Tommy Bain B.S. in Renewable Materials, ‘15 Head of Customer Care and Grading Support Manager, MiCROTEC Tommy Bain (Renewable Materials, ‘15) is the head of customer care and a grading support manager at MiCROTEC, Inc., which provides high-tech scanning and optimization solutions for the wood processing industry. His journey as an undergraduate studying wood science to his current role at MiCROTEC is a testament to the importance of hands-on learning and relationship building in a technical field. “I really enjoyed the senior year weeklong classes where we traveled and visited several locations within the wood products industry,” said Bain, reflecting on his time at OSU. This experience provided a well-rounded view of post-graduation opportunities and led to the job he secured right after college and has held for over a decade. The COF’s emphasis on scientific problem-solving and teamwork was also instrumental in shaping Bain’s career. 10 COLLEGE OF FORESTRY “It gave me experience getting used to the scientific method of solving problems and taught me how to work as a team to accomplish common goals,” he said. These skills have been key in his role at MiCROTEC, where he leads two teams of support technicians focused on both hardware and software quality control for lumber and log grading machines. Bain’s role at MiCROTEC involves ensuring that customers’ machines are operating at their best and consulting with them on how to best utilize software to minimize fiber loss and maximize profits. What he loves most about his job is the opportunity to build strong relationships with coworkers, employees and customers. His work has also allowed him to travel the world and witness how different cultures work and live. His advice to current students considering a career in forestry is to embrace technology, develop teamwork skills and focus on communication. “There are very few remaining jobs that don’t require some use of computers, math or critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” Bain said. “Take public speaking and technical writing skills courses, and learn to work together with whatever team you’re put on.” ALUMNI PROFILES
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