Meet Karen Norheim

Karen is a manufacturing executive, speaker, and advocate for the future of American manufacturing. As CEO of American Crane & Equipment Corporation, she leads with a philosophy rooted in legacy, innovation, culture, and the belief that strong companies are built by cultivating strong people.

Karen's CV
Award Highlights
Publications

The Think Factory (Podcast) | Feb. 2026

  • Episode 235: Karen shares her journey from reluctant recruit to second-generation CEO, the "Always Lift. Never Quit." mantra, and leading through technological change.

The Journey to CEO Success (Podcast) | 2026

  • Episode 44: Karen discusses her journey in the family business, emotional intelligence in leadership, and work-life balance.

Women in Manufacturing — 15th Anniversary Feature | 2025

  • Q&A with Karen on her Gardener/Viking leadership philosophy and her history with WiM, including keynoting the 2023 WiM SUMMIT.

Manufacturing Today Magazine | Oct. 2024

  • Profile on American Crane's culture of problem-solving, the KAI framework, and Karen's forthcoming book.

Hoist Magazine | 2024

  • Coverage of the Berks Women2Women Conference & Expo, where Karen was honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award.

How I Turned the Corner (Podcast) | Feb. 2024

  • "Retaining Your Team Through the Generations": Karen explains how American Crane maintains under 5% employee turnover while growing staff 25% in a challenging industry.

PR Newswire / PRWeb | March 2023

  • Karen served as emcee for the 2023 What's So Cool About Manufacturing Awards Day, honoring Berks and Schuylkill County middle school students.

Women in Manufacturing — "Hear Her Story" Podcast (Episode 7) | 2021

  • Karen discusses evolving the culture of her family business and empowering employees to explore new technologies.

PR Newswire / PRWeb | Nov. 2019

  • Karen spoke on a panel at the Financial Times–PTC Industrial Innovation Series event in New York City, discussing digital transformation in manufacturing.

ThomasNet Insights | Oct. 2019

  • "Paving Way for Women in Manufacturing": interview tied to Karen's Champion for Industry Award, covering mentorship and career advice for women in the field.

Women in Manufacturing — "Hear Her Story" Feature | 2019

  • Early written feature (as VP of Marketing & IT) on inspiring young women to pursue manufacturing careers.
Affiliations

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Inc.

MHI

Women In Manufacturing

Women In Manufacturing Education Foundation

Second-Generation Leadership. A Forward-Thinking Vision.

Karen Norheim serves as Chief Executive Officer of American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO), one of the nation's leading manufacturers of custom overhead cranes, hoists, and material handling equipment. As the second-generation leader of the family-owned company, Karen has embraced the responsibility of preserving the legacy established by her father while shaping a vision uniquely her own.

Under her leadership, American Crane has evolved beyond being an equipment manufacturer into a culture-driven organization focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and people-first leadership. Karen has led the company's transformation around its guiding mantra—"Always Lift. Never Quit."—aligning the organization's vision, mission, and values around resilience, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence.

For Karen, leadership means balancing respect for tradition with the courage to embrace change. She believes successful organizations honor where they came from while continually investing in where they are going. That philosophy has helped position American Crane as an internationally recognized manufacturer serving industries where safety, precision, reliability, and engineering excellence are paramount.

Leadership Begins by Growing People

Karen often describes herself not simply as a CEO, but as a gardener.

Inspired by the leadership lessons of her father and American Crane founder Oddvar Norheim, Karen believes that exceptional organizations are built by cultivating people before expecting extraordinary results. Just as a gardener prepares the soil, nurtures growth, and patiently develops a healthy ecosystem, leaders must intentionally invest in the growth of their teams, creating environments where individuals can flourish professionally and personally.

She complements this philosophy with the symbolism of the Viking, representing resilience, courage, preparedness, and the willingness to navigate uncertainty. Together, these two concepts form the foundation of Karen's leadership approach: cultivate people with intention, then prepare them to confidently face the challenges of business and life.

This philosophy has become woven into the culture of American Crane, influencing everything from leadership development and employee engagement to strategic planning and organizational growth.

Driving Innovation Across Modern Manufacturing

Karen is passionate about demonstrating that manufacturing is one of the most technologically advanced industries in the world.

Recognizing the rapid pace of industrial digital transformation, she has championed initiatives that position American Crane at the forefront of smart manufacturing and industrial innovation. One of her most significant accomplishments has been launching the company's Innovation Lab, a dedicated initiative focused on applying emerging technologies to improve customer outcomes, operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and workplace safety.

Through these efforts, American Crane introduced innovative technologies including its Smart Crane System platform and Machine Health Monitor, bringing real-time monitoring, predictive insights, and connected equipment capabilities to industrial customers. Karen's vision extends beyond technology for technology's sake—she believes advanced manufacturing tools should be practical, accessible, and available to organizations of every size, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturers that have traditionally faced barriers to adopting digital technologies.

For Karen, innovation is ultimately about empowering people. Technology should enable safer workplaces, better decision-making, stronger customer partnerships, and more resilient manufacturing organizations capable of thriving in an increasingly connected world.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Manufacturing Leaders

Karen believes leadership extends far beyond the workplace. As a nationally recognized speaker, mentor, and advocate, she shares her experience with business leaders, educators, students, and manufacturing organizations across the country. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and mentorship, she speaks on leadership, organizational culture, innovation, workforce development, and the future of American manufacturing.


She often describes this work as creating a ripple effect—using leadership, mentorship, and education to inspire others to reach their potential. Karen is a passionate advocate for manufacturing and an influential voice for advancing women in the industry, helping shape a stronger, more innovative workforce for generations to come.

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