Success Story

Amanda Watson’s previous role as a production supervisor presented several challenges for her, including a long commute of over an hour. She decided it was time to search for a new opportunity that was closer to home and that would allow her to grow professionally. Amanda applied for numerous leadership positions in the manufacturing industry, including a role that was listed by Kendra Palmer, Senior Staffing Manager in Leddy Group’s Engineering division. Kendra jumped right in to help connect Amanda with local opportunities that fit her search criteria, and now Amanda has a fulfilling new job!

Kendra says, “When I interviewed Amanda, she shared that while her focus was in production supervision, she also really loved continuous improvement. She was resilient and positive, worked hard, was committed to reaching goals, and wanted the best for her career.” Kendra reached out to several companies, and one quickly expressed interest in Amanda – a leading science developer and manufacturer of composite engineered components wanted to interview her for their Continuous Improvement Specialist role.

Amanda was excited about this opportunity. “Everything about it appealed to me: the location, compensation, and the fact that it is in aerospace manufacturing, which aligns with my background,” shares Amanda. “The role was also different and interesting, with opportunities for growth!” When Amanda went for her interview, she was very impressed. “I felt the environment was inclusive, encouraged autonomy, and showed that they cared about their people,” she says. “These were qualities I was seeking in my next position, and Kendra took them seriously, which I greatly appreciated.” Amanda was offered the role and happily joined the team in March 2024.

As a Continuous Improvement Specialist, Amanda explains, “My daily responsibilities vary depending on the needs of operations, safety, quality, and procurement. This dynamic nature is one of the reasons I love this role.” Her tasks include conducting Gemba walks with a cross-functional team, leading Six Sigma and Kaizen-related meetings and projects, training employees on LEAN/5S, executing Kaizens, A3s, and TPM/AM, managing 5S compliance, scheduling audits, reporting on process improvement savings, and coordinating with her counterparts at other company sites.

Her work “ticks all the boxes” for Amanda: “I enjoy helping people, which is why I got into management. This role allows me to assist all employees and continuously learn new perspectives and processes.” Her coworkers are friendly and professional, her manager takes a hands-off yet supportive approach, and she now has a Continuous Improvement Analyst reporting to her, which has significantly helped with Amanda’s workload. Even though the company is a multinational business, it is smaller than Amanda’s previous employers, which she has found to be a welcome change. “I wasn’t sure what to expect from a smaller company, but I enjoy it very much. I feel seen, heard, and valued here. They genuinely care about people, their safety, and their ideas.”

After a successful first year, the job continues to be a perfect fit for Amanda “both career-wise and personally. I live very close, so I no longer have the exhaustion of a long commute. I truly enjoy my role and am grateful to Kendra for finding it for me.” Amanda is so thrilled with Kendra’s support, in fact, that when her husband was seeking a new role, she referred him to Kendra as well.

Leddy Group’s team has the knowledge and resources to assist you in meeting your employment needs. Leddy Group’s staffing divisions include these specialties: Accounting & Finance, Administrative & Customer Service, Engineering, Human Resources, Industrial & Skilled Manufacturing. Reach out to our team at 877-202-7005.