USG Names Ashley Little and Michael Ensminger as Plant Managers of Longstanding Iowa Facilities

CHICAGO – USG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high-quality building materials and innovative solutions, has named Ashley Little as plant manager of its facility in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Michael Ensminger as plant manager of its facility in Sperry, Iowa. USG currently employs over 400 people across its two Iowa plants, where the company has operated since 1902 in Fort Dodge, and in Sperry since 1960.

As plant managers, Little and Ensminger are responsible for the overall operations of their respective facilities, including production, safety, and employee management.
Both leaders will develop strategies to meet production and revenue goals while maintaining a safe working environment. The building materials that USG makes in its Iowa plants are used in hospitals, office buildings, airports, university housing, residential homes and more, in the state and across the country.

Little brings a diverse background in engineering, operations, and team leadership across several USG locations. Ensminger has 30 years of managerial, operational, and financial experience within the company.

“We are excited to welcome Ashley and Michael to these key leadership roles in Iowa and within our organization,” said Matt McClincy, Director, Manufacturing, USG Corporation. “Ashley’s broad experience, combined with Michael’s deep operational knowledge, will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation, optimize performance, and deliver high-quality products from our Iowa facilities to our customers.”

A Texas Tech University graduate in chemical engineering, Little began her career at USG as a project engineer co-op in 2018 and advanced through leadership roles, including quarry and mill manager in Sweetwater, Texas; board line and production manager in Plaster City, Calif.; and production engineer in Houston. She is known for her hands-on leadership, focus on safety, and ability to drive operational improvements.

Ensminger joined USG in 1995 as a plant accountant in Sperry and has since managed facilities in New Jersey and California. His track record in achieving goals for cost reduction, quality improvement, and ongoing workforce development are known across the USG network. Ensminger holds a business degree from the University of Iowa and is committed to advancing innovation at the Sperry plant, which operates one of USG's three underground gypsum mines. The plant is recognized for its advancements in machine vision technology, which enhances product quality and energy efficiency.

McClincy continued: “USG has a long-standing presence in Iowa, with decades of operations that reflect the company’s commitment to innovation, manufacturing excellence, safety, and community partnership. These appointments reinforce USG’s continued investment in the region and its people.”

Both Little and Ensminger are responsible for activating across Iowa the broader USG philosophy around safety, workforce development, responsible corporate citizenship, and actively partnering in the communities where USG operates.

In Fort Dodge, USG supports events and organizations such as Frontier Days Parade, Fit Night, and the local nature center, as well as partnerships with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, Iowa Central Community College, and Fort Dodge Senior High School.

The Sperry facility is also deeply engaged with the local community through workforce development programs, school partnerships and volunteer initiatives.

USG’s Fort Dodge and Sperry plants are actively hiring. To learn more about career opportunities with USG, visit careers.usg.com/jobs.

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