I Do

My first taste of manufacturing was on the floor. As an instrument builder, I pushed parts through the packaging process and worked alongside manufacturing engineers to implement changes on the line; I loved every second of it. I took the opportunity to run my own time study on a new machine, and made the recommendation to add a second machine of the same type. The time wasted as a builder waits for one test to run can be turned into value-added time running a second machine. My time as an operator makes me a more empathetic operations manager. Without fail, the people that know your line the best are the people that work on your line.

This experience followed me to my next role as a quality manufacturing intern for a small OEM supplier in Minneapolis. Every single day I was down on the floor, working with team leads and maintenance technicians to write clear and concise work instructions for the processes that kept their world turning, from inspecting the equipment in the morning to boxing the final products for shipment. My work enabled this small manufacturing company to achieve ISO 9001:2015 compliance. What a fantastic way that was to learn about the impact quality has on the bottom line!

I took some time away from school in 2019 to gain work experience in a student co-op role, where, in lieu of coursework, you work full-time at a company solving their real-life problems. I was fortunate to work in indirect procurement at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, where I collaborated with design engineers to develop prototype parts for new bike models. This is where I learned the magic of mentorship; my mentor was a well-established professional that taught me how to read engineering prints, negotiate with suppliers, and bridge the gap between an idea and its execution. By far, this was the most valuable semester of my time as a student.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I stepped out of my comfort zone and dabbled in corporate life at Target, where I built a sustainable import container volume forecast tool for the International First Mile logistics team during a summer internship and managed $80 million of inventory for the Lunchbox Snacks team after graduation. I enjoyed the time I spent in the retail environment, but ultimately I was antsy to get back to manufacturing and get my boots on the ground.

That leads me to today, where I am excited to go full circle and add value to an organization as a production supervisor. My heart lies in managing efficient production processes and developing a safe, positive work environment for production employees.

Find a cause you love and dedicate yourself to it. I started in junior high volunteering as a camp counselor at the Girl Scout day camp I went to as a kid. This turned into organizing badge-earning encampments for Girl Scouts of all ages when I was in high school. This paved the way for a world of opportunity in the outreach and engagement of young women when I got to college - from writing and implementing hands-on math and science programming for underrepresented middle school students, to organizing large-scale events for high school girls interested in studying science and engineering. Young minds are brilliant, and they will change the world - that's why I work alongside them every chance I get.