In her own words: Taylor Smith, Technical Sales and Marketing, PSNERGY
What or who fueled your interest in manufacturing?
I worked as summer help at Ellwood City Forge during the break before my senior year of college. I remember the first time I saw the door to an industrial furnace open and a glowing red ingot was pulled from inside. From that job, I met Ashleigh Walters, former President of Onex, who provided me with the opportunity to intern with Onex remotely as I finished my senior year in Brooklyn, NY. I owe my interest to manufacturing to those first few industry exposures.
What is your current role in manufacturing?
Technical Sales and Marketing – I act as the bridge between marketing and sales, meaning that it is my responsibility to attract, serve, educate and inspire customers and the industry. From prospecting and qualifying leads to walking them through the buyer’s journey with educational tools, I have a unique opportunity to be customer facing, while creating technical marketing content and educational tools for hot leads. I also serve as the Marketing Director for Women in Manufacturing WPA.
Describe your path to get to where you are today.
After receiving my BA in Communication Arts, I moved to Erie, PA to work full time at Onex as their Marketing Coordinator. With two years of marketing in manufacturing experience at Onex under my belt, I transitioned to PSNERGY to gain customer-facing sales skills. With the help of our talented team, I have shifted my focus from solely marketing to technical sales, where I am able to create educational content for our customer base.
What is your Superpower?
I would say I’m quite fast at identifying patterns and similarities in jobs to help enhance the efficiency of each project in our shop. Efficiency is the most critical aspect of our industry.
Why is your role important to others – like to customers or end users?
I empower customers through education, bridge marketing and sales for efficiency, contribute to industry growth, and ensure high-quality solutions for end users. I am passionate about educating and inspiring the community by sharing my personal stories as well as highlighting local manufacturing opportunities.
What do you think the future holds for your career or others you inspire?
A future in the manufacturing industry has endless opportunities. In a short four years, I have grown so much personally and professionally thanks to the amazing industry leaders that have taken me under their wing. Now, I am in a position to help educate others on the great opportunities this industry has to offer.
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