1. What first made you interested in a career in engineering?

I have always been interested in how things work. From an early age, I enjoyed building model cars, repairing things around the house, and helping with home improvement projects. My parents emphasized the importance of learning and encouraged me to pursue my interests by taking advanced classes in high school. I was very fortunate to have great teachers who not only helped me learn, but also got me thinking about a future career path. Computer science and engineering became my areas of focus as I started looking at colleges. I also had some really helpful conversations with people around me who were engineers, including one of my uncles (industrial engineer and business owner) and my Sunday school teacher (an engineering professor at Virginia Tech). I ultimately chose to study at Virginia Tech, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Systems Engineering. I am proud to be a Hokie!

2. What is your favorite part of your job at Hollingsworth & Vose (H&V)?

H&V is a global manufacturer of advanced materials used in filtration, battery, and industrial applications. To support and grow this business, we have an impressive network of talented people. I really enjoy my leadership role, and working closely with the commercial, technology, and operations teams to create strategies and operating plans to deliver world-class solutions for our customers. My focus is the Americas, but I have the pleasure of working with people all over the world.

3. What are you working on right now at Hollingsworth & Vose?

I am working with other leaders across H&V to update our long-range plan. We are taking a careful look at the markets and needs of our customers, then updating our plan to ensure that we are ready to deliver key solutions over the next five years and beyond. This includes advances in our product platforms like AlphaPerm®, NanoWave®, NanoWeb®, Technostat®, Trupor®, and Molecular Filtration Media (MFM), with much of the development and manufacturing taking place in Floyd, Virginia. As part of this work, we are also thinking about organizational capability and resource needs for the future. It is very important to recruit, develop, and retain talent at all levels in order to maintain and grow a healthy business.

4. What have you learned from being on the GO Virginia Region 2 Council?

The Council is made up of some very impressive leaders with diverse backgrounds in our region. I was honored and excited to have the opportunity to join this group in May 2020 and start learning about the wide range of projects in progress and the pipeline of new proposals. It was eye-opening to see all of the activity and energy, with the clear goal of encouraging economic growth through the creation of high-wage jobs.

5. What are some similarities and differences between your role at Hollingsworth & Vose and your role as a GO Virginia Region 2 Council Member?

As the Director of Operations, it is important to have a clear understanding of the mission, vision, strategy, and goals for the organization. The organization is depending on you to make good decisions and deliver the best outcome possible. Similarly, members of the Council must carefully consider each proposal to ensure that it is aligned with the goals of the region and that the funds are spent wisely. One of the differences is that the perspective is broader with GO Virginia, including the collaboration of business, education, and government to diversify and strengthen the economy in the region.

6. What has GO Virginia Region 2 planned for the future that are you looking forward to?

A good example of how GO Virginia is working to help businesses and encourage economic growth was by sponsoring the “Stopping the Brain Drain” study conducted by Onward New River Valley, Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, and the Roanoke Regional Partnership. I am looking forward to seeing how leaders in our region utilize the data and insights to help grow and retain talent in our region. Another initiative is the Re-tooling Virginia Manufacturers for Strategic Industries Program. Genedge is managing this program over two years to implement a mid-to-long term approach across all nine regions in Virginia. The goal is to serve 50 companies while creating or retaining 500 jobs with new or retained revenue of over $100 million over a five-year period. The first phase was focused on medical supplies and PPE. The second phase has just started and will address other critical industry supply chain retooling and continue PPE capacity additions. I am looking forward to seeing the progress in the coming years.

7. Do you have a favorite memory from being on the GO Virginia Region 2 Council?

I remember the first couple of meetings, which were virtual due to the pandemic. I was impressed by how well the members utilized the video conferencing technology and effectively discussed proposals. The questions and debates were very good. You could feel how seriously the members take their role and see that they really care about making quality decisions.

8. What have you learned from being on the advisory committee for the statewide initiative Retooling Virginia Manufacturers for Strategic Industries and what do you like most about being a part of the initiative?

Genedge has been at work in our region since the 1990s and has been a great resource for Virginia manufacturing companies. They have effectively partnered with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to help companies solve problems, increase productivity, and improve overall economic competitiveness. The team is in a good position to help drive the re-tooling initiative and has really embraced the opportunity. It is great to see the coordination across the regions in Virginia. I am glad to help in this important work, as it is never easy for a company to expand operations or move in a new direction.

9. What was the best advice you ever received?

While growing up and starting my career, I learned that it is important to always treat others with respect and to actively listen. As a leader, it is very important to engage the people around you and listen carefully to their thoughts and ideas. I have made better decisions and developed into a more effective leader over time by keeping this in mind.

10. What is your favorite place to visit?

There are several places that I call favorites. First, my family and I love to explore places right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We live in a beautiful area and sometimes take it for granted. We also have a couple of favorite spots outside of Virginia. My wife was born in Michigan and has family in several places across the state. We always look forward to family gatherings in Northwest Michigan along the shores of Lake Michigan. When we travel to the beach along the east coast, our favorite spot is the Outer Banks in North Carolina.