By Margie Dana

Q&A with Nicholas Knowlen

It’s high time we meet some of the young professionals in the graphic arts. So I’m on a mission to interview people under 30 who are making printing and related graphic arts their chosen career.

Today, meet Nicholas Knowlen. I met Nick in the spring when I was keynoting at PaperCon 2011 for Styron, a global materials company.

Nick was a guest at that dinner because he was named the Paper Industry Management Association (PIMA) Student of the Year. This award recognizes an outstanding college student who’s enrolled in a paper science program.

For his last two years at the University of Maine, Nick was involved in a co-op program in the logistics department of SAPPI Fine Paper’s facility in Westbrook, Maine. He became interested in pulp and paper engineering when he attended the Consider Engineering program at the University of Maine the summer after his junior year of high school. This program is offered by the Pulp and Paper Foundation.

Nick graduated in May from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He took courses that included unit operations, process control, process design, and pulp and paper technology, plus several economics classes. In his senior year, he worked as an undergraduate research assistant for the Chemical Engineering Department preparing and analyzing nanoparticles.

Right after graduation in May, Nick began working for Metso Automation in Atlanta, Georgia.

I asked him six questions for today’s Print Tip:

1. Why paper, Nick? What made you decide to pursue this career?

The paper industry has been a large part of Maine’s history and is still very relevant in Maine today. The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation gave me the interest and the resources to pursue a career in paper. After two semesters of working in the local paper mill, I had gained experience that provided many opportunities in the paper field as I was job hunting.

2. Tell us a bit about Metso and their focus on pulp and paper.

Metso Automation specializes in process control systems, automation processes, and information management systems. Metso offers applications and services including specialty analyzers, automated laboratories, control and on/off valves, machine control, drive control and quality control with profilers. Besides pulp and paper, Metso also services the mining, construction, and energy industries.

3. What’s your role at Metso?

I am a project engineer with Metso. When a customer wants to add a new piece of equipment, I will help design the layout of the device and control system, design the programming logic and graphics that the operator will use, and make sure all of the necessary parts and wiring are sent to the customer. When it is time for the customer to install the devices, I will usually travel to the mill site to help facilitate the installation.

4. How are you keeping up with trends in paper & printing?

Since Metso supplies the latest technology, I am constantly exposed to state-of-the-art devices. I plan to stay involved with TAPPI/PIMA* and the Pulp and Paper Foundation throughout my career.

5. How could the paper industry serve you – a young professional – better?

Mills need to make use of the newest ideas and technology. Minimizing waste and the environmental impact along with producing biofuels and other value-added products are vital in this competitive industry. This will ensure that there are plenty of paper-related jobs in the US and also help to improve the paper industry’s image.

6. I know it’s really soon in your career to ask this, Nick, but here goes: what are your professional goals?

I want to learn as much as possible about my area of expertise and eventually become a project manager. I want to be the “go to guy” when people have questions or need advice.

Thanks, Nick! I tip my hat to you and know you’ll have a long, successful career. (For the record? Your alma mater served you well in communications, too. If you ever want to moonlight as a writer – let me know.)

For all of you readers: do you work with or know another good candidate for Young Professionals in the Graphic Arts? I want to interview people under 30 who represent the best our industry has to offer. Send me your recommendation along with a sentence or two describing why this person deserves recognition.

*TAPPI – Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. www.tappi.org
PIMA – Paper Industry Management Association. www.pima-online.org

©2011 Margie Dana. All rights reserved. Your comments are encouraged. You’re free to forward this email to friends and colleagues. However, no part of this column may be reprinted without permission from the author.