By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Abby Melcher, quality satisfaction engineer and chief internal auditor at Dee Zee Inc., as the network's newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.
Get to know Melcher in her interview with SEMA News below.
SEMA News: How many years have you been with your current company and what do you enjoy most about working there?
Abby Melcher: I have been with Dee Zee for about two and a half years and started on this path right out of college. What I enjoy most about working at Dee Zee is the people I get to work with every day. Everyone cares about one another, and I am so lucky to work with such great colleagues who bring me joy throughout my workdays.
SN: What is the most challenging part of your business or job?
AM: The most challenging part of my job is effectively communicating the importance of abiding by the required automotive standard. In my current role, I work to ensure we maintain our International Automotive Task Force (IATF) certificate to be able to supply to OEM automotive companies. It can be difficult to effectively communicate this standard, but I try my best to break it down in easy-to-digest pieces and provide a variety of training to teach all levels of the company about the IATF standard.
SN: What was your first industry job?
AM: Dee Zee was my first job out of college, but I have been in the manufacturing industry for more than eight years with various internships during high school and college. I had internships at small, family-owned companies, one that specialized in blow-molding plastic, as well as a manufacturing engineer internship at a subsidiary of Toyota making fork trucks and an industrial engineer internship at Boeing.
SN: What three qualities got you to where you are today?
AM: Three qualities that got me where I am today are authenticity, reliability and willingness to learn. I have made many great connections in my career by being authentic and showing my personality. It is important to me that people know me for who I really am and always feel like we are on the same team. I am also a reliable person. If someone needs something done and on time, I am the right gal to get it done. This has helped me make large strides to take on larger projects and gain more responsibility, which led me to more of a leadership role. Lastly, my willingness to learn has made me a key asset in my current role. I am always willing to learn new processes or skills--even if they do not directly align with my job duties so I can always be a helping hand or provide fresh insight where needed.
SN: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?
AM: I have been lucky enough that I entered the engineering world at a time when women engineers are more common. Yes, a majority of my classmates and colleagues were/are men, but there is a great mix of women on our team as well. This has made me a lot more comfortable and doesn't feel quite as overwhelming. It can be challenging to be assertive as a woman in the industry, but I have found that being authentic, reliable and personable can get you a long way and make you a great team member, regardless of gender.
SN: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry?
AM: My role models in the industry are my direct leaders--Andrew Theobald and Jeremy Kingkade. Jeremy took a chance on me hiring me right out of college with no prior automotive experience and a slight gap to the job description. But they have both encouraged, guided and lifted me up through my two and a half years to shape me into the perfect fit for my current role. They always have my back, encourage me when I may be second-guessing myself and remind me that hard work pays off.
SN: What is the best career advice you have received?
AM: The best career advice I have received is understanding hustle versus hustle. There is such a thing as "good" hustle and "bad" hustle. "Bad" hustle is having the mindset of "I had to," versus "good" hustle, which is the mindset of "I want to." "Bad" hustle is putting your own health and wellness on hold, putting your family and friends on hold, and just being busy for the sake of being busy. "Good" hustle is if you think a thing should exist, then build it. If you don't know how to do something, figure it out. You failed? No problem, next idea. Always learning, always grabbing at new opportunities. This has helped me tremendously professionally to not fall into the corporate trap of just being 'busy' and putting my personal life and health on hold. It reminds me every day to be a learner, be my best and not lose my sense of wonder and self-worth. This mindset keeps me positive with a smile on my face, ready to tackle the next hurdle that may be in my way.
SN: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?
AM: All my past internship experiences have been in a wide variety of different manufacturing disciplines. At the end of the day, I don't really care about what we are making, I care that it is a good quality product that we can be proud of. But being in the automotive industry is almost another level of pride because we all drive a vehicle every day and so do our family and friends. It is so fun to show off the accessories we make out in the real world and share that they are made in the heart of Iowa. The never-ending ideas, growth and fast-paced environment is what keeps me in the automotive industry. No day looks the same!
SN: Who was the most influential person on your career goals?
AM: The most influential person on my education, career and goals is my fiancé. We met freshman year of college in an introductory engineering course. He has been by my side for all the exams, presentations, job searching, interviews and hard days. I think we have a healthy amount of competition, both graduating with the same degree, which I believe has made us both successful in our roles. Almost trying to always one up another, but in a good way! He always expects me to try my best, doesn't let me downplay my intelligence and always challenges me to take the next step, even if it is uncomfortable.
Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and recognized on the sema.org/she-is-sema website.