I got my bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in microbiology. Before joining Minaris, I was working at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Rensselaer in upstate New York, as a Microbiology Analyst.
I was looking for a chance to make a difference in a department, not be another cog in the wheel. That is what led me to exploring options at Minaris. I saw that it was a real company that was small enough that anyone could make a difference. I joined the company as the microbiologist in July 2016.
After I was hired, we developed a small microbiology team. I was helping to put in place procedures for how we would process these samples from the microbiology point of view. We were looking at how frequently we were sampling, what the limits were, and setting those criteria. We were qualifying new clean rooms that were just being built or being tailored for new clients.
After I spent some time in that role, we had a change in leadership. I was then the most senior member for the department and I really began to dig into developing how the department was shaped and how it was going to perform.
To determine if being a manager is right for you, I think it is important that you understand yourself and to have similar awareness about the people and environment around you. You have to understand the bigger picture, yet also understand the needs of your employees. I decided this path was right for me and took the opportunity to become a manager in July 2018.
Since becoming a manger, I’ve focused on evaluating what our strengths and weaknesses are, and how we could fill those gaps, whether that is by hiring more personnel or refocusing our efforts. More recently, we restructured the whole department. We separated microbiology into two teams: a production support team, whose primary goal is to ensure that our classified areas and processes are under a state of control, and our newly established microbiological testing methods group.
The cleanroom is a unique place to be in and every interaction has an effect. In micro, you get to see that effect. You see how people’s behaviors in these areas have a downstream effect on the process. You are painting a picture of the microbial load in those clean room environments over time. You get tangible evidence regarding various issues and you get the chance to take part in the efforts to make positive enhancements to better ourselves as a business.
We have some great role models in the company, and I’ve utilized them and learned from their management styles and methods. I’ve listened and observed managers to see how thoughtful decision making is done. In the process, I have picked up good learning tools to ensure the job is done properly and efficiently.
To be a leader, you need to be resourceful, but you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You have to be comfortable surrounding yourself with people who may be more knowledgeable than you in certain subjects. I have people in my group that have a lot more experience than I do, but I am okay with not knowing all the answers. While I might not have the answer for everything, I know how to go about getting it.
People who succeed here are those who are driven and invested not just in themselves but in the company. When the company succeeds, you succeed as well. Those who are driven to go above and beyond, learn new processes, and explore new facets of our business that might not be directly related to their job description are those who go further. This is one of the benefits of being in a smaller company. If I was still at Regeneron, I wouldn’t have the same opportunities that I’ve had these past five years.