Today\u2019s guest:\u00a0<\/strong>Juan Alfredo Fuentes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guest Bio:<\/strong>\u00a0 Juan Fuentes graduated from UNC Charlotte in the Fall of 2014 with a degree in Systems & Industrial Engineering and Mathematics. Upon graduation, he started working for CTL Packaging, USA as a Project Engineer for cosmetic plastic packaging clients like L\u2019Oreal, and Alba Botanica. For a brief period right after graduation, he worked with Dilliard’s Corporation. Juan then transitioned to work for Duke Energy as a Jr. Project Manager for the Coal Ash Basin Closure Projects before finding his way to working at Coca-Cola Consolidated as a Manufacturing & Production Analyst for Bishopville and Nashville Production. His work with Coca-Cola Consolidated has expanded in his role with Product Supply by working with Production Planning, as well as implementing data analytics during extended downtimes, and out-of-source optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juan enjoys spending time with his wife Kayla and three-year old Cockapoo, Remi. You can find him watching sports, running through the City of Charlotte, cooking, playing music, or traveling, he is a Colombia-born native, raised in Miami, FL and has been living in Charlotte, NC for the last 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show notes:<\/strong> I (Linda) met Juan when he was an undergrad engineering student at UNC Charlotte<\/a>. While working towards his degree, he also worked as an Orientation Counselor or “OC” during university orientation. Orientation is a program offered by a college or university to help new students and their families make a smooth transition from high school to college life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juan mentions bringing your genuine self to your STEM field. This can be challenging because of the stigmas attached to being a student studying STEM topics. What do you think this mean to you as a student?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a link to the Pew Research I shared in the introduction: https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2018\/01\/09\/7-facts-about-the-stem-workforce\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also talks about what it means to be a systems (or industrial) engineer. Here’s more about this relatively new STEM field of study:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

• From NASA<\/a><\/li>
• From YouTube<\/a><\/li>
• From ICOSE<\/a>, International Council of System Engineering<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Help spread the word:<\/strong>
  If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know in the comments below. Do you have questions? Use the contact form<\/a> to reach out to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Don\u2019t forget to subscribe to the podcast; we release an episode each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Show Sponsor:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  <\/figure>\n\n\n\n

  STEM Dreams podcast is sponsored by Wildlands Engineering<\/a>, a water resources engineering firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. Wildlands is dedicated to increasing diversity in engineering and environmental sciences like geology and ecology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Wildlands, thank you for helping us help the next generation of STEM dreamers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Credits: Show sound effects and music was sourced from FreeSound.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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