Dr. Günther Beckstein, Bavaria's State Minister, praises the entrepreneurial and social commitment of the businesswoman from Herzogenaurach Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler Receives German Verdienstkreuz

2001-05-03 | Herzogenaurach

Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler, co-owner of the INA Schaeffler corporate group, was awarded the Verdienstkreuz am Bande des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (German Cross of Merit with Ribbon). In the speech given in her honor, Bavarian State Minister Dr. Günther Beckstein praised the outstanding entrepreneurial achievement and social commitment of the businesswoman from Herzogenaurach. "I gladly accept this award as a representative for all of our employees," said Mrs. Schaeffler, who is also the first female vice president for the Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce in addition to her duties as businesswoman.

For 10 years now, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler has played an active role in business-related issues of the INA corporate group. After the death of her husband, Dr. Georg Schaeffler, in August 1996, she knew what had to be done when she accepted the obligation and responsibility required to direct the company and she mastered the task brilliantly. In this difficult time, she made it clear to the many thousand employees as well as customers and business associates that they could count on her to manage the family business founded by her husband and his brother.

The businesswoman works very closely with Dr. Jürgen M. Geißinger, President and CEO of the internationally active INA corporate group. Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler is an energetic and charming representative of the company and is involved both nationally and internationally. Her naturalness and charisma as well as her convincing charm and openness have made her a highly appreciated personality not only in the eyes of company employees. In recognition of her outstanding service to the economy of the region - and here in particular training and education for young people - she was awarded with the Honorary Medal of the Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce. Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler is extremely active in sociopolitical and cultural issues. For instance, she actively promotes the Bavarian Red Cross, supports the university preparatory school in Herzogenaurach and is patron of the Nuremberg Conservatory of Music.

The INA Group, which uses the corporate name INA Holding Schaeffler KG, is an internationally active, high-tech company and a world leader in rolling bearings, linear technology and engine components as well as clutches and transmission systems. Worldwide, the INA Group has sales totaling DM 8 billion and employs 32,000 people.