DriveWorks Women in Engineering Day 2016

To celebrate National Women in Engineering Day 2016, DriveWorks have been finding out more about some of the inspirational women in our industry. In particular, they asked how these women got their start in engineering and what advice they would give to young women interested in a career in engineering.

Crystal

Training Manager & Applications Engineer at Computer Aided Products Inc. (CAPINC), a SOLIDWORKS and DriveWorks Value Added Reseller.

Background

Graduated with a BS from Purdue University in Computer Integrated Manufacturing Technology
Spent eight years in the engineering world, working as a design engineer in industrial equipment, consumer products and shaft coupling industries
Joined CAPINC as an AE and has worked there for six years

Involvement in Engineering

As a Training Manager, Crystal is responsible for:

Organizing CAPINC’s training schedule
Working with sellers and customers to define and schedule custom training
Ensuring all CAPINC classes are fully equipped and staffed to run smoothly
Promoting quality and consistency of all CAPINC instructors
Analysing business performance of training activities and developing ways to increase training revenue and improve the positive business impact of training

In addition to this, Crystal continues her role as an Applications Engineer. These duties require her to:

Teach core SOLIDWORKS classes
Cover CAPINC’s tech support phones and emails to support customers in SOLIDWORKS, DriveWorks, and 3DEXPERIENCE products
Create SOLIDWORKS API/Macro programming as a service to customers
Support CAPINC’s marketing department with technical blog posts and webinars

Qualifications and Recognition

Crystal has 12 SOLIDWORKS Certifications, Certified DriveWorks Professional (CDWP) status and has presented at SOLIDWORKS World for six years in a row.

Where did your initial interest in Engineering come from?

I loved to tinker with things. I got this from watching my dad do DIY projects. I would always “help.”

What advice would you give to young women interested in Engineering?

Don’t be afraid to be the only girl doing something,whether it’s a fun project or a class at school. Do it because you love it!

Maryline

Technical Sales Specialist for SOLIDWORKS at DASSAULT SYSTEMES.

Background

Completed a technical degree in Industrial Product Design
Spent four years in the health industry as a method technician
Joined the SOLIDWORKS channel, where I have had the chance to meet the DriveWorks Team, as a training specialist and then applications engineer.
Joined the SOLIDWORKS team

Involvement in Engineering

As a technical sales specialist, I have two main missions:

Technical channel management – informing, training, certifying and helping our resellers with SOLIDWORKS solutions
Pre-sales activities – provide the best solution and advice to prospects and customers. This part is very interesting because it allows me to meet a lot of different people in different industries

Qualifications and Recognition

I have received three internal awards at the last SOLIDWORKS World.

I am certified in DriveWorks Solo and DriveWorks Pro, making me a Certified DriveWorks Professional (CDWP) and I have 15 SOLIDWORKS certifications.

Where did your initial interest in Engineering come from?

I found my way in life very early on. When I was young, I was always creating things and I was full of ideas. I always wanted to know and understand how things work so choosing engineering was obvious for me.

What advice would you give to young women interested in Engineering?

Engineering is fascinating. If you are interested in it, go ahead and never give up!The most important thing is having fun!

Nicole

Manager of Systems Interface & Application in the Heavy Equipment Manufacturing industry.

Background

Studied engineering at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

I worked CAD-related jobs to put myself through college
I have run three different SOLIDWORKS User Groups around the country
Worked in several heavy equipment manufacturing companies
Worked as an Application Engineer instructing, implementing, and providing technical support for software

Involvement in Engineering

My role as Manager of Systems Interface & Application is to ensure the streamlined operation of Manufacturing & Engineering Systems to create alignment with the business objectives of the organization. I plan, coordinate, train and consult with all areas of the business in regards to software integration as it relates to information flow to and from the manufacturing environment.

Qualifications and Recognition

I was the 2015 SOLIDWORKS User Group Leader of the Year and have seven SOLIDWORKS Certifications.

Where did your initial interest in Engineering come from?

My dad was a maintenance man by trade and his ability to fix things when they were broken, peaked my interest at a very early age. I loved figuring out how things worked and what kept them working properly over time. Thus my passion of problem-solving software and figuring out how to optimize situations was born.

What advice would you give to young women interested in Engineering?

Take what you are passionate about and desire to be the best you can be in that area. With that being said, get involved in STEM programs. Take as many higher-level math and science classes as you can. Don’t underestimate yourself or your abilities. Take being different from the norm in engineering and make it your own.

Abi Ezi

Quote Support & Marketing Administrator in the Agricultural & Industrial Engineering industry.

Background

After finishing school I went to work rather than college because I was unsure of what I wanted to do for a career.

I later attended Exeter College at the age of 19, where my chosen course was Mechanical Engineering. I also took evening classes to get my qualifications in CAD.

Involvement in Engineering

I work for a company that designs and manufactures grain handling and drying equipment. My job role is very varied within the company. Some days I am using SOLIDWORKS to produce 3D representations of machines, other days I produce marketing materials such as banners or brochures. I also maintain our website and online quoting system.

Because my job role is so varied I get to work closely with our sales team and our design team to ensure that our website, quoting system and marketing material are both accurate and appealing. I am very lucky in that my job allows me to do new things on a regular basis.

Qualifications and Recognition

I achieved my NC & HNC in Mechanical Engineering with Exeter College. I attended one day a week for four years, which allowed me to continue working full time.In my final year I was awarded the student of the year award for a DriveWorks project that I had developed.

I have completed evening courses in both SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD, and I am a certified DriveWorks and Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign) professional.

Where did your initial interest in Engineering come from?

When I left school I had a few little jobs, telesales, shop assistant and that kind of thing, until my Dad needed someone to do some filing work at his exhaust manufacturing company. I went along to help him out and ended up staying there for eight years.

My Dad was looking for someone who was computer-savvy to learn how to use SOLIDWORKS so that they could finally move off of the old drawing boards.He had one of his friends show me the basics and he eventually sent me on some training courses and then put me through my HNC once I had decided that engineering was where I wanted to base my career.

I absolutely loved my time working with my Dad, but felt like I needed to make my own name too so decided to apply for a design engineer job with the company I currently work for.Needless to say my application was successful and five years on I get to enjoy a varied, challenging and rewarding career.

Honestly I owe most of my success to both of my parents for pushing me and supporting me in my career choice, without both of them encouraging me I’m 100 percent sure I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What advice would you give to young women interested in Engineering?

Have a sense of humour! Engineering is still a very male-dominated world and men’s humour is a bit different from women’s. If you can learn to enjoy the humour and give as good as you get, you will succeed. Engineering is one of the most rewarding careers you will ever enter into, but you have to be able to have fun along the way.

Karolina

Marketing Specialist at SOLIDEXPERT, a SOLIDWORKS and DriveWorks Value Added Reseller.

Background

Degree in Management and Production Engineering from Cracow University of Economics
Master’s degree in Management and Production Engineering, specialising in Production Management from Cracow

Involvement in Engineering

As a Marketing Specialist I prepare all of the marketing materials for my company. In order to do this, I need to know the products that we sell and I need to have all the necessary knowledge to convey to our clients, who are also engineers. Having contact with customers requires me to speak confidently in a technical language and understand their needs.

Qualifications and Recognition

I have received SOLIDWORKS and DriveWorks Certifications, technical training, engineering practice and technical skills.

Where did your initial interest in Engineering come from?

Since I can remember I was interested in engineering. I especially loved to tinker when I was a kid. I was very passionate about watching how something was created and manufactured. I thought that working as an engineer would be even more enjoyable for me so I decided to study Management and Production Engineering.

What advice would you give to young women interested in Engineering?

If you are passionate about engineering, technology, science etc., you should do it!It doesn’t matter if you are a girl; if you truly want something, you can succeed!

Florica

Mechanical Designer/Automation in the Equipment and Machinery Manufacturing industry.

Background

BSH in Mechanical Engineering.

Involvement in Engineering

I am currently creating an automation project for conveyor systems and designing the following new custom products using SOLIDWORKS: laboratory metal detectors, pipeline metal detectors and web metal detectors. I have also successfully designed pharmaceutical equipment, including: Containment Process Technology for Coating, Continuous Fastcoater FC C90 and a Bench Top Coater, as well as other custom products for the food industry.

Qualifications and Recognition

2008 – CSWE, Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert

2013 – CDWP, Certified DriveWorks Professional

Where did your initial interest in Engineering come from?

I have always liked to challenge myself to create new projects and to make things happen!

What advice would you give to young women interested in Engineering?

Go fulfill your dream, do not get intimidated, get the power to develop or try out new technology, and have fun doing it!

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