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M A N U F A C T U R I N G A L L S T A R S 2 0 2 2 11 creativity of designing something new. In addition, the troubleshooting learning process felt like a journey that gave me joy. It was important for me to never quit learning. That is what motivated me to finish my mechanical engineering degree and pursue my master's degree while working and having a family. Why would you encourage someone to enter the manufacturing field? Manufacturing is like a seven-layer salad — it offers all aspects of career paths. The products do not exist without an engineer creating a print and hiring staff to support builds that need to be led the right direction by a supervisor. There is more to manufacturing than just manufacturing: Manufacturing is less than half of the process because of all the other disciplines that support manufacturing. How did your mentors impact your career? My mentors help by asking great questions and having the right advice. My previous mentors have already "walked the walk." All of my mentors, to some degree, have focused on the idea of supporting people and having the right process. I believe a strong mentor will not only help your career but also help you as a person. Why would you encourage someone to enter the manufacturing field? There are a lot of opportunities within the company, and it is a good way to get a better understanding of working in a manufacturing setting. Also, it is a good opportunity to see different fields and get more experience. Are there perceptions about manufacturing careers you would like to change? Working in manufacturing has made me realize that you can make a career out of it. You also can move into higher positions if you put the work in. What has been the most fulfilling experience you've had at your company? Being able to develop into a higher position as well as understand the different way of thinking as a leader. How did your mentor impact your career? My mentor helped me to make sure to always stay humble and take each opportunity as a blessing. www.optima-packaging.com/career S P O N S O R P A I D P R O F I L E OPTIMA MACHINERY CORP. Green Bay O ptima Machinery Corporation builds innovative packaging machine solutions with state-of-the-art technology. With locations and customers all over the world, we design and build packaging and filling machines as well as complete production lines for pharmaceutical, consumer, nonwovens and life science products. Optima is a worldwide leader in packaging machine solutions with a U.S. presence in Green Bay, Wis., since 1985. The success in our business lies solely on the dedication, attitude and hardworking characteristics of our employees. We work hard to make sure our employees have a good work-life balance and plenty of opportunities to grow within our organization. Our employees travel all over the U.S. and abroad, to work with a variety of customers on a diverse range of packaging machines. Our machines package products from medical syringes to ground coffee and from toilet paper to snack food products and everything in between. Technology is always advancing and Optima continues to advance with it. Our employees work with the latest technologies and advancements in the packaging machine world. We have proprietary machine maintenance programs that interact with virtual reality glasses and many other innovations that make our machines more efficient and the best value for our customers. Optima continues to grow at a rapid pace, with a headquarters in Schwabish Hall, Germany, 19 foreign branches, and over 2,650 colleagues around the world, including our main U.S. office in Green Bay. We offer paid training, growth opportunities, competitive benefits and pay, flexible work schedules and plenty of travel opportunities. Visit www.optima-packaging.com/career to start your career with Optima today! Follow us: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimaMachineryCorporation LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optima-machinery-corporation