Morsi has no regrets for pursuing plastics rather than medicine

Joey Morsi's parents divorced when he was 7, so he grew up with his mother and three sisters.

“We were all notorious for being the hardest of workers and motivated each other to succeed,” Morsi said. “My mother has a career in the medical field, and my sisters are now all working engineers. We love reading about the latest technological advances, and bounce ideas on how to innovate even further.”

Morsi almost went into medicine himself. He was enrolled for a year at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine before deciding to stick with engineering — he already had a bachelor's degree from CUNY-City College of New York.

“I realized I was passionate about engineering without the biomedical prefix. It's the collaboration of the creative and technical aspects of engineering that really fascinate me.

Aside from the technical intrigue, Morsi loves New York sports — the Mets, Giants, Knicks and Islanders.

Age: 24.

First plastics job? I'm just now past my first year in the plastics industry, working as an engineer at Formed Plastics, a rotational molder and thermoformer.

I'm in a continual pursuit to find new and exciting fields of study. I never want to be mentally static, it's always a thrill to learn and think outside the box. I definitely found my niche in the plastics industry because how diverse and encompassing it can be.

Greatest achievement? Deciding not to pursue medicine as a career and transitioning into plastics engineering. Right off the bat I was able to effectively contribute to the company I currently work for and engage in discussions pertaining to critical issues relevant in the plastics industry.

Biggest failure and what it taught you? Underestimating career-enhancing opportunities based on first impressions. I've missed some great experiences and I found out the hard way, after the fact.

What emerging market most interests you? Definitely flexible electronics, I feel as if this can pave the way for many technological advances in the future.

What about the plastics industry surprises you? How detail orientated and in-depth it can really be. Once you are introduced to the processing of plastics and many of the critical elements involved, it can be get quite extensive. It's also such a lively and cozy community, everyone knows each other and is willing to lend a helping hand.

Best advice you've received? Live life with no regrets. Cliché, but it goes a long way.

What advice would you give to a person considering a career in plastics? To be a master of your craft you must read and understand all about it. Read research papers, skim through magazines, reach out to other people and network. Don't fixate on one aspect, try to absorb as much as possible.

If you were CEO what would you do first? Evaluate the company's business strategy and try to effectively incorporate the latest industry trends.

Who is your mentor, or someone you look up to? Basketball star Pistol Pete Maravich — he gave all he could to what he loved and died doing what he loved.

What job do you really want to have in the future? That's a very tough question. It's safe to say I wake up every day loving what I do because there's always something new to tackle.

What do you do to relax? Read and enjoy the sights around Manhattan.

Read Editor Don Loepp's take on the Rising Stars of 2016 and find a link to other profiles.