Rowan & Roots

I had a love for math, physics, and computers throughout high school, so engineering was always my goal. I was a part of the first engineering class, so a lot of what drew me to the program was what the program hoped to be. I remember when I first visited Rowan and seeing what the vision for the school was. I was impressed, to say the least, but also, I remember a few visits with the professors and how much they respected us as students for potentially taking a chance on the journey with them. It felt like we would be a team, all of us between students and faculty, with opportunities I wouldn't have at other universities, such as having the ability to partake in research early on.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Rowan Engineering?

I think the best memory was finally moving into part of the first engineering building my sophomore year. The first year we were like nomads all over campus, but at that point we had a home and a lot more options to meet with professors or classmates. Plus, everyone else on campus was jealous that our building was so nice!

Was there a professor or class that shaped your path?

I think Dr. Schmalzel was a big driver in my early career. I worked with him on several research projects during the school year and one summer interning for him. I learned a lot about control systems and automation through his mentorship. My first few jobs involved a lot of automating systems for factories. Even today, my wanting to understand how systems work and interact with each other stems from some of that early work.

What’s the most valuable skill you learned at Rowan that you still use today?

The most valuable skill I learned at Rowan Engineering is problem-solving under constraints. Whether it was limited time, resources, or information, I had to figure out how to break down complex challenges into smaller steps and still deliver results. That ability to stay structured, adapt, and keep moving forward is something I use every single day in my career.

What engineering problem or project have you worked on that you're most proud of?

One of our engineering clinic projects was to create a system that could be used for nano imprint lithography for Dr. Krchnavek. It was very cutting-edge at the time and very challenging to collaborate as a team to determine how to control a mechanical system to have that fine of control.

How has your career evolved since graduating? Any surprising twists?

Most of the first 10 years of my career were in factories setting up automated tests from satellite systems to radios. Over time I moved into a few management roles where I was coordinating the whole outsourced manufacturing and planning. In that, I got more involved in the sales and marketing coordination to get the product delivered on time. This eventually led me to get a second master's, this time in business. Then, before the pandemic, I had been helping my wife research some doctoral options for her in the field of education and found a part-time doctorate in business administration program. In that, I researched how software teams that collaborated and communicated more iterated faster and had better product adoption.

Engineering with Impact

I work primarily in marketing now but more on the technical stack of tools to deliver results. This industry often lacks a systemized approach, though it is getting better. Engineering taught me how to approach problems systematically—analyze data, test assumptions, and design solutions. In marketing, that mindset helps me create campaigns that aren’t just creative but measurable and scalable. Just like an engineer prototypes and iterates, I test messaging, channels, and strategies until we find what truly drives results. Engineering isn’t just about building machines—it’s about building better systems, and that’s exactly what drives real-world change in marketing.

What advice would you give to current Rowan Engineering students who want to make an impact?

Take advantage of every opportunity to apply what you’re learning outside the classroom—internships, projects, research, or even personal side work. The technical foundation you’re building is important, but the impact comes from learning how to apply it to real problems, collaborating with others, and not being afraid to take initiative. Stay curious, build relationships with professors and peers, and remember that making an impact doesn’t always mean something huge right away—it’s the small, consistent contributions that add up over time.

Your Engineer’s Lens

I notice systems everywhere now. Whether it’s how traffic flows, how a coffee maker works, or even how my morning routine is structured—I tend to break things down into processes, look for inefficiencies, and think about how they could be improved.

If you could design or improve anything in the world — no limits — what would it be?

Traffic and urban/suburban design. It still boggles my mind that so many people spend so much time commuting to and from work. Whether it is more options for transit or urban design to allow more mixed use, to find a way to reduce our reliance on cars and 2-hour-a-day commutes.

Quick Hits

Not my first job, but my sophomore and junior summers I interned at Ilex Systems. What was great about this internship for me was everyone else there strictly did code, so I was the only electrical engineer there. So I had a lot more responsibility than I was probably ready for but learned so much.

Neither. I didn’t start drinking coffee regularly until 10+ years into my career.

Any data or Business Intelligence tool. I am always looking for new angles and ways to interpret and position data to clients and develop new strategies.

So many—Wawa for convenience, Italian Affair for good food, and Pal Joey’s when my roommates and I had enough money to get their subs.

I think iterative. I always believed anything we do is going to take multiple attempts, and by iterating it enables teams to bounce ideas off each other.

“I became an engineer because…”

I became an engineer because teachers and professors showed me how engineering blends creativity and logic, and I knew I wanted to be part of that.