It's not every day that you hear about a Rising Star who spent two summers interning with NASA at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and wants to be an astronaut. But Jordan Duhé does.
Duhé, 29, was born in Baton Rouge, La., and graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. She minored in aerospace engineering and said she especially enjoyed her space systems design course, "which covered orbital mechanics and various aspects of launch vehicle and satellite design."
At school, she was involved in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Delta Zeta sorority.
Her first job out of college is also her first job in the plastics industry: design engineer at custom injection molder at Grand Coteau, La.-based Noble Plastics Inc.
"I was drawn to the industry because there is so much technology development and innovation," Duhé said in her Rising Stars survey. "I was particularly interested in design and manufacturing because I enjoy being a part of the process to create something that didn't exist before, especially something that solves a problem."
When looking for a company to work for after graduation, she said, it was important for her to find a place where the employees are "passionate about their work, have a deep curiosity for their field in a way that drives progress and innovation and have high standards for performance."
"Noble's culture definitely reflects those values and makes me a better engineer," she said. "Those who have had the most influence in shaping the engineer and person I've grown into have been our president, Missy Rogers; our technology director, Scott Rogers; and our engineering manager, Aimee Daigle."
Duhé said she is amazed by the size of the plastics industry.
"There isn't much plastics manufacturing in my area, so I didn't realize the scope of the industry until I entered it and started going to trade shows and other industry events," she said.
Duhé attended NPE2018 as well as the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors Inc. Benchmarking and Best Practices Conference and Sigmasoft User Group Meeting. She is involved with MAPP and its Young Professionals Network.
MAPP Membership and Analytics Manager Ashley Turrell Burleson nominated Duhé for Rising Stars.
"I met Jordan last year at the MAPP Benchmarking Conference in Indianapolis, and I was immediately impressed by her," Burleson said about Duhé. "She is a talented, poised and intelligent woman. She is also one of the few people who has the exceptional gift of teaching, training and transferring all that knowledge to her peers and others in the industry."
Duhé said the best advice she has ever received came from her father: "Even when it is reasonable to panic, it is never helpful to."
"My dad gave me this piece of advice, and it helps me to remain calm in potentially overwhelming situations," she said.
Duhé met her husband, Eddie, an attorney, their freshman year at LSU. They spend time exercising, watching new television shows, traveling, finding different recipes, cooking and trying new foods wherever they go.
Read more about Rising Stars and find links to other profiles.