Beers with Engineers

Jeff Turk - We can’t all be engineers.

#7 - Jeff Turk: We can’t all be engineers
Today’s guest is an engineer but he is a recruiter who helps engineers get jobs.
Recruiters are sometimes like lawyers or salesman. They can be annoying until you need one, but when you need one, you want a good one.
Jeff is one of the good ones.
Our conversation covers:
Recruiters: good one vs bad ones.
Are recruiters working for the worker or the company?
Some of Bert’s interview experiences – good and bad.
Interview tips:
Be Friendly
Be confident
Don’t be subordinate
Rehearse your answers beforehand
If someone asks you for three things you are most or least proud of, it might be the last one that is the most significant for you.
How to avoid messing up an interview.
Jeff’s email is omegasearchinc@gmail.com
Bert’s website is www.dexterityeng.com.  

Brian Smith - Agility and character: for work and for play.

#6 - Brian Smith: Agility and character: for work and for play.
Brian coaches agility development for BigBear.ai. Our conversation starts in Guam, includes the Wright brothers, and ends with family karate. We also discuss:
- managing vs coaching
- listening to and learning from your employees
- efficient employees vs. high value employees
- the cost (and benefit?) of standing by your principles
- decisions from long ago that affect decisions we make today
- The Goal by Eli Goldratt (two thumbs up)
- Mike's Pastries in Boston
Bert’s company is Dexterity Engineering, LLC

Nate Rollins - His network is his most valuable resource

#5 - Nate Rollins: his network is his most valuable resource.
Nate is a design engineer and independent contractor. Among our topics are:
- his motto – “my network is my most valuable resource”
- 3D printed sugar snacks
- buying cyanoacrylate by the gallon
- the end of mechanical designers
- having your coop employer pay for college
- design engineer vs mechanical engineer
- why his company is still just one man
- comparing ourselves to Richard Branson and Elon Musk
 
His company is Bearsfeat, Inc.
Bert’s company is Dexterity Engineering, LLC

Jay Julian - Did he say ramen spectroscopy?

#2 - Jay Julian: Did hew say ramen spectroscopy?
Today's guest, Jay Julian, is founder of Accelerate Design in Charlton, MA. 
Out topics include:
specialist vs. generalist, remote teams, mentoring, rock and ice climbing, big vs small company employment, and race cars. 
Here is a link to Jay's company, Accelerate Design.
Here is a link to Bert's company, Dexterity Engineering, LLC. 
While I am getting no payment, here is a link to the brewery Jay mentioned, Treehouse. If you are in Massachusetts, you have probably heard of them. If you are not, you might consider a visit if you are in the area.

Ken Stuber - When engineers go camping.

#4 - Ken Stuber: When engineers go camping.
My guest today is Ken Stuber, a friend I met when I lived in Kentucky. He worked for a few years as an engineer for RCA but most of his career was at a non-profit called the Christian Appalachian Project where he did home repair. 
We talk about some of the things we built while camping, how his job and Kentucky have changed during his career, and different methods of positioning large wooden beams.
Here is a link to the trebuchet business card. 
Here is a link to my company, Dexterity Engineering, LLC.

Ralph Thibodeau - This one is for Moose.

#3 - Ralph Thibodeau: This one is for moose.
Ralph is a program manager at Jabil Healthcare in Clinton, MA.
We discussed
some similarities between our colleges and how we decided what kind of engineer to be.
advantages of trial by fire and doing a little of everything as a young engineer
learning from everyone you work with
big salaries can have bad consequences
companies and cultures can change
Finally, we discuss Ralph’s son Josh, aka Moose, and the foundation in his name that provides AED to numerous organizations in central Massachusetts. If you would like to donate, here is a link. I will match the first $250 in donations.
Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation
Please leave a comment on the podcast if you donate so it can be matched.
Dexterity Engineering

Joe Paraschac - I am glad I didn’t kill him.

#1 - Joe Paraschac: I am glad I didn't kill him.
The first Beers with Engineers podcast talks with Joe Paraschac, a very experienced medical device engineer that I have known for over thirty years. Among our topics are:
- the importance of design
- serving customers
- knowing when to say when at a job
- second chances in engineering
- changes in engineering management
- a little about playing ukuleles. Yes, ukuleles.
Fortunately, we just barely mention the time I almost killed him – and me, too.
 
Here is the book Joe mentioned. Power of Habit by Charles Duhig.
 
Here is a link to Bert's company, Dexterity Engineering, LLC.