How Fifteen Years of ASM International Membership Has Shaped My Career

Fifteen years ago, I began my relationship with ASM International. I vividly remember sitting in a classroom filling out my Material Advantage membership application with the other members of my class who selected Materials Science and Engineering as their major. This early engagement as an undergraduate gave me opportunities for leadership positions as a student. In graduate school, I gained experience submitting grants for funding that was offered by the organization, adding drafting scopes of work and evaluating finances to my skillset. Participating in my local chapter (and being lucky to have a few other chapters in easy driving distance) facilitated meeting like-minded engineers who helped me start my career in consulting. When everyone switched to a virtual lifestyle during COVID, it opened new opportunities to extend my network by attending chapter meetings from distant locations online. Today, I have forged strong professional relationships with my fellow members that range from students to retirees. In this talk, I will review how ASM International has played a role in every step of my path from academics to my career as an engineering consultant on a multidisciplinary team.