Five Questions Friday with Janson Pace of NuQuest

By

Noelle and Janson Name: Janson Pace

Company: NuQuest

Title: Industrial Designer

1. Why do you do the work you do?
I graduated from Utah Valley University in 2005 with a BS in Technology Management with an emphasis in Drafting Technology. I had begun to think that I had chosen the wrong career direction and degree, but then a SolidWorks class was offered and I took it my last semester before graduating. I loved the software and the ability to create anything imaginable within the software. Although I loved working with SolidWorks, I still didn't know if I wanted to pursue this career path because I thought the options were limited at that time. My brother- in-law just started his own company, NuQuest, where he started doing exactly what I had earned my degree in, design, automation and fabrication. I have been working in SolidWorks ever since and love the challenges and potential that it offers.

2. What is your proudest career moment?
My proudest career moment would have to be the undertaking of building the Olympic skeleton sled that my wife, Noelle, used for competition in the 2009-2010 season and at the Vancouver Olympic Games. Not only did we muster up the courage to take on a project that many others have been attempting to master for years, we did it over the summer before the Olympic season began. This was the first design project that I had taken on as the lead designer and I have to admit I felt under qualified and lost at times. With a lot of unknowns and a huge leap of faith and courage, we designed the sled in 4 months and had it finished the morning that she flew out for her team trials in Lake Placid, NY. It turns out that the sled was successful and she chose to slide on it and use it for the remainder of the season.

3. What goal inspires you most?
I am inspired most with the understanding that I can create and design anything and see it built. The possibilities are endless, so it is up to me to discover what I want to accomplish. If it has any tangible properties it can be drawn up and visualized and, most times, even tested with SolidWorks. I can accomplish dreams and goals that otherwise would be out of my reach, both conceptually and monetarily.

4. How has SolidWorks made a difference in your life?
SolidWorks has allowed me to accomplish projects that I couldn't do with any other means. We couldn't afford with time or money the prototypes necessary to build Noelle's sled or any other designed product in our shop. At NuQuest, 95% of the work we do we run through SolidWorks first. We have been awarded countless jobs because of our ability to model and design the parts first. Not only can it give a visual model for the customer to be satisfied, but it can also provide the dimensions and information necessary to fabricate and build the products. We can add, drop or insert many different components such as; motors, valves, pumps and countless accessories to simulate all possible realities of the finished product. My motto has become "With SolidWorks, 99% of the time it can be done."

5. Where’s the best place you’ve traveled?
I have been fortunate to travel to many places around the world: Europe, Russia, Central America, Mexico, Canada and across the US. I would have to say the best place I have traveled to is Panama. There is something that I love about the people and the culture down there. From the banana fields, to the beaches and islands, to the city it was an unforgettable visit.

Matthew West

SolidWorks alumnus. I like plate reverb, Rat pedals, Thai curry, New Weird fiction, my kids, Vespas, Jazzmasters, my wife & Raiders of the Lost Ark. Not necessarily in that order.