Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1319500
38 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2020 Conor Porter, Engineering Services Intern 1 year 6 months Had you worked in a different industry prior? I have interned for a gold mining company in their Information Technology department. Was electronics manufacturing something you sought out? It was a little bit of both for me. I learned about CEC's existence maybe an hour before I met with Rob Cooke at the Michigan Tech career fair. I went there on a whim, as I was thrown off that there were employment oppor- tunities relating to my major (Computer Engi- Do you find you use your degree in your job? To me an engineering degree teaches you how to problem solve and how to quickly learn what you don't know. At Calumet, we refer to this ability as just-in-time learning and this is the part of my degree I use every day. Do I balance organic chemistry equations like I learned how to when earning my degree? No, but I'm glad because I'd much rather use my knowledge for practical, hands-on prob- lems where systems are not performing per- fectly rather than thinking about theoretical situations where everything works out like it should. It's more fun! I think that any type of engineering degree can succeed in the elec- tronics industry if you are interested in the material, because your brain has been pro- grammed to approach problems systematical- ly, no matter the subject. What advice would you give to a fabricator on recruiting and hiring young talent? I think internships are a great place to start as that is the best way to get a young engineer excited about your company through hands- on experience. I also think that recruitment needs to start in high school and the begin- ning years of college so that students realize that this industry exists and don't just stum- ble into it. If I had known about this indus- try earlier, perhaps I would have tailored my courses to be more applicable to electronics. Reaching out to younger students can be done through information sessions about your com- pany, and presented during classes or extra- curricular clubs. Another important recruiting tool is your story. That was a large part of what attracted me to Calumet Electronics, specifically, over other PCB manufacturers. The heart of Cal- umet's business is to revive industry in Cal- umet, Michigan, by providing good quali- ty manufacturing jobs. Our area was deeply impacted by closure of the copper mines in the 1970s and the decimation of the promi- nent copper mining industry led to the foun- dation of Calumet Electronics. That is why ev- erything we do is 100% American engineer- ing and manufacturing. This is a story I want- ed to be a part of because I love the Calumet area and have chosen to make it my home. To know that I am helping build a stronger community by the contributions I make to the company every day is incredibly rewarding. I think that people my age want to feel like they are a part of something that is having a positive impact. It is no longer good enough to just receive a paycheck and clock out at the end of the day, we want to be a part of a story we are proud to tell.