Micron welcomes Matt Zaleski to our team as a sales and estimating specialist.
Matt is a husband and father of three, the oldest of whom studies civil engineering at Western Michigan University. Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Matt has lived in Michigan for over 20 years. A move from Gaylord to Croton Pond allowed him to start looking for work in Grand Rapids. And fortunately for us, his search led him to Micron.
The Path to Precision Machining
A recent hire, Matt has experience across multiple manufacturing disciplines, including stamping, tube-bending, and thermocouple assembly. Working at Micron is Matt’s first experience in precision machining. He says he’s impressed by the “natural eye of machinists — the ability to look at a print and see the tooling required, challenges, and need for clarification or additional detail. Some of the details on these prints are just incredible.”
Matt is no stranger to prints and modeling. He started out working with 2-D modeling, which he learned in pursuit of his degree in Manufacturing Engineering at Ferris State University.
As design technology became more advanced, Matt taught himself SolidWorks. This in turn allowed Matt to demonstrate 3-D modeling to the thermocouple company he worked for.
Using the SolidWorks trial version, “I was able to quickly create a part for them that took a full day in 2-D software,” Matt said. That trial was enough to convince Matt’s former employer to upgrade their software, which greatly improved their efficiency in creating models and prints.
At Micron, Matt is currently familiarizing himself with the company’s processes and systems. “The systems in place at Micron are fascinating. A lot of companies strive to get to this level or organization,” Matt said.
Curiosity, Adaptability, and an Overall Good Fit
Company owner and CEO Mike Preston is excited to have Matt join the team. During the hiring process, Matt’s enthusiasm and adaptability stood out.
“He asked the right questions in the hiring process and continues to ask the right questions during training,” Mike said. “He asks why we do things the way we do.”
Mike also thought Matt’s personality would fit well with the employee culture of Micron and the sales and estimating position. Likewise, Matt’s choice to work at Micron affirms this.
“He chose us because of what he thought was a good fit,” Mike said. “I felt good about the fact he got other offers and chose us.”
Though this is Matt’s first experience working in precision machining, Mike thinks Matt’s background is “a benefit, really — you have the same processes whether you’re fabricating or machining.” Moreover, “he wasn’t fearful about learning something new even though typically engineers like to stay within their discipline.”
Matt and Mike agree that Matt’s first 90 days at Micron will focus on Matt developing familiarity with the company’s processes, systems, and quoting and estimating procedures. Once fully familiarized, Matt will become the main contact for customers requesting a quote.
If you are seeking a quote from Micron in the future, you very well may have the pleasure of working with Matt.
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