Associate Spotlight Series: Meet Travis Cary

A Printpack Associate Spotlight Series

Meet Travis Cary: Product Development Engineer, Marshall, NC

Travis Cary is a Product Development Engineer for Printpack Medical.  He graduated from Clemson University in 2015, earning a Bachelor of Science in Packaging with a concentration in Marketing and Finance. After spending six years as a process and quality engineer, Travis decided to join Printpack, where he felt the right opportunities existed to continue his career journey. Travis spent his first two years in the Marshall, NC Plant, as the Plant Technical Engineer, establishing foundational knowledge of our associates’ roles and responsibilities and manufacturing processes.  Joining Printpack was an important career step for Travis. He sought the opportunity to work in the packaging industry for a company with broad packaging technologies that provides first-class training, promotes personal branding development, and emphasizes work-life balance. Travis reflects on his career journey at Printpack:

1. Why Printpack?  

   I’d heard about Printpack from one of the most respected professors at Clemson, so right out of the gate, I felt it would be a good place to work. After researching Printpack and seeing all that they stood for, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. From the first interview, I saw the importance that Printpack puts on Core Values, and at that point, I knew I was in the right place. 

2. How has your career journey been at Printpack?

   Printpack Medical is in growth mode with increased global demand for sterile packaging. The company offers additional training to encourage continuous self-improvement and ensure you’re well-rounded as a staff member. I love that Printpack values my input, and I’ve enjoyed leveraging my experience while working on cross-functional teams. On top of that, I feel I have a great leader who coaches and invests in me. She focuses on business results, work-life balance, and my individual goals.

3. How does your day look like at Printpack?

   In my current role, I  not only get to work with customers to develop packaging systems for their applications, but I also work on internally driven projects to build redundancy within the business by conducting alternate asset and raw material qualifications. Whether the project is customer driven or internal, I work closely with the other members of the Product Development Team as well as the Sales Team.

4. What do you like most about your job?  

   I like that I’m exposed to a lot of knowledge and experience. Every day is different and brings new learning opportunities and challenges to overcome. I frequently have access to upper management so that I can learn more about the company’s direction and strategy while sharing new ideas – this in turn gives me confidence when making decisions and driving a project to completion. I also really appreciate the emphasis on work-life balance by way of bi-weekly one-on-ones with your leader to find out how things are going and how your leader can best support you in meeting the goals of the business. At the end of the day, I leave feeling that I have purpose and that I am working on something bigger than myself.

5. What was your biggest challenge? 

   I was the first person in the Plant Technical Engineer role for Printpack Medical, and it was a challenge to implement new processes that allowed for the Plant Technical Engineer, Product Development Engineers, and Research Engineers to work together efficiently and effectively with clearly outlined roles and responsibilities. As Printpack Medical continues to grow, we are constantly working together on creating robust processes.

6. What was your biggest accomplishment? 

   Aside from the projects I have completed, I am very proud of my progress in building my personal brand. My teammates recognize me as someone who delivers on his promises, is always willing to provide support, and genuinely cares about the business.

7. Which words of wisdom can you share with someone thinking about joining Printpack? 

   Printpack offers a strong balance between professional development and personal growth. At Printpack, your experience is valuable, and you will receive the best training and plentiful opportunities. Whether you are looking to be a part of a high-functioning team, professional camaraderie, or a work family, they are all one in the same at Printpack. Don’t miss out on the great things happening at Printpack.

8. What’s next for you? 

   In the short term, I plan to keep working as part of the talented Printpack Medical Product Development Team. In the future, I hope to obtain a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and continue to develop my skill set.  Ultimately, I want to position myself for a customer-facing role in sales or business development.. Along the way, I  will continue building my brand to make sure I am known as an influential leader and knowledgeable resource in the medical packaging industry.

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About Printpack

Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Printpack is a privately-held flexible and specialty rigid packaging manufacturer. Employing over 3,200 associates worldwide, the company operates 19 manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico. With investments in leading-edge technologies and a deep understanding of customer needs, Printpack has partnered with the most successful CPGs to launch new products and grow market share. Printpack’s purpose, Preserving and Enhancing People’s Lives, is continually demonstrated by the commitment to sustainable products, active involvement in the local communities, and the empowerment of all associates. To read more about life at Printpack and our open positions, click here.