Revere’s spent 30+ years helping our OEM customers grow their businesses with world-class controls solutions. This hasn’t happened because we’re inherently some special organization; rather, it’s because of our people. The teams that make up Revere are our not-so-secret ingredients to success. We’ve got a deep bench of people serving our OEM clients every day, but here’s a chance to get to know a few of them.
We asked our participants to answer 6 questions about themselves, their jobs, and their lives. Maybe you’ve been itching to know more about the team’s ins and outs or even what our engineers do outside of work hours (spoiler: if you want to start a band, Revere might be your place!). If so, read on!
Chad McMicken
What do you do at Revere?
I design, program, and test industrial control panels to automate machines and processes for our customers.
How did you get here?
Being from the Birmingham area, I knew that Revere existed, but it wasn’t until I was nearly finished with school at UAB that I learned more about what Revere did specifically. I was really developing an interest in PLCs and control systems and reached out to Revere once I was nearing graduation.
What is your biggest on-the-job challenge?
Balancing the varying demands that come with supporting multiple projects simultaneously. I prioritize quality and good customer service, but some days it can be a juggling act to keep everything moving smoothly!
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
The variety that comes with it. Being able to do programming, testing, and commissioning really help break the monotony of strictly design and submittal work.
What do you do outside of work?
When I have time (and there isn’t a global pandemic), I enjoy being active and playing sports (company softball team, racquetball, etc.). Lately though, with two small children now, there isn’t quite as much time for racquetball, so there is a lot more playing on the swing set and riding power wheels.
What’s something interesting or surprising about yourself?
My wife and I got married at relatively young ages (we were both 22). Neither of us really wanted a big wedding and we had all but decided to just get married at the courthouse (despite her parents encouraging us to have a more traditional wedding). We then had the crazy idea to just fly to Vegas and get married there; basically, the courthouse wedding but with a bit of an adventure and a story. We flew to Vegas the day after she graduated, got our marriage license, and then got married at the first wedding chapel we found. Some years later, we realized it was the wedding chapel you see in the last scene of Vegas Vacation!
Wil Barnett
What do you do at Revere?
As a project engineer, I design, program, and test many of the control systems we produce at Revere. I work in the OEM group, where we work with equipment manufacturers to design control panels tailored to their individual needs. I also travel to job sites frequently to support commissioning of new control systems or to assist with any changes or troubleshooting on site.
How did you get here?
I cold-called Revere during my senior year of college asking about internship opportunities. I was lucky enough to get the internship, and at graduation I was offered a full time position. I’ve worked here in the OEM group for 5 years now.
What is your biggest on-the-job challenge?
There are many challenges that come along with my position, but I think the biggest challenge is keeping up with the pace of the industry. It is not uncommon for projects to have tight schedule requirements, and it is important that we meet these schedules while maintaining Revere’s quality standards.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I think the aspect of my job I find most rewarding is when I am under pressure to solve a problem—whether that be an issue that arises in testing or changes being made at a job site—where I can apply my knowledge and experience to get things moving again. I find those situations to be very fulfilling.
What do you do outside of work?
Music is one of my biggest hobbies. I’ve built an entire home studio, and I think in many ways I am able to apply the mindset I use in designing panels to my hobby. I get to research components and verify compatibility, plan out wiring and I/O for various signal types, and apply a programmer’s mindset to setting up recording software.
What’s something interesting or surprising about yourself?
Going back to my previous answer about my music hobby, I think it often surprises people to find out that I play multiple instruments. On the flip side, my music friends are happy to find that I can fix electric issues with their gear.
Kenji Schum
What do you do at Revere?
Project Engineer. Design/program control panels; project handling.
How did you get here?
I initially started as an intern while finishing up my masters degree at UAB. I came on full-time after graduating.
What is your biggest on-the-job challenge?
We have a lot of good resources at Revere and through our chain of suppliers/support, so there are usually avenues for getting hard questions answered. One of the more difficult things would be juggling a workload to ensure meeting all dates required of projects. Each department (ENG/CAD/DOC/Shop) is dependent on one another, just as we are dependent on getting information from our customers, so a strong line of communication helps.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
To me, being able to design something, see it get built, and watching it work (sometimes even in the field with its equipment) is quite rewarding. Not all industries/jobs have that tangible product or involvement in start to finish process.
What do you do outside of work?
Mostly I just try to keep up with my kids. They’re 3 and a handful. But that’s rewarding too of course. Outside of that, I like to watch football and play music with friends.
What’s something interesting or surprising about yourself?
To those that I work with, perhaps the fact that I play music in a band might be most surprising.
Eryn Robbins
What do you do at Revere?
Project engineer, I design, program, and integrate control systems. I also help solve some issues in the field.
How did you get here?
2 months before graduating from college, I talked to a professor about what I would like to do after I graduate. With what I told him he recommended me to Revere and he actually got me in contact with Bob [Adams, Revere’s President].
What is your biggest on-the-job challenge?
Organization, mainly in the terms of distributing my time amongst jobs appropriately. I just want all of my jobs to be done right.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the problem-solving and continuous learning that I get through it.
What do you do outside of work?
I like to work on small projects, like woodworking, cars, etc.
What’s something interesting or surprising about yourself?
I play piano/keyboard during my free time.
Revere’s Value
At Revere, our people help make us who we are—and the trusted control systems partner our clients have come to count on. Reach out to us for help in any stage of the automation process, from design to installation to troubleshooting. Plus, continue to learn about our work and other teams on our blog!