Ellwood City Area Hall of Fame: Doneen Aloi-McDowell, LHS Class of 1989, Mom and Manufacturing Maven

Note: This is the eighth and final story in a series highlighting the Ellwood City Area Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2022 leading up to the induction of the 2023 Hall of Fame class that will be announced at tonight’s Homecoming Game.

Doneen Aloi-McDowell has really “come out of her shell.”

As a young girl and in her career she at first struggled to have the confidence to try new things. But the 1989 graduate found her way.

“I have learned to focus my actions to be the best I can be vs. listening to the stories in my head that can limit my actions/potential. I have really harnessed being comfortable with being uncomfortable over the past 20 years. I have learned to try new things and put myself in situations that require me to learn which leads to growth. All while knowing, I will stumble along the way and having the humility to pick myself up, learn, and move forward and being better for those growth experiences in the long run.”

Her ability to overcome these obstacles, has led her to a very successful career with General Motors where she is the Manufacturing Executive Director, EV Acceleration. Before her role as executive director, she was Vice President of North America Labor Relations. And she takes her role as a leader very seriously … not just being a boss but a team player and mentor to other young workers entering manufacturing.

“I want everyone to have work life integration that fits them so they can be at their best, everyday. I hope I set a strong example for the young people entering their careers.”

She believes that success depends on more than just one person in manufacturing.

“Manufacturing is a team sport. Whether it be launching a new product, improving our safety and/or quality performance, etc.  It’s the people and relationships that keep me energized and engaged at General Motors.  Helen Keller said, ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.’ I am a true believer.”

And this all-inclusive attitude has earned her a couple of amazing accolades. In 2019, Doneen received the Women of Steel Manufacturing Leader Award by the Steel Market Development Institute at the North American Auto Show. In 2015, Doneen was recognized in Automotive News as one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.

1989 LIncoln High School Graduate, Doneen Aloi-McDowell

Aloi-McDowell fatefully stumbled upon the opportunity with General Motors.

“Honestly, it happened by chance.  I interviewed at Lordstown Assembly for a position at Electronic Data Systems right when I graduated from YSU.  I was contracted to General Motors to do Industrial Engineering work on the 95J (Chevy Cavalier) launch. I fell in love with manufacturing, it became my new sport. Fast forward 4 years later, I was hired into General Motors, and it has been my workplace of choice for the past 25 years.”

Prior to that she attended Youngstown State University where she earned a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering.  She earned her Master’s in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan.

Aloi-McDowell said although she lives in Michigan now, she loved growing up in the Ewing Park neighborhood of Ellwood City.

“I loved growing up in Ewing Park.  We had everything as a kid.  We lived across from the football field, baseball fields, there was a pool and basketball courts.  Watching my two older brothers, Frank and Dan play basketball in High School.  They both had a passion for the sport, as did my father, Frank Aloi.  Everything revolved around basketball in our house growing up.”

She also had some influential teachers and role models in her young life.

“Miss Atkins was my math teacher and her love for math and teaching methods was inspiring to me.  My love of math led me into engineering, which my dad encouraged me to pursue.  Mr. Ialongo was demanding, and I felt pushed me to do my best.  My mother, always instilled in us to do our best, no matter what choices we made in life.  Both parents had strong faith which grounded our family.  My brothers, Dan and Frank, they were both exemplary role models throughout my life.”

She describes Ellwood City as a town full of people who sticks by and supports their neighbors.

“We lost someone very special to our family at the end of last year, my brother Frank’s son/my nephew, Joseph Aloi.  He passed at the young age of 17 years old.  He was smart, athletic, strong-willed and had a beautiful smile.  He is forever in our hearts.  The overwhelming Ellwood City Community support our family received during a time of grief was appreciated and heart-warming.”

And for Aloi-McDowell, family is everything. And she admires her parents Mary and Frank Aloi the most.

“I admire both my parents for different reasons.  My mother is selfless, she always puts the needs of her kids before her.  My father for his approachability, he loves people and is always curious to hear what others think.  Both have strong faith, that has provided a strong foundation for our family as we go through challenging times.”

She now has a family of her own. She has been married to her husband Charlie for 25 years and the couple has three daughters: Rachel 23 years old is getting her master’s at Colorado State University in plant breeding; Abigail 19 years old just finished her freshman year at University of San Diego and plans to study in the medical field; and Nicole 13 years old just completed 8th grade.

“I love all things that revolve around family.  I am spending a great deal of time in the gym with my youngest – she plays travel volleyball.  We love to travel, I love to read, and spend time with friends and family.”

But Aloi-McDowell really had to consider if she thought she could be a mom and professional woman at the same time.

“I was conflicted when I had my first daughter, Rachel, whether I should stay home to raise her or return to work.  It was my mother who challenged me to think about how I might continue working while being the mother I wanted to be.  My mother stayed at home and raised all three of us.  Honestly, I was surprised by her reaction and her support for me to explore a different path.”

She said she also had a wonderful mentor in a senior leader at General Motors who mentored her at that time.

“She shared her experiences of raising two daughters while working and that helped me open my mind.  She helped me see what is possible.”

Ultimately raising three daughters is Aloi-McDowell’s proudest accomplishment.

She looks forward to a continued successful future with General Motors.

“At the end of last year, I recently was appointed the Manufacturing Executive Director of GM North America Full Size Truck, Large SUV, and Component Manufacturing.  I have 10 manufacturing sites that account for approximately 30,000 employees in the US, Canada, and Mexico.  I am looking forward to leading manufacturing to deliver our Growth Strategy at General Motors to lead in Full Size Truck Dominance in the US auto industry.  In the past month, General Motors announced over $2B dollars of investment for our next generation Full Size Trucks and Large SUVs this decade.  It is an exciting time to be at General Motors as we continue to dominate in ICE, and we start our EV transformation of our manufacturing footprint so we can meet future market needs.”

And she looks to that future with a strong personal motto.

“Change starts with me.  I always look inward on how I can positively impact others and drive the change I want to see around me.”

She hopes to be remembered by her children as a mom who unconditionally loved and supported them. And for everyone else she hopes to be remembered as empathetic, curious to learn, and helpful.