As a student at Florida State University, Andie Nichols obtained a degree in marketing and business administration/management. She minored in chemistry and found herself drawn to the harder science courses. By junior year, she figured out her true calling and dubbed herself a “STEM marketer.”
“I enjoyed the creative side of marketing, but I wanted a job with more technical aspects,” she recalls.
After graduation, she achieved that, landing a role as a marketing specialist at Elmsford-based Magnetic Analysis Corporation (MAC). MAC is a global company that conducts nondestructive testing of metals in tubes, bars, wires, and parts, serving industries as diverse as aerospace, medical, and automotive.
An internship during college at Newport Corporation, a leading global supplier of advanced technology products, helped Nichols learn about the advanced manufacturing sector. The internship eventually led to a full-time remote contractor position that lasted three years and was key to securing her current role at MAC.
Nichols loves that every day at MAC is different. Her duties might include prepping for a trade show overseas, booking ad space, writing an article for a trade publication or updating the company’s website with new product information. “There are many technical aspects to my job, so I need to know the nuances of our products and how they work,” she says.
Nichols notes that not everyone in the advanced manufacturing sector has an engineering or science background or even a four-year degree. Still, a curiosity to learn and advance your knowledge base is fundamental. Nichols is currently taking an online course to be accredited as a project manager professional, which helps her plan large projects such as international trade shows in an organized and efficient manner. Having these skills has helped her carve out a unique niche in advanced manufacturing, and she encourages new employees to take advantage of any on-the-job or accredited training sessions.
Working at a smaller company has also helped Nichols gain a wide range of skills. “My first month at MAC, I went down to the manufacturing facility with a colleague and we would walk through the machinery and how things worked.” Nichols has found mentors at her company who have proved to be valuable. “I work closely with two to three people and I’m learning more than I would at a large corporation.”
A career in advanced manufacturing might be right for you if:
- You enjoy on-the-job problem solving.
- Cutting-edge, evolving technology appeals to you.
- You’re comfortable learning new skills.
- A job with both flexibility and focus is important to you.
- You seek a career that’s in high demand.
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