Cheyenne Frost, 25
Document Control Specialist/QMS Technician, MTD Micro Molding
Before joining the plastics industry, Cheyenne Frost had been working in banking for about five years. Frost said she realized she needed a change, so she inquired about a sales or marketing job with Charlton, Mass.-based specialty injection molder MTD Micro Molding.
"At the time, a document control position was available, and I was very excited for the opportunity. I love the atmosphere at MTD, and I feel they treat their employees right," she said.
Frost graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Fitchburg State University.
She said her greatest achievement so far is "working in the quality system to ensure all procedures and processes are compliant to our ISO certifications, and I was a leader with setting up our new ERP [enterprise resource planning] system as well, which was a large undertaking."
"As I start to enter into a new sales role at MTD, I was thrilled to win my first sales opportunity at the end of 2021. That was a great feeling," she added.
Her current challenge is transitioning to a sales role while balancing her quality department responsibilities.
"I attended BIOMEDevice San Jose at the end of 2021 and really enjoyed the experience. I look forward to attending MDM West in April," she said.
"I make it a priority to speak to my supervisor about what's next and clearly express my interests for my career," she said about advancing her career. "I am constantly looking for ways to learn more; I often sit with MTD's R&D engineer, Patrick Haney, and ask him to discuss different aspects of plastics with me, whether it is materials, material behavior, micromolding, etc. I also subscribe to plastics magazines to keep current with industry news and happenings."
Asked about mentors and people she admires, Frost named Gary Hulecki, executive vice president of MTD, and Lindsay Mann, director of sales and marketing.
"Gary has so much knowledge about the industry, and I enjoy talking with him about MTD and the industry at large," Frost said. "Lindsay is certainly someone I look up to. I see how she carries herself and converses with customers and people in general, and I aspire to be that confident and knowledgeable. She has a great head on her shoulders, and I know I can go to her with anything, whether it be personal or work-related."
Frost was nominated for Rising Stars by Lindsay Mann.
Q: If you were CEO of a company, what would you do first?
Frost: I would go around and meet with all of my employees, talk with them to see what they like about the company, what they dislike and if there are any areas in which I can help improve, along with getting to know them personally.
Q: What about the plastics industry surprises you?
Frost: That MTD can mold such small components. Being able to see the products we produce blows my mind with how intricate the details are and the fact that they can function in such an advanced way.
Q: What advice would you give to a person considering a career in the plastics industry?
Frost: The opportunities are endless. Work hard, and people will always be watching.