GlobalFoundries’ Isabelle Ferain and Kylee Coffey honored with 2026 STEP Ahead Awards for manufacturing excellence

Ferain named a Champion and Coffey named an Honoree by the Manufacturing Institute

MALTA, N.Y. and BURLINGTON, Vt., April 28, 2026 - The Manufacturing Institute (MI), the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, honored two leaders from GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) at its annual STEP Ahead Awards. Dr. Isabelle Ferain, vice president of product development engineering, based in Malta, was recognized as a 2026 Champion, and Kylee Coffey, senior director of integration, yield and controls engineering, based in Burlington, was recognized as a 2026 Honoree.

The STEP Ahead Awards are a prestigious national program recognizing outstanding leaders in manufacturing who are driving impact from the shop floor to the C-suite.

Isabelle Ferain - Champion

The Champion category recognizes individuals who demonstrate allyship in action, actively supporting others by fostering supportive cultures, opening doors and modeling leadership that helps all talent to thrive. In just two years as global executive sponsor of GF's GlobalWomen employee resource group (ERG), Ferain has supported growth and engagement across a global network of more than 2,100 employees, with ERG participation open to all employees. She also scaled the ERG from a chapter-level program to a coordinated network of eight chapters worldwide. She helped launch a six-month group mentoring program in partnership with GF's Inclusion & Engagement team, served as an executive mentor in the pilot and worked with human resources to reform the company's technical career ladder promotion process to improve transparency and standardization. Ferain is also a frequent voice for STEM on the national stage, from advocating for federal STEM R&D funding at the Science Technology Action Committee's Capitol Hill Reception to delivering keynotes and panels at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), the Society of Women Engineers and IMEC.

"Being named a STEP Ahead Champion is deeply meaningful to me, because allyship is not a title; it's an action," said Ferain. "In semiconductors, visible sponsorship and intentional support are essential to unlocking the full potential of our talent. I'm proud to work alongside so many leaders at GF who are committed to building inclusive cultures where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead and succeed."

"Isabelle and Kylee exemplify the leadership, technical excellence and integrity that define GF," said Hui Peng Koh, senior vice president and general manager, GF Malta. "Their impact extends far beyond operational results as they are shaping the future of manufacturing by mentoring leaders, advocating for STEM and creating pathways for the next generation. We are incredibly proud to see them recognized at the national level."

Kylee Coffey - Honoree

The Honoree category recognizes established professionals who have made significant, sustained impact in their organization and across their community. Over her 24 years at GF, Coffey has built a career spanning critical leadership roles, including chief of staff, industrial, yield and integration engineering, and delivered major operational results. As the senior executive responsible for process integration and yield at GF's Burlington facility, she leads a global team of more than 125 people providing around-the-clock support to the business. Her leadership of a cross-functional yield-improvement initiative drove line yields above 98% and generated approximately $5 million in annual cost savings. She also spearheaded manufacturing readiness for the site's newest, most advanced technology offering, which now drives a significant portion of site revenue. Coffey is the executive sponsor of GlobalWomen in Burlington, now more than 260 members strong. She also leads recruitment and internship partnerships with her alma mater, the University of Vermont, and gives back to her community through FIRST® LEGO® League, youth soccer coaching and Habitat for Humanity.

"This recognition is truly an honor, and it reflects the incredible teams, mentors and community who have shaped my journey over the past 24 years," said Coffey. "The Burlington team's passion, collaboration and commitment to excellence inspire me every day, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back, whether through mentoring, strengthening our workforce pipeline or supporting the community that supports us."

"I am thrilled to congratulate Kylee and Isabelle on their 2026 STEP Ahead Awards. They are exceptional leaders whose technical excellence is matched only by their commitment to lifting others up, whether that's mentoring emerging talent, building stronger ERGs or engaging their communities in STEM. Isabelle and Kylee exemplify the very best of GF, and we are deeply grateful for everything they do for our teams, our customers and the broader manufacturing workforce," said Ken McAvey, senior vice president and general manager, GF Burlington.

About the STEP Ahead Awards

The STEP Ahead Awards recognize outstanding leaders in manufacturing who are driving impact from the shop floor to the C-suite. These awardees serve as living proof of what's possible in a manufacturing career. By celebrating their stories, we help reshape perceptions of the industry and showcase the wide array of talent that powers it. The 2026 gala honored industry leaders ("Champions" and "Honorees") and rising stars ("Emerging Leaders") nominated by their companies and recognized for their innovation, dedication, contributions and leadership. Honorees also participated in a multi-day leadership development conference in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to the evening gala.

About GF

GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power-efficient and high-performance solutions for automotive, aerospace and defense, data center, smart mobile devices, internet of things and other high-growth markets. With global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF's talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit https://www.gf.com.

© 2026 GlobalFoundries Inc. GF®, GlobalFoundries®, the GF logos and other GF marks are trademarks of GlobalFoundries Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About the Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute works to build and strengthen the manufacturing workforce for individual opportunity, community prosperity and a competitive manufacturing industry for the future. This is done through implementing groundbreaking initiatives, convening industry leaders, conducting innovative research and promoting public policy that supports the sector as it meets the opportunity of modern manufacturing. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions to address the toughest workforce issues. For more information on the MI, please visit https://www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

Contacts:
Julie Moynehan
GF New York
[email protected]

Gina DeRossi
GF Burlington
[email protected]