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Lisa Kurzejeski
Manager, eServer Technology
IBM
Austin, TX
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Hello.. My name is Lisa Kurzejeski and I am an engineering manager
at IBM.
I work with a team of very smart scientists, engineers, physicists,
and
mathematicians who focus on creating new technologies for IBM. We
also
drive strategies for IBM, so we stay ahead of our competition. I
have been
with this group for over one year now, and continue to learn new
things
each day.
I graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San
Luis
Obispo, CA in 1986 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. I was
hired by
Frito-Lay, Inc. as an Operations Engineer, focusing on improving
their
processes in both their distribution centers and manufacturing plants.
I
worked in Lenexa, KS, and had responsibility for distribution centers
in
Wichita, KS, Saint Louis, MO, Lenexa, KS, and Omaha, NE. Talk about
covering the Midwest! After doing this for a short while, my manager
asked
me and another woman to open a new distribution center in Chicago,
IL. We
got to do everything, from determining the layout of the facility
to
procuring (and driving) the 18 wheel Mack trucks that would soon
deliver
Frito-Lay's products. It was an exciting job!
In December of 1987 I went to work for IBM in Austin Texas. I had
worked
for IBM in California while I was still a student, and was thrilled
when
they offered me a job in Texas. During my IBM career I have been
a
software engineer, a programmer, a process engineer, a manager,
a field
customer service engineer, a project manager, and a whole host of
other
titles. I love working at IBM - there is such diversity in the work,
it
keeps me technically challenged. IBM transferred me to Rochester,
MN for a
few years, and then back to Austin. Austin has become my home, I've
lived
here longer than anywhere else in my life. In 1996 I received a
Masters
degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University
of Texas at
Austin. Someday I hope to get a PhD.. in something!
As for me, I am the youngest of 5 kids. I've got 4 older brothers.
I don't
believe there are jobs for boys and jobs for girls - I grew up learning
and
doing whatever I challenged myself to do. As you can tell from my
picture,
I enjoy hunting. This particular trip was for elk in Idaho. Gorgeous
country! Have you ever seen an elk up close? Oh my, they are huge!
Unfortunately I only saw one, and he was hiding (and yes, elk can
hide)
behind some trees. What a beautiful animal! I also like to fish,
and
hike, and do just about anything outdoors.
So, why engineering? Well, like some of you may have had said to
you, my
teachers said I was good in math. (And they were right!) I love
math and
numbers and equations. I assessed my career options when I was in
high
school, and decided I liked the variety associated with an engineering
degree. Engineers work in hospitals, and for companies that build
roads
and big structures and amusement parks (like Disneyland!). They
work for
the forest service and for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Association. They work for companies that make potato chips, like
Frito-Lay, and companies that make computer chips, like IBM. I wanted
to
have freedom of choice in my career, and engineering gave me just
that.
I encourage you to follow your dreams.. find what you are passionate
about
and pursue it! You are in charge of you, and I know you will be
successful!
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