Alumni Career Feature
Zachary Mazur '08 and Edward McCabe '67

Zachary Mazur

• B.S., Manufacturing Engineering Technology, 2008
• Manufacturing Engineer, Flowserve Corporation
• zmazur@cox.net

 

 

 

 

 

Why Computer Manufacturing Engineering Technology?

I entered college in 2003 in a traditional Mechanical Engineering program at another university. During that first year, I got very involved with a DARPA Grand Challenge race team. I spent most of my free time in the lab or in the machine shop helping build and design the car. I fell in love with my time spent in the machine shop. I decided at the end of that year that it was what I wanted for my career. I researched for a college that had an established Manufacturing Engineering program. From my first day at PCT to graduation day, I couldn't have enjoyed my college experience more. The classes, the professors, and the facilities were everything I could’ve asked for and then some.

Please explain your current responsibilities with Flowserve.

Overall, my responsibility is to create, document, develop, and implement procedures required to assemble, test, process, and manufacture the products of my company. I am responsible for analyzing manufacturing process flows continually for possible enhancements to quality, possible cost reductions, and possible additional throughput. I estimate staffing requirements, production times, and relative costs to provide data for operational decisions as well as provide engineering support in production to trouble shoot and resolve technical problems. These responsibilities lead me to spend most of my time in our machining and assembly departments working on improvement projects including the purchase and implementation of new CNC machining centers.

Have you received any special recognition or awards through your employment or belong to any professional organizations?

I have been a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers since 2005. I was active in the student chapter at PCT, becoming the Vice President my senior year. Since I have started working for Flowserve, I have been awarded The Spirit of Flowserve Award three times and the CIP Excellence Award twice.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

More than anything, I think I enjoy being able to work with the newest and most advanced manufacturing equipment available. Not everyone gets to play with the newest and best every day. It’s great to be able to take something like that and use it to realize real tangible improvements in efficiency, quality, and production cost.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

People are creatures of habit. I think the hardest part of my job is working through people’s ingrained conceptions of how things are supposed to work convincing them that sometimes, the way it has worked for 30 years is not necessarily the best way. You can’t truly achieve success unless you can be unafraid to tear apart established paradigms and start from scratch.

How did your education prepare you for your current position?

I think I benefited most from all the hands-on experience in the machine shop and lab. This training allowed me to jump right into my job with little additional training on company time. I already knew how to run and program the machines that I would be working with daily

Any professors you admire or continue to stay in contact with?

I stay in touch with John Upcraft. He is the faculty advisor for the Mini-Baja team at Penn College, which I helped start. He also taught the first class I took at the college. He continues to be instrumental in keeping the Mini-Baja team alive, which I believe to be one of the most useful and memorable experiences of my college education. The experience and depth of knowledge he brings to the table is indispensable.

What advice do you have for students interested in your career field?

Do it! There are many that say Manufacturing is not a safe field to get into. That industry is leaving, dying off. This could not be further from the truth. Manufacturing is a wonderful field to get into. It’s constantly changing, challenging, and rewarding those who work hard.

Education and experience are paramount. Work hard in school and get involved in things that will allow you to gain experience to use later. Join an extracurricular like the Mini-Baja team. Things like that let you really flex the skills that you gain in class and take the knowledge that you have and turn it into something tangible.

Where do you see yourself in the next three to five years?

I really enjoy the project work and being an engineer on a team that helps to improve the way a business runs. I think in five plus years it would not be unreasonable to see myself in a management position.

Do you have any special interests or hobbies?

I started brewing my own beer in college and I continue to do that as often as I can find the time. I like to rebuild old motorcycles and I’ve always had a thing for Volkswagens.

Edward McCabe

• A.A.S., Electronics Technology, 1967
• Electrical Instructor, Pennsylvania College of Technology
• emccabe@pct.edu

 

 

 

 

 

Why Electronics Technology?

I have had an interest in electronics since my early teen years. When I decided to pursue a career in the field of electronics Penn College (formerly Williamsport Area Community College) was my choice because of its reputation as an excellent technical school. My father also had influenced my decision as he started his career as a teacher at Williamsport Technical Institute which later became Williamsport Area Community College.

Have you continued your education?

I attended an Air Force school on Electronics Troubleshooting and have taken Industrial training courses on computer programming and automated semiconductor testing. I have taken a number of Penn State continuing education courses as well.

Please explain your current responsibilities at Penn College.

I am an instructor in the electrical technology department at Penn College. I am responsible for curriculum and lab development for my courses. I have developed new courses and student outcomes for ELT 118, Data Cabling and Network Basics, ELT 218, Network Communications and Security and ELT229, Process Control Basics. Included as part of these course creations, I have researched and specified the required equipment that students will need for these classes.

Have you received any special recognition or awards through your employment or belong to any professional organizations?

I have five patents in the electronics industry including CALLER ID, FAX protocol, telephone memory dialer, and rotary to tone phone dialer. I received the Allen Organ President's Award in 2001 and the Penn College Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2011.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

Seeing how students advance in their major from when they start until they graduate.

What is the most challenging?

Developing new courses and keeping up with technology.

How do you see your field changing in the next three to five years?

The field of both electrical and electronics continue to change as new advances for both energy sources and technology develop. As society becomes more dependent on technology, these new advances will require more formal education and on the job training.

How did your education prepare you for your current position?

The greatest strength was the theory and practical lab projects as applied to my field of study. My transition to the workplace was very smooth. My education allowed me to easily begin my first job and provided a solid foundation to build my career. It gave me the skills and knowledge to continually advance my career to my present position.

What was the most significant thing you learned during your first year of work.

Even though I learned a lot in college, there was much more to learn if I wanted to advance in my field.

What advice do you have for students interested in your career field?

Be dedicated to your goals and get all you can from your college education. Employers look for self-starters, dedication, integrity, and honesty.

Any professors you admire?

My primary electronics theory instructor, Norman Briggs. He held additional theory classes on his time for those of us who wanted more advanced training.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Retired. Traveling and enjoying time with my family.

Do you have any special interests or hobbies?

I do some volunteer work for the American Cancer Institute. I also enjoy music and auto racing.