Tamea Franco, President and CEO of Global Metal Finishing, was selected as a 2025 honoree for the Women MAKE Awards presented by the Manufacturing Institute.
Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director of The Manufacturing Institute, says Franco was selected along with numerous honorees because she exemplifies a manufacturing spirit through character, exceptional professional achievements, leadership and lasting impact.
“These women have risen to the top of their field through expertise, innovation and dedication, proving that when women excel, the entire industry reaches new heights,” Lee says.
Franco says her success is attributable to her being empowered by fear.
“When I mastered this emotion and realized I could use it to my advantage, it became a barometer to measure the pressure of what I had to overcome, move out of my way, how high to jump and sometimes go backward to move forward,” she says.
The award includes this information about Franco:
In 1987, entrepreneur Tamea Franco had a vision: to create a product line of aluminum components tailored for the arts and jewelry communities. She started small, launching East-West DyeCom from her basement as a one-woman operation.
As her technical expertise deepened and her client base expanded, Tamea recognized the need to diversify her anodizing services and product offerings. Her commitment to innovation and manufacturing excellence fueled the company’s evolution, leading to a name that better reflected her growing vision: Global Metal Finishing, Inc.
Global Metal Finishing is a leading provider of anodized aluminum parts, serving industries as diverse as aerospace, military and defense, marine, medical, robotics, packaging, energy, fishing and archery.
Known as “the queen of aluminum” according to Southern Living, under Tamea’s leadership, the company has grown to over 40 employees, with women holding half of the leadership positions. She is passionate about professional development, providing her employees with training in leadership, productivity, and lean manufacturing. A dedicated advocate for local businesses and women in manufacturing, she is an active member of the Roanoke Economic Development Authority. Global Metal Finishing is a recognized leader in the aerospace and defense sectors, holding AS9100 certification and NADCAP accreditation.
From color anodizing aluminum parts for jewelry artists to producing finishes for mission-critical components for Space X and the DOD, Tamea Franco has transformed her one-woman shop into a 40-person powerhouse in the metal finishing industry.
