What was your first job?

Associate Trainer at Panera Bread

What do you do in your current role?

I am the Operations Coordinator of our Plumbing, Controls, and Design Build departments. I manage the daily operations of 15 technicians performing our field work, manage the life cycle of each project from bidding to execution. I also perform other tasks including: Purchasing, Customer Relationship Management, and some accounting functions.

How/why did you begin your career in manufacturing?

My career has been inspired by my dad ever since I was a little girl. Growing up, my parents owned an HVAC company which I was a part of everyday during my childhood. From seeing my mom performing the internal business functions and being on jobsites with my dad seeing the technical aspects, it gave me the push to go into the direction I am in today.

What is your educational background?

I have a Bachelor of Science in Management from Saint Vincent College, as well as a minor in Operational Excellence, and my Six Sigma Green Belt.

What do you like most about your current position and work you are doing in manufacturing?

I like the fact that I get to be a part of several different departments within my organization. This gives me the opportunity to learn all that I can in order to fully understand our business and it will help me to further my career here. I also enjoy the fact that no two days are the same, which gives me variation in my day to day responsibilities.

What is the biggest thing that surprised you about manufacturing when you started working in the industry?

I think one of the biggest surprises is how one small change can impact a business or process (whether that be a positive impact or a negative impact).

What is your #1 piece of advice for young people to prepare for a successful future?

My number #1 piece of advice is to get all of the experience that you can. Even if you don’t necessarily want to do something, you never know what opportunity will come from it and the learning experiences are so valuable. Also, ask questions!!

Why should someone consider a career in manufacturing?

Manufacturing is a great business because there are so many aspects that many people do not see. There are so many opportunities for young people to get into the manufacturing industry.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy cooking, working out, and traveling. I recently just purchased my first home, so working on that has been my newest hobby.