Ashleigh Walters, formerly the President of Onex, now serves as the Chairwoman of its Board of Directors. Onex, an employee-owned enterprise with a legacy spanning over five decades in Erie, Pennsylvania, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and servicing high-temperature industrial furnaces.

Upon assuming the role of General Manager in 2013, Ashleigh witnessed a divergence from Onex’s mission and its core values centered around its people. Through her leadership, Onex has redefined its purpose: “Make things better: empowered employees, happy clients, thriving communities.”

Walters is also the author of “Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey of Organizational Culture Change.” Today, she actively shares her transformative journey with fellow leaders through various platforms, including speaking engagements, University of Tennessee manufacturing executive peer group facilitation, and as an IndustryWeek columnist. Additionally, she serves on several employee-owned company boards, advocating for process improvements and the cultivation of a people-centric organizational culture.