Metal Factory

I am a Technical Information Specialist and Business Researcher interested in many fields including nanotechnology and the materials sciences. I wonder if my most precious memories of my father and his brother, my uncle, might be related to my work today?

One of my most precious memories is visiting my father in my uncle's metal factory. I was fascinated by the spraying, bending, forming of rough materials -- "sheet metal" (as my father would call it), resulting in what to me were the most shiny brass products. The smell of the factory was unique, stray kittens of all sizes and colors were most welcome, well cared for, and fun to play with.

When the factory was closed, on holidays or weekends, someone always went to the factory to feed and care for the kittens.

I have brass planters, watering cans, and one-of-a-kind items made in the factory as samples, so many years ago.

My uncle's interest in metals went beyond his factory. He would take us to visit the geodesic metal dome that was being built by the American Society of Metals. This was my first introduction to a professional association.

Beneath the highly engineered, spectacular dome one could find every "raw metal" or mineral one could imagine. Each mineral was neatly labeled and resting under an incredible structure. The geodesic dome is in an eastern suburb of Cleveland. It remains a wonderful place to visit whenever I find myself in the area.

I believe my interest in metals is from my visits to the metal factory and what is now called ASM, International, formerly the American Society of Metals. As immigrants, members of my family were most proud members of the former American Society of Metals. I will never forget how happy my uncle was when showing me the beginning of the world headquarters in Geauga County so many years ago. My mother enjoys the dome today as much as she did when it was being built.

I often heard my father discuss potential solutions, his father was a metallurgist, as were many of our ancestors. I saw rough products undergoing testing, items needing the tender care of the factory team.

My uncle would visit our house and proudly display his creative designs for potential metal products on our living room table. Some of the factory's creative designs still hang in local institutions. One of his creations, that I most admired, was a tree cut down to the stump having six branches growing from the stump. This metal piece became part of a memorial and was affixed outside and later placed within a local religious facility.

My research continues today via my own company. I am a devoted information specialist and researcher in what I would describe as the interdisciplinary field of the materials sciences. I am doing my best to carry on the long-time traditions and interests of my family.

I plan to continue to participate in product improvement and innovation by providing timely, quality research and information specialist services to those in the broad fields of the materials sciences.