient of the prestigious Working Mother of the Year Changemaker Award. Kirsch will receive the award at a gala event hosted by the magazine in New York City on October 23.

Kirsch, the mother of three children, is an ardent advocate of programs that support flexibility and work-life balance at the Company. She co-led a work-life optimization team that triggered enhancements in Chrysler Group's Purchasing & Supplier Quality organization, which consists of about 600 employees.  Kirsch also led by example throughout her career using several flexible work programs that Chrysler Group offers its employees, including job-sharing, telecommuting and an array of resources that support working parents. 

"It is a great honor to be included among so many accomplished women business leaders, who achieve so much each day by meeting the challenges of balancing family needs and career aspirations, " Kirsch said. 

Kirsch's award follows the September 18 announcement of Chrysler Group's inclusion in Working Mother magazine's annual list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. It was the 14th time Chrysler Group has been included in this coveted list. In earning the recognition this year, the Company outscored hundreds of applicants on support of women's issues and advancement, flexible work arrangements, parental leave and overall culture.

"Women are a vital part of Chrysler Group's commitment to cultivating a diverse organization, and we are proud of being recognized for promoting a flexible work environment," said Nancy A. Rae, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Chrysler Group LLC. "This commitment is a competitive advantage for our Company as we continue to develop talented people who reflect the diversity of our communities, including our customers and business partners."

"Now in its 28th year, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies are leaders in building initiatives that truly support all employees," said Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media. "They are the vanguard of successful companies, with modern policies for American families." 

The magazine will honor the 2013 Working Mothers of the Year in its December/January issue of Working Mother and on workingmother.com. 

About Working Mother Media
Working Mother Media, a division of Bonnier Corporation (bonnier.com), is the publisher of Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com, and the Working Mother Research Institute. The National Association for Female Executives (nafe.com), Diversity Best Practices (diversitybestpractices.com) are also units within WMM. Working Mother Media's mission is to serve as a champion of culture change. Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter.  

About Chrysler Group's leadership commitment to diversity, inclusion and diverse talent development
Chrysler Group has been named ten times to Latina Style magazine's annual list of the 50 top U.S. employers for Hispanic women. 

The Company also was named among the nation's "Top Supporters" of Engineering Programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the past three years, recognizing the Company's efforts to develop, recruit and hire talented students pursuing technical careers at the nation's minority-serving institutions. 

Over the years, a long line of Chrysler Group employees have received important professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company's strong commitment to developing its diverse workforce. 

The Company supports six employee resource groups (ERGs) whose objectives include promoting a positive awareness of diverse people and issues within Chrysler Group and to ensuring that the Company's products and services are tailored to diverse customers and employees. Chrysler Group's ERGs include: Chrysler African American Network; Chrysler Hispanic Employee Network; Chrysler Asian Network; the Native American Employee Resource Group; the Gay and Lesbian Alliance at Chrysler Group and the Women's Forum.