Meet the Solid Edge Field Support & Testing Team at the ST4 Event
Previously, I introduced you to Jeff Walker and the Solid Edge Planning Team. Thank you to the folks who sent Tweets (@MFGTech), linked to our post from theirs (@SolidDNA)and sent notes of appreciation. We always love to hearfeedback.
The reason I started this series was to give Edgers a preview of the people behind the scenes at Solid Edge. The folks that work on the product will be available at the Solid Egde ST4 Global Launch Event. (Reminder, Early-bird registration end March 31, 2011. Save $100!) If you have questions, comments, concerns or you just want to see something specific in future releases of Solid Edge, these are the folks that make it happen.
This week, I would like to introduce you to Laura Watson and her team, Solid Edge Field Support and Testing Team. Many of you may know Laura from her work with Solid Edge Beta Testing and some of the folks you may recognize from our Tips and Tricks series, such as Doug Stainbrook, Jim Wright and Mark Thompson.This is a large group and if you add up all the years of experience in the CAD/CAM industry from this team, it’s close to 300 years of knowledge. In my personal opinion, this is one of the reasons we continually state that Solid Edge is “design for engineers … by engineers.“
Let’s meet the team
Laura Watson – Manager, Solid Edge Operations
Laura Watson is responsible for the Release Management, Quality, and Technical Field Support for Solid Edge and other Velocity Series products. Laura has been with the company for over 20 years and started working on Solid Edge with Version 1 in 1994. Laura holds a bachelors degree in mathematics from Jacksonville State University.
FIELD SUPPORT TEAM
This group creates Solid Edge demos, produces and delivers technical Solid Edge update training and supports Solid Edge pre-sales activities globally.
Doug Stainbrook – Team Lead, Solid Edge Field Support
Doug Stainbrook is the team leader for the Solid Edge Field Support team.Before joining the Solid Edge team, Doug spent 10 years as a product designer in the jig and fixture, automated machinery, plastic product, and injection mold design industries. In 1999, he became a Solid Edge Application Engineer in Pennsylvania, traveling the U.S. East coast, supporting resellers with Solid Edge demonstrations and pre-sales support. In 2000, Doug moved to Huntsville, Alabama, home of Solid Edge development to work in the Field Support group.
Greg Baldwin – Solid Edge Field Support
Greg has over 20 years experience presenting, developing, and implementing solutions for mechanical design and manufacturing. He has been in the field support group for the past three years focused on document management solutions for Solid Edge with Teamcenter and Insight. His responsibilities include developing and delivering training materials for our partners and internal technical staff worldwide. Prior to joining the Solid Edge team, Greg was a reseller of competitor products. Prior to that, he worked in industry designing dedicated machine tools and programming and operating CNC machines.
Mark Thompson – Solid Edge Field Support
Mark has been in the Mechanical CAD industry for 24 years. Mark spent his first year in the CAD/CAM support group and then moved to the technical marketing group where he has been ever since. Mark has been promoting Solid Edge since its first release in 1996. Mark’s responsibilities include the creation of demonstration material for internal application engineers and channel partners, customer presentations, update training material, and support for the field personnel. Prior to coming to work in the mechanical CAD industry Mark spent 14 years as a machinist/tool maker. Mark enjoys his job, the people he works with, and the satisfaction of working with a great product like Solid Edge!
Steve Webb – Solid Edge Field Support
Steve is an Applications Engineer in the Solid Edge Field Support group. He has over 24 years of experience in Mechanical Design Engineering and Mechanical CAD. He has held roles as an Application Engineer and Educator at Siemens PLM Software, PTC, Saratech Inc and Moderntech SI. Before moving into the CAD Industry, Steve applied his CAD knowledge in industries including hydraulic gear pumps, high speed packaging equipment, and textile equipment. He holds a two year drafting certification from the Williamston Career and Technology Center.
Jim Wright – CAM Express Field Support
Jim has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri. He has over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, and over 25 years experience in the CAD/CAM field. Prior to his current role, he held stints as an CNC Programmer, CAD/CAM Department Manager, CAD/CAM instructor, and Project Coordinator for Siemens CAM software development.
TESTING TEAM
The Product Testing team ensures that Solid Edge operates as defined in the software functional specifications, fulfills all technical requirements, satisfies customer expectations, and performs as required in a real or simulated environment.
Kevin Dawes – Testing Lead, Solid Edge Part, Sheet Metal and Assembly
Kevin earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama. Before joining the Solid Edge testing team in 1999, he tested missile system battlefield planning software, as well as designed technology demonstration missile systems for the US Army Missile Command.Kevin has been using CAD software for over 15 years.
Justin Hammack – Testing Lead, Solid Edge Draft, Display, Data Management
Before joining the Solid Edge team, Justin worked in the fabrication industry for 10 years designing steel and sheet metal structures along with supporting hydraulic and electrical systems. He has used various CAD systems for over 25 years.
Tim Bass – Solid Edge Product Testing
Tim is responsible for testing in all Solid Edge environments, as well as some external applications such as Mold Tooling and Electrode Design. Tim has over 30 years experience in Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing. His background includes experience in Ultra-Precision manual machining, Tool/Die making, Injection Molding, and Mechanical Design and Prototyping of mechanical components. Prior to his current role he was an instructor for CNC programming of 2 thru 5-axis machining applications and was also supervisor over the CNC machine shop, responsible for customer benchmarks and manufacturing.
Keith Cain – Solid Edge Product Testing
Keith has worked with mechanical CAD for over 20 years. He has been with the Solid Edge certification group for five years. Prior to his role in the Solid Edge certification group, Keith worked as a product designer in the hydraulics industry.
Chuck Edgeworth – Solid Edge Product Testing
Chuck earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from The University of Alabama. He currently works in Solid Edge Testing after spending several years in Solid Edge development. Prior to that Chuck did development, testing and support with Intergraph Corp.
Tim Patterson – Solid Edge Product Testing
With over 25 years experience, Tim’s responsibilities have been in a variety of software areas including product testing, customer training, customer support, consulting, and automation development. Tim has been a member of the Solid Edge team from the beginning, prior to the first release. He has worked as a machinist, customization/automation programmer, and CNC programmer in the aerospace industry.
Peter Llewellyn – Solid Edge Product Testing
Peter has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (BME) from Auburn University. Prior to joining the Solid Edge testing group, he worked at an injection molding company in both manufacturing and product design areas. Peter has over 25 years of experience in the mechanical CAD and CAE software industry.
