Nick Schapals
- Senior Field Service Engineer
- Beckman Coulter
School Information
School: UW-Madison
College Major: Engineering
Years at College Works: 2011
Career Information
Working For: Beckman Coulter
Title: Senior Field Service Engineer
Industry: Healthcare
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I am responsible for supporting Flow Cytometry Product Lines in Chicago/Midwest area; Service & Sales. I perform troubleshooting and repairs for products that involve complex integration of fluidic, electronic, and laser systems. I am the on-site customer representative for all Service related sales contracts and negotiations. After 1 year, I was selected to perform mentoring/training other engineers on flow cytometry products.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Finishing my Master’s degree. I’m so proud of myself for sticking to it and investing in myself.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting told me who I was, where I was going, and that I could achieve what I wanted.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I really felt like I was at a different level than most of the students that left college with a degree. Most students in internships can’t say they really learned and earned every single penny.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Always hire more painters! Sell, sell, sell! And get your 25 estimates out ASAP. But seriously, the most important thing I learned is that life is going to throw you curve balls and you’re going to freak out. That’s okay, but you have to remember to take a step back, make a plan, and DO something.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
It’s easy to get caught up in the rat race. Don’t forget what’s really important, and don’t sacrifice quality and following through on your word to the almighty dollar.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Get as much experience in the industry as you can and keep your options open, this is a competitive field that’s in your favor.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Walking away from a $9,000 paint job after walking around with the client, knowing that she appreciated my work and how much it meant to her.
Last words of wisdom?
Even if things don’t go the way you hope or want, it doesn’t mean you can’t get to where you want to be. It just means you’re taking a different path to get there.