La Communidad
ences and [the] enthusiasm to continue in the field. Most importantly, I felt I was treated as an equal and challenged with projects that would be of significant use to the future of the corporation.
HE&IT: Which student and/or professional organizations are you part of? Cristina Muñoz-Ojeda: I am part of the Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE). Dow works closely with and actively participates in both organizations. Many of the activi- ties I attended during my semester at Dow were in conjunc- tion with the AICHE chapter of Tulane University.
HE&IT: What are the benefits of Dow Chemical working with students and/or professional organizations? Cristina Muñoz-Ojeda: Dow benefits from the organizations by acquiring quality students from diverse backgrounds who are willing to gain work experience in their quest to become professionals. As a student from Puerto Rico, being part of professional organizations has given me greater [opportunities to get] to know companies in America that do not come to the island to recruit.
Carlos Cutié is a production engineer. He works at an ethylene dichloride (EDC) production plant in Freeport, Texas, manag- ing day-to-day operations of EDC manufacturing. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Florida State University in 2009. Prior to graduation, he interned at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, in a research and development environ- ment during the summer of 2007. In 2008, he interned at Dow Chemical as an improvement engineering intern at a trichloroethylene plant. In the summer of 2009, he moved to his current role with Dow Chemical in Freeport. Since join- ing Dow, he has become co-leader of the New Hire Welcome Team as a part of the New Professionals Network.
HE&IT: Did you participate in a Dow Chemical college- entry program? Carlos Cutié: Participating in the internship program at Dow Chemical was one of the best things I did in my young career. The internship provided me with challenging projects, new friends, and opportunities to explore a new city. During my internship I worked on a project to determine if we could recover enough energy from a distillation column to generate steam. The internship really strengthened me technically and increased my confidence. The practical application and chal- lenging, hands-on experience also made me a more attractive, qualified candidate for full-time jobs after graduation.
Dow’s internship pool is an important pipeline for full-time roles after graduation. They are the first group the company looks at, as Dow has already developed relationships and made an investment in them, and these students have already grown to know the company culture.
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HE&IT: Did Dow Chemical provide help with transition from school to work? Carlos Cutié: When I moved from Florida to Texas for my internship, Dow reimbursed me for my travel expenses. Stu- dents that must relocate for their role are offered a competi- tive package of relocation benefits. Dow also provides work- group coaches and mentors to help new hires get started on the right foot. There is a myriad of internal employee networks and resource groups for students looking to meet others and to get to know the company and their community. The New Professionals Network is one such organization within Dow. They host frequent social, career building, and networking ac- tivities for new hires. I met most of my friends and have made many connections around Dow through this network.
Esteban D. Maradona is a mechanical engineer at Raytheon. With one year of school left, he landed an internship in the summer of 2009 and launched a career. Over the last two years he has also been involved with the Society of Automo- tive Engineers, mainly working on the Aero Design competi- tions.
HE&IT: What attracted you to Raytheon? Esteban D. Maradona: My path from Kansas State University to Raytheon [was] a rather spontaneous one. I viewed Ray- theon as a company with enormous possibilities that catered to my passion for technology. Raytheon’s main focus aligns with my main focus–the warfighter.
HE&IT: What types of internal educational opportunities are available at Raytheon? Esteban D. Maradona: Raytheon has an exceptional college assistance program as well as two career development paths. The first path allows the employee to move to a new location for a 12-to-18 month rotation. The objective is to “fill your technical toolbox” with all the experiences you would like to have mastered. The other path is a more structured, classroom style program with a highly selective system. The employee gets to learn program/project management from the top- performing mentors in the company.
How can you develop your career at Raytheon? Esteban D. Maradona: Raytheon makes it easy for employees to manage their careers. The company empowers its people to take on challenges, to utilize the available development tools, and to take part in its active mentoring programs. The magni- tude of the company itself offers countless opportunities.
How would you describe the Raytheon culture? Esteban D. Maradona: The culture here revolves around two main pillars: technology and people. The business and its people are constantly striving as a whole to offer the best possible to our warfighter.
HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2011
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