NSBE - Conference 2012 - (Page 16)

Kevin Austin of TEMA Making an impact ‘the toyota Way’ t all started for Toyota’s Kevin Austin some 15 years ago, with an 11-hour ride from college in Morgantown, W.V., to his first NSBE Annual Convention. “Picture this. Fourteen of us from WVU — all piled into one van — driving to Kansas City (approx. 780 miles),” he says. “That’s where I met team members from Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing (TEMA). I spoke with young people who shared my experience as an engineering student. I also got to talk to senior people. I could sense the respect and partnership that existed there. Fortunately for me, they hired me in 1999 right out of college.” Flash forward. Austin, still a member of NSBE, is now embarking on a two-year assignment in Japan to use his production planning management skills to develop new performance initiatives in conjunction with Toyota stateside. “Japan is a great learning opportunity for me. But, that’s really been my whole experience at i “Our company is all about solutions. This is an opportunity for me to do what I do best and improve the organization at the same time.” Toyota: opportunities to learn,” he says. “That’s the Toyota Way.” His rise at the organization has been steady: all the way to manager, Production Control. And, as he tells it, this Japan assignment, by way of Human Resources, is a natural career progression: “As an engineer, I was trained to optimize processes. Our company is all about solutions. This is an opportunity for me to use my skills and improve the organization at the same time.” Austin is quick to remark that his ascendency at Toyota is due in great part to the company’s clear appreciation for people, and the value 16 • nsbe magazine • convention 2012 the company places on having a wide range of perspectives. “Being a diverse candidate, I wanted a company that would provide me a level playing field to showcase my talents; an environment that would focus on teamwork and grow my abilities, creating a positive momentum to my career. Toyota was my first stop and, as it turns out, an unbelievable start,” he says. Were there any surprises for Austin as a young engineer at Toyota? “I was surprised by my initial scope of responsibility,” he remarks. “My colleagues at other companies did not have the same level of challenges. It’s meant more meaningful work for me every day, in an organization where you can make an impact and broaden your skills.” Within Toyota, Austin is eager to share his good fortune by helping the organization develop other bright new talent. “I’m a member of Toyota’s African American Collaborative here at the Erlanger headquarters. It is one of our business partnership groups whose mission is to help extend Toyota’s diversity goals and be a strong conduit between the work force and management,” he explains “I have also been engaged in a community action effort called ‘Boys Hope Girls Hope.’ This program is designed to serve underprivileged youth in our area who show academic promise and to enable them to attend premier high schools in Cincinnati. I am proud to say we have documented some great success stories.” At the same time, Austin continues his involvement with NSBE: “One of my proudest accomplishments is that every NSBE event has afforded me an opportunity to recruit great diverse talent.” Clearly, Kevin Austin has come a long way from his small town in West Virginia. But, it appears his remarkable professional journey is just beginning. ■ www.nsbe.org http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Conference 2012

NSBE - Conference 2012
Table of Contents
Passing the Torch
The Programs Zone
Membership News
NSBE Mourns the Loss of Mario Church, Former National Chair
NSBE Makes STEM Education Pledge to the Clinton Global Initiative
SEEK 2012 Update
Kevin Austin of TEMA
Courtney Skinner of GE
William S. Redmond III of NAVAIR
Dr. Bryan Reid of MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Janelle Johnson of PGW
Tyrone Strozier of General Dynamics C4 Systems
Rashad Nelson of ITW
International News
NSBE Calendar
Things to Do in Pittsburgh
Cummins Scores Big at NSBE Conferences
Golden Torch Award Winners
The Professional’s Perspective
The Engineering Work Force, 2012 Supply, Demand and Diversity
On the Edge
AE Members on the Move
Employer Profiles
Advertisers Index

NSBE - Conference 2012