Blogs

o   What is your current position? What is your area of focus?

·       As National Sales Manager for Bystronic, my focus is to remove obstacles from the path to success for both our customers and our sales professionals.  I am honored to have an amazing team working in our department.  They make my job so rewarding.

o   What are your Career Journey Highlights? 

·       Following in my Father and Grandfather’s footsteps as a manufacturing technology sales person means a lot to me.  I am proud to carry on their legacy.  Working alongside my father early in my career is one of the most cherished memories I have.

·       I was formerly a Regional Sales Manager for a high end 5-axis machining company that specialized in small batch automation solutions.

·       The biggest highlight is holding this position with Bystronic and being a part of an incredible team of ridiculously talented professionals.

o   In terms of your career, where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now?

·       I think I have found a pretty good spot for me.  I still have a lot to learn in my current role as I am only about a year into this position.  I would very much hope to have found stable success in this position and just improved as a leader.  I do have hopes and dreams of continuing my education in the evenings, but with two small kids at home this might be a challenge.

o   What is one piece of advice you would give to others just starting out in the metals industry? 

·       This is an indusdry that traditionally asks younger people to “pay their dues” and those years can be hard, but once you break through the rewards are well worth it.  This industry is in desperate need of the next leaders and they will be needed sooner rather than later.

o   What motivated you to get into the metals industry?

·       My family steered me towards the industry.  I have family in several different aspects of the manufacturing world.  Also, many of my dad’s customers have become like family over the years. 

o   What is the most exciting or rewarding aspect of your work?

·       My favorite part of what I do is seeing other people find success.  This applies to our customers, but also to colleagues throughout the industry.  I have brought several people into different areas of the manufacturing world and they have found a career that they love.  Also, in the case of customers, some of my ideas have helped small business owners take their business to the next level. 

There is nothing better to me than seeing your idea help someone else.

o   What do you hope to gain by being an MSCI member?

·       My goal with MSCI is really two things.  The first, is to get a better understanding of our customers and their needs.  The second is to find ways to promote the industry to help people find opportunities for a great and rewarding career while tackling the skills gap challenge that threatens American manufacturing as a whole.

o   Goals for the FORGE AHEAD Community as a Committee Member?

·       Continue to promote our great industry to as diverse a population as possible, as well as, learn about the industry and the people in it today.

o   Fun facts and points of interest about RJ:

§  Favorite hobby

§  Spending time with my kids (recently became a tee ball coach), Playing golf, hiking, camping.

§  Favorite travel destination

§  Alaska

§  Which celebrity or historical figure would you invite to dinner?

§  The adult in me says Winston Churchill, but the kid in me says Michael Jordan

§  Fun Fact

§  I am a big Notre Dame Football fan and often schedule my weekends in the fall around game times (to my wife’s constant annoyance).

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