Industry Member Spotlight: United States Gypsum
Industry Member Spotlight: United States Gypsum
Interview with Sarah Messa, Plant Manager at United States Gypsum (USG) River Rouge.
This article appeared in the August 2025 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.
Centennial businesses that can sustain their core cultures while evolving to meet modern standards and employees’ needs have found themselves well-suited for growth. Their ability to meet these goals is often contingent upon having team leaders who step up to steward these values throughout their organizations.
Such is the case with United States Gypsum (USG) and Sarah Messa, Plant Manager for the River Rouge location. Messa has been a driving force in continuing USG’s legacy of success while also blazing a trail for women in the industry, creating a dynamic company culture and transforming the facility.
With nearly 50 manufacturing locations across North America, including three in Michigan, USG’s ability to address customer needs and team members’ interests has served it well over the years. Founded in 1902, USG specializes in a wide array of building materials, including Sheetrock® drywall and Durock® cement panels, with Durock® being the primary focus in River Rouge. The building materials that USG makes are used in hospitals, office buildings, airports, university housing and residential homes in Michigan and across the country.
Because of her dedication to the success of customers and team members, Messa has been honored with The Manufacturing Institute’s 2025 Women MAKE Award. Selected from thousands of nominees nationwide, Messa was chosen for her leadership, ongoing efforts to cultivate the next generation of female talent and contributions to USG and her community.
My Next Goal
To enhance the River Rouge plant by being committed to encouraging innovation, pursuing continuous improvement, upgrading our facilities and continuing our Top Workplace engagement while aiming to ensure that our environment remains a great place to work for great people.
One Skill Everyone Should Have
Self-awareness is essential for achieving success both personally and professionally.
Best Part of My Job
Gathering a cross-functional group of individuals to unite around a common goal and work collectively toward a goal.
In its continuous effort to modernize plants and operations, USG has undertaken a number of critical initiatives that will support the company’s future.
Project Home is USG’s large-scale initiative to modernize its buildings. Updating manufacturing facilities is an important factor in attracting new talent while providing current employees with added comfort and satisfaction, Messa says.
“Project Home is a way to make sure that we are making improvements to our facilities by upgrading them, so that you have a nice, clean, bright environment where you want to work,” says Messa. “The transformation has been amazing, and it improves engagement. No one wants to come into a job that’s dark and dingy. They want a nice environment to be proud of.”
Supporting inclusion and diversity also is an important piece of the company’s culture. Messa helps lead the Women of USG program, which encourages women through professional and personal development support systems.
USG has also organized cultural events, volunteer programs and philanthropic initiatives, such as inviting high school groups to tour the facility.
“The idea is to give students a look at what manufacturing careers can bring to their lives and what jobs are out there,” says Messa. “We want them to see that there are plenty of great opportunities right here in the local area that they can pursue.”
How I Motivate My Team
Motivation is fostered through clear communication about the reasons behind decisions. By establishing this transparency, you cultivate trust, which is essential for achieving success.
My Key to Success
I strive to emulate the qualities of my role models by being genuine, open and supportive, while consistently bringing a passion for improvement each day.
The Best Advice I Ever Got
The phrase “poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine” significantly contributed to my personal development by instilling a drive to approach tasks with greater foresight and consideration for those around me.
These efforts are prime examples of USG’s core value of putting people first. With end users in mind, USG as a whole strives to produce products that are highly durable and long-lasting, yet lighter, easier to work with and more efficient to install. While USG products are premium solutions, they end up saving the construction industry time and money as a result, Messa says.
Businesses such as USG that have leaders with the drive and initiative to continue providing time-honored solutions combined with modern workplace cultures contribute to the stability of the industry in Michigan.
United States Gypsum (USG) is an MMA Industry Member and has been an MMA member company since November 1960. Visit online: usg.com.