I. Patricia Henry

I. Patricia Henry (born August 20, 1947) is the first African American woman to hold a lead management position at a major U.S. brewery (Miller Brewing Company now MillerCoors in Eden, NC.) In 1990, she became the first female brewmaster to head the plant's entire brewing process in Eden, NC; in 1995 she became the first African American and woman plant manager of any beer brewery in the United States.

Early life

Patricia Henry was born in Martinsville, VA to Ida Walker Pinnix. She was raised in Reidsville, NC and graduated from high school in 1965. Henry attended Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1969 with a bachelor of science in chemistry. Henry also studied at the Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology and Harvard University. She held various positions in the company, including brewing supervisor, brewing superintendent, brewing unit manager, and production services manager. In 1995, she became the plant manager; in that position, she managed 878 employees and the plant produced 8 million barrels a year during her tenure. She oversaw technological changes and increased automation (e.g. robots in manufacturing) in a changing brewing industry. As of 1995 the plant was producing 9 million barrels a year.

Henry said that her gender and race didn't hinder her career. "I don't look at hurdles. I look above them ... I assume that the people I work with are looking at me as a co-worker and not as a female or an African American. I believe you get what you think about."

Accolades Henry was featured in Jet and Ebony magazine, and was honored by Dollars and Sense magazine as one of the "Top 100 Black Business and Professional Women."

Personal life Henry is the divorced mother of two children, Hans and Tiffany.