Exploring Career Paths to Advanced Manufacturing Jobs E7

Arizona has a lot to offer the future workforce and in this episode our guests, Linda and Toms discuss the role of mentors and CSO Valentina explains the powerful impact of exposure to opportunities in STEM early on in the educational journey.

Host Kelly Greene highlights the importance of tinkering and trying a variety of options before feeling compelled to decide the future, especially as middle school and high school students deal with the current situation.

Listen in on this episode and be inspired to try precision manufacturing, no matter your age or current work situation! Arizona has options for new careers waiting for you.

Westwood High School is in Northwest Mesa and serves over 3700 Mesa Public School students with a wide array of college preparatory and career and technical courses.
Mesa Public Schools offers 25 different career pathways with an option for almost any student including 13 at Westwood High School.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Lab at Westwood features state of the art equipment where students can learn everything from basic design to CNC programming and operation on HAAS industrial machines. We offer an integrated pathway for students interested in college and career opportunities in Engineering, Precision Manufacturing and Robotics.

Tom Saxon has been teaching Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics at Westwood High School for the past 5 years. He is a native of Minnesota and an engineering graduate from South Dakota State University where he earned a commission in the United States Air Force.

After 22 years of flying fighters across the world he retired as the commander of the Boeing T-38C flight test program at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. He transitioned to a 9 year stint leading engineering, manufacturing and operations for an electrical contractor and manufacturer here in the valley prior to entering teaching.

Tom has enjoyed mentoring for FIRST Robotics since 2007 and currently coaches Westwood’s extra curricular robotics and engineering team 2478.

The A2Z Manufacturing Magazines launched in 1994 for precision manufacturing professionals in AZ, NV and NM. Purchased by Linda Daly in 2005, the magazine was replicated for 2 new regions: the West Coast, and the Rocky Mountain states.

The magazines publish relevant news for the region and include a few feature articles on small manufacturers. In total, more than 29,000 readers receive the publications each 2 months.

Linda Daly worked for a number of tech companies, including AT&T, BellCore, Motorola and Intel in marketing and sales roles.

In 2005, Linda left corporate business when she purchased the A2Z Manufacturing magazine. Over the past 15 years, the magazine grew to 3 separate publications in 3 distinct regions, but remains focused on precision manufacturing in our USA.

Linda has held various board positions including the Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Arizona Tooling & Machining Association. She has a degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Business (MBA).

Connect with Linda on LinkedIn and follow A2Z Manufacturing Magazines on Facebook.

About Our Sponsor

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

After graduating from Bolivar-Richburg High School in rural western New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and played shortstop on the Tiger softball team while earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

After graduating from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, she traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, Kelly fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air and had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching 6th grade Math.

After being selected as a Westside Impact Teacher of the Year and having her Fiesta Bowl Charities Wish Granted for a morning news studio, she was asked to begin a new class on campus – 7th grade STEM! Using her enthusiastic nature and combined with her strong classroom management she was able to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process to have her 7th graders complete a new project every 2 weeks!

She is excited to serve as the Director of Student Success for the rapidly expanding Chief Science Officers Program. Her goal is to push students just a bit outside of their comfort zone so they can see for themselves the power of their own ideas.

Valentina Lopez is a 3rd year Chief Science Officer currently attending Basis Goodyear.