Machine-as-a-Service

EMERGING LEADERS

Meredith Perry Keeps Continuous Improvement On Track at Spec Engineering

Named as a 2021 PMMI Emerging Leader On the Rise Award Winner, Perry manages the day-to-day operations of the business, helping to grow the company as her own role evolves.

Stephanie Neil, Editor-in-Chief

Meredith Perry is the vice president of business operations at Spec Engineering, which specializes in system design and process equipment integration for everything from raw materials through packaging. When she started at the company in 2011 as a project administrator, she supported Spec Engineering’s Custom Process System projects with purchasing, quoting, vendor/ customer relations, billing, and additional project administrative jobs. Her role shifted from administration support to sales and marketing management, and now VP, where she oversees sales, marketing, accounting, HR, IT, procurement, logistics, and office management departments. As a catalyst for growth at Spec Engineering (she helped the company grow from five employees to 100), Perry was recognized as a PMMI Emerging Leader On the Rise award winner in 2021. OEM magazine interviewed Perry to learn more about her role and career goals.

What has your time at the company been like?

My role at Spec has evolved and grown, alongside the growth and evolution of our company. When I started in 2011, Spec was a very small company working to grow in the industry. My role shifted from administrative support to sales and marketing management and now to vice president of business operations. I have had the chance to learn all sides of the business. Starting on the project support side and growing into the sales and marketing part of the business, I have been able to experience a comprehensive view into how our operations work and also the customer relationship side.

How does your company support you as an emerging leader?

Spec has always been very supportive of my personal and professional development. They have supported me in getting a marketing certificate and have invested in many different programs, seminars, and continuing education courses throughout my career. Spec also has trusted me and gave me the opportunity to improve and enhance various procedures and programs within our organization. I have been able to collaborate with every department on various improvement initiatives over the years. I am very passionate about the continuous improvement at Spec.

What is the most fascinating part of your job?

The most fascinating part of my job is the vastly different product applications that Spec gets involved in. We work with so many different materials and get to learn about how products are processed from raw ingredients to finished product. I get most excited when I get to interact with our customers and hear feedback on our solutions and services. I think it is important to stay close to our customers so that I don’t lose sight of our company purpose.

How do you help your company innovate?

I help my company innovate by actively challenging col-

leagues and senior leadership to question why we do things the way we do, and not to get complacent. From a marketing perspective, I take pride in supporting our team to keep up with trends in the market and bringing that perspective to the rest of the company.

What intrigues you or surprises you about the packaging and processing industries?

I am intrigued by the automation innovation that we see in the industry. I know that this is where the industry will see the most growth in the coming years and it is fun to be at a company that is on the cutting edge of technology. I have also been surprised how small the industry feels once you are in it, there is so much collaboration between equipment and service suppliers.

As an emerging leader, what were some obstacles you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?

Not coming from a technical background, I had a lot to learn in the industry. PMMI and other trade organizations, as well as industry publications, are where I turned to learn about the industry and technology. I am thankful to these organizations and the educational material and expert knowledge that they put out.

What advice do you have for other emerging leaders about getting involved in this industry?

Join trade organizations and become active members, networking is a major part of the industry and you never know what you will learn from other professionals in the field. Find a mentor, and stay friendly with your competitors. Easily share this article with your peers:

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Meet the 2022 On the Rise Award winners in the Winter issue of OEM Magazine! To learn more: oemgo.to/emergingleaders2022

What are some industry trends you have been keeping your eye on?

Automation, robotics, augmented and virtual reality are all really important trends, especially with the workforce shortage issues that many companies are facing.

As a rising star in your organization, what is next for you?

My focus at Spec moving forward is around growth. I am working on how growth at Spec will look in the upcoming years – specifically our employee development and growth of our in-house capabilities. Safety and quality are also areas that my position is starting to develop into as well.