Member Spotlight - Meet Alison Solomon
Meet Alison Solomon! Solomon has been a Senior Member of ASQ since 2014, the current Chair-Elect for the Electronics and Communications Division, and Auditing Chair for the Grand Rapids Section.
Current position: Quality engineer II at Amphenol Borisch Technologies, a Kentwood, MI-based electronics manufacturer servicing the military and aerospace sectors.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Introduction to quality: As an intern at Caterpillar, I earned a Six Sigma Green Belt and led two process improvement projects, along with participating on audit teams.
Teacher who influenced you the most: My thermodynamics professor challenged me in ways no one ever had before, giving me confidence, I needed to succeed.
Best career advice: Each day presents new opportunities for growth. The changes can be hard, but it’s necessary if you want to improve your system (or yourself). Be open to opportunities.
Previous noteworthy jobs: I worked as a nuclear engineer and a U.S. Department of Defense auditor.
ASQ activities: Chair-elect for the Electronics and Communication Division and the Audit Chair for the Grand Rapids Section. ASQ-certified manager of quality/organizational excellence (CMQ/OE), quality auditor (CQA) and quality engineer (CQE).
Personal: Married, two children.
Favorite blogs: Craig Plain writes “Chronicles of a Facilitator” on LinkedIn. He’s got a gift for storytelling. Who doesn’t love a great story that happens to also include useful tips for leading process improvement teams?
Current reading: Mary Higgins Clark mysteries.
Favorite ways to relax: Fishing or floating on the pontoon boat.
Quality quote: There should never be a surprise finding in an audit. Be willing to share your working notes, have auditees sign your notes on verbal conversations. Always be approachable and remember your purpose is to verify compliance, not fault finding.
