Ryan Kiecker
- Manufacturing Engineer Co-op
- Enerpac
School Information
School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
College Major: Engineering
Years at College Works: 2012
Career Information
Working For: Enerpac
Title: Manufacturing Engineer Co-op
Industry: Engineering
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
Design, costing, and implementation of assembly tooling, fixtures, and equipment utilizing various technologies such as pneumatic controls, hydraulic presses, and touchless hand controls. Support sustaining activities on the assembly lines focusing on process improvement and line layout -Develop assembly and testing procedures for new products.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Acquiring a co-op and securing a summer internship offer for the following summer.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
In a single summer I saw myself mature from a college student to a confident, responsible adult.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting allowed me to approach potential employers with confidence which is something most first-time job seekers cannot do due to lack of any meaningful experience. Most were impressed with the level of responsibility and project management exposure the program provided me.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
There were a number of clients that I enjoyed working with. My favorite was probably Robert Sladky. He was the one who really made me realize how much people care for their homes and how they look since his siding was his pride and joy. He had put up all the siding himself and went to great lengths to research the correct stain and color for his house. The project was completed in 2012.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
The greatest skill that I gained from College Works Painting was managing responsibility beyond myself. Not only do you have to balance your personal life, you need to meet the expectations of clients, your managers, and your employees.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
The people I met in College Works Painting are people that I still talk with today. Some of them are in my program so we consult on classes and such. Others are social relationships and people I look to for advice and references.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Growing individuals through responsibility and trust.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
For potential College Works Painting participants: If you’re not willing to give it everything you have, you won’t likely have a good experience just like anything else in life. You need to be 100% committed to making it work. To current College Works Painting participants: Stick it out. There are times, particularly in the spring, where it doesn’t seem worth it. I can assure you that it is well worth it. Don’t give up.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Because I have an engineering background I definitely understand this concern and it is well founded. Industry specific experience is a very valuable thing to have when searching for a career. However, these first experiences are often difficult to obtain. College Works Painting gives you that platform to stand on to get to the next step (industry specific jobs). This is especially valuable if done early in college so you have time left to pursue an internship or co-op.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Hanging out in the Mautz store doing the morning crossword in the paper before meeting my guys at the jobsite.