OEM COG: Bridging Generational Gaps

Bridging Generational Gaps
ICEAA’s OEM COG has formed a panel of “first-decade” young estimators to give their opinions, ideas, and experiences with two of those table topics: the future of hybrid/remote working and the shortage of skilled professionals, and how those two topics relate to each other, especially in terms of encouraging or incentivizing younger professionals. What motivates the younger workforce? What do they think the best ways to overcome communication and training barriers are, particularly those for whom remote work has been the norm for all or most of their careers? What lessons have they learned from interacting with older professionals, and what advice can they give us as we too adjust to the new workforce environment?

Panelists:
Samantha Bailey, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
Sam Bailey is a production operations estimator at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas. She has 10 years of professional work experience in data analysis, project/subcontract management, and education, including 5 years in estimating. She has worked on a variety of F-35 program efforts with estimates involving manufacturing, tooling, quality, and engineering. Some estimating techniques to execute these efforts have comprised cost estimating relationships, learning curve analysis, and data modeling. She has also been involved in multiple digital transformation efforts, involving tools like Alteryx, Tableau, Power Queries, and Access. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Michael Finnegan, The Boeing Company
Michael Finnegan currently works for the Boeing Company in El Segundo, California. After earning his Masters in Mathematics at Missouri State University, he joined the Business Skills Rotation Program within the Boeing Company in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. His first rotation was in Labor Estimating & Pricing, where he also had the opportunity to attend the ICEAA Conference in San Diego. He began to seek out opportunities to further his career in Estimating & Pricing, which were limited in St. Louis at the time, so he moved to Philadelphia, PA, for his second rotation in Procurement Financial Analysis. After three years in the procurement side of the business, he attempted a rotation in Integrated Scheduling, where he lasted a total of 3 months before moving back into a Procurement Finance role. Roughly five years into his career, he had a midlife crisis due to not wanting to settle down at the old age of 28. His mentor found a role for him within Satellites Estimating & Pricing in El Segundo, CA, where he currently works as a parametric cost estimator, building cost models, satellite proposals, and independent cost analyses. In his spare time, he can be found with one of his run clubs (either running or at the brewery), at the bowling alley, or traveling for a marathon.

Jacqueline Magistro, BAE Systems, Inc.
My name is Jacqueline and I have many years of finance under my belt. I fell into pricing based on a career change. With the love of numbers, finance was always a fantastic place, but can get mundane, so this led me to pricing, which never gets boring! The past several years I have had the opportunity to work on the Legacy, MIDS and NTCDL programs, as well as, continuously working all repair bids. I train employees on an application called Golden Eagle and assist when end users have trouble. My training is kept up to date and I enjoy finding new areas to learn. I have attended the peer-to-peer meeting last year and again this year. She also has a mentor to lead her in new areas. I am always looking for new challenges or to try and simplify a process.

Brady Thompson, Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc.
Brady Thompson is an accomplished Senior Data Scientist and Information Architect with extensive experience in data analysis, machine learning, and IT architecture modernization. Currently at Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., he specializes in designing scalable data-driven systems using Microsoft Azure and other advanced platforms. Brady is known for leading enterprise-wide initiatives, including the adoption of Azure Synapse, AI, and Power BI tools, representing BPMI as their Estimating Subject Matter Expert, as well as a mentoring data science and engineering teams. With a strong background in business intelligence and supply chain analytics from previous roles at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Brady holds a Master’s in Quality and Manufacturing Management from Penn State and is currently attending the Naval Postgraduate School for a certificate in Estimating and Analytics.

RSVP online at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvfu2urz8pGt1iWVdzI8U0J9LT7JiASKB0