Employee Spotlight: Kettering University Co-ops, Scott Grunwald and Nathaniel Kramar

In this Employee Spotlight: Video Edition, we highlight two dedicated co-op students from Kettering University—Scott Grunwald and Nathaniel Kramar. Both Scott and Nathaniel have been making meaningful contributions to projects at Patti Engineering while continuing to learn and grow in their engineering careers.

Hands-On Experience and Learning on the Job

Scott, who started at Patti Engineering in January 2022, and Nathaniel, who joined in October 2023, have been actively involved in supporting senior engineers on various projects. “Our main job is to follow senior engineers on larger-scale projects, assist them, and learn from them,” Scott explained. This experience has provided them with practical knowledge that complements their academic studies.

One of the standout projects Nathaniel worked on was the Mitsubishi manufacturing system being integrated at Kettering University. “This has been the most educational project I’ve worked on thus far,” Nathaniel noted, reflecting on the learning opportunities and the collaborative nature of the project, which involved multiple co-ops. Scott went on to emphasize the breadth of experience they gained, from cell design to PLC and HMI programming.

Balancing School and Work

Both Scott and Nathaniel are working toward degrees in electrical engineering at Kettering University, with Scott aiming to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree in the same field. The co-op program at Patti Engineering has allowed them to integrate their academic learning with professional experience. “Being able to go to school, learn the basics there, get the gist of it, come back to work, and apply those in real-world manufacturing scenarios is a great learning experience,” Scott explained.

Life Outside of Work

Outside of their professional and academic commitments, Scott and Nathaniel are actively involved in various extracurricular activities. Nathaniel is a member of the Formula SAE team at Kettering University, where he applies his engineering skills to the design and construction of race cars. He’s also the Vice President of the Physics Club, which further underscores his dedication to learning and exploring new technologies. In his free time, Nathaniel enjoys smoking various types of meat, fishing, and spending time outdoors.

Scott, on the other hand, keeps himself busy with multiple clubs at Kettering University. He is the treasurer and secretary for the Volleyball Club, which he helped found during his freshman year. “It’s a super nice environment to get people together, make new friends, and just play volleyball,” Scott shared. He’s also a member of the Soccer Club, where he plays as a goalie, a position he has enjoyed since middle school. Additionally, Scott is involved with the university’s esports team, where he works behind the scenes, assisting with streams and setting up matches.

Embracing the Adventure at Patti Engineering

Both Scott and Nathaniel expressed an appreciation for the variety of tasks and challenges they encounter at Patti Engineering. “Every day you come into work, there’s something new or different on your plate,” Scott mentioned. Nathaniel agreed, saying, “One day I’m working on a robot cell, the next day I’m dealing with building maintenance. Every day really is a new adventure, and I’m happy to have that experience at Patti Engineering.”

Scott and Nathaniel’s commitment to learning and their contributions to Patti Engineering are greatly valued. We look forward to seeing how they continue to develop in their engineering careers.