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Within TDC’s Premier Industrial Parks there are many businesses that literally keep us moving. Air Industrial Park hosts 25 businesses, Banker Road Industrial Park hosts 6 businesses and within these parks, a wide variety of international industrial manufacturers do business. Within those businesses are thousands of men and women assembling cables, machines, lighting, trains and buses by hand. In this series, we are sharing the stories of women working in the manufacturing industry throughout the Greater Plattsburgh region.
We asked a set of questions to learn what led these professionals to manufacturing and, to share what advice they could offer other people, especially women-to-women. These stories will certainly inspire others in many ways. They may validate current work or career paths, influence a change in job field or, pique the interest of young people as they enter the workforce or head off to college. Each woman's pathway is unique, and we are thankful for their hard work, dedication, perseverance and contributions to the North Country and to the manufacturing industry. We celebrate them and all women who make us move!
1. What are your day to day responsibilities?
As a Product Quality Engineer and NDT Level II, my day is a balance between technical execution and strategic collaboration. On the engineering side, I serve as a bridge between design and production. I collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that as we optimize part designs, we aren't just making them functional, but also highly inspectable. In this role, we must ask ‘How can we meet customer requirements while remaining mindful of cost and waste reduction?’ This is especially critical at Norsk, where our RPD™ process is already designed for efficiency. I play a key role in both New Product Introductions and supporting ongoing production to ensure our quality scales with our growth. On the technical side, I’m hands-on with the parts. I perform and interpret Nondestructive Testing (NDT)—specifically Ultrasonic Testing and Liquid Penetrant—to detect discontinuities without damaging the component.
I'm looking for the 'invisible'—internal flaws or surface cracks that could compromise the structural integrity of a flight-critical component.
Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that every part leaving our facility is not only conforming and safe but has been produced through the most efficient, cost-effective process possible.
2. How did you get your start in manufacturing?
I got my start in manufacturing through the military. I spent 10 years with the Air National Guard, including three years as a dual-status technician in California. That’s where I built my foundation in NDT; when you’re working on military aircraft, there is zero room for error. My philosophy has remained the same: Integrity is first and foremost.
I spent the last 12 years evolving NDT expertise across different high-stakes industries. I branched out into private aerospace, and then spent five years in rail transportation, which gave me a unique perspective on heavy industrial manufacturing and long-term structural integrity.
Now, I’ve been with Norsk Titanium for about nine weeks. I’m excited to be here because it allows me to take all that 'traditional' NDT experience from the military and rail industry and apply it to the future of additive manufacturing
3. What appealed to you the most about manufacturing?
What appealed to me most about manufacturing is the intersection of cutting-edge technology and foundational science. Coming from a background of working on aircraft, I became fascinated by the theory behind NDT. It’s incredibly intriguing to me how we can use physics-based detection methods and chemistry-driven processes—to 'see' through metal and ensure its safety (integrity) without ever damaging the part.
It’s a field where you never stop learning!
That curiosity is what drew me to Norsk Titanium. I’m inspired by where the company is headed—specifically how we are shaping the future of aircraft design. Being part of a team that is defining the quality standards for the next generation of flight-critical components is exactly where I want to be.
4. What education (both formal and informal) do you have, and how is it applicable to you in your career today?
I have an associate’s degree in Nondestructive Inspection from the Community College of the Air Force, a bachelor’s in law enforcement leadership with a minor in Homeland Security, and then I have an MBA with a concentration in Engineering Management. My MBA and associates are very useful for my daily activities.
5. Do you have a mentor/role model who you look up to or take inspiration from?
I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who have shaped both my technical skills and my leadership philosophy. Currently at Norsk, I look up to Phillip Riegler. He is incredibly intelligent and brings decades of NDT experience to the table. He has a deep, intuitive understanding of the processes that you only get from years in the field. As a Level II, I’m focused on execution, but I see Philip (who is an ASNT Level III) as the mentor who will help me bridge the gaps in my technical expertise—specifically connecting the dots between product quality design and NDT. I also wouldn't be where I am today without the support of Erika Saunders from my time with the California Air National Guard, who was foundational to my military start, and Katya Layne at Alstom, who was instrumental during my time in the rail industry. Their guidance is a huge reason why I’m sitting here today, and they’ve inspired me to eventually become that same kind of mentor for the next generation of women entering this field.
6. Why the Adirondacks?
I am originally from Schroon Lake, about an hour south from here. I moved to California for the military, but I relocated back to the Plattsburgh area about five years ago for work. I have a lot of family in the area, which is a big driving force for me.
People often don't realize what a powerhouse Plattsburgh is for manufacturing.
It’s a very manufacturing-oriented, working-class community which is neat.
7. What advice would you give to young women going into male-dominated fields today?
My biggest piece of advice is: Don’t go with the status quo. There will always be critics—people who might doubt your expertise or tell you that you’re in the wrong field. My advice is to use that negativity to fuel your success. You don't need to spend your energy trying to convince the critics; the only person you ever need to prove anything to is yourself.
You don't need to spend your energy trying to convince the critics; the only person you ever need to prove anything to is yourself.
I never anticipated being where I am now, but I’m so thankful I took that first step into the Air National Guard twelve years ago. If you just give yourself a chance and trust your ability, you’ll be amazed at where it leads you.
