CIM Graduate
Joana Marques
School: New Jersey Institute of Technology
Graduation Date: May 2013
Employer: J&M Lifestyles, LLC
“The advice I would give to the current CIM students is to take advantage of everything the program offers because every class, every event, and every person you talk to can help you shape the person you will become in the future.”
What school did you graduate from and in which year?
I graduated in May, 2013 from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
What is your current position and responsibilities at J&M Lifestyles, LLC?
I work for J&M Lifestyles, LLC as an Office Manager. My responsibilities are to make sure projects are scheduled appropriately, orders are placed on time from external vendors, to compile project information that is required and translate templates/shop drawings of projects into actual paperwork that will go into the production queue, to record vendor prices to compare and contrast them with future purchases, to record and change any new forms appropriately, to track orders being received and sent out, to write procedures and keep track of standards which are being implemented. I coordinate all of the project details so each project gets everything it needs on time for the estimated date of completion.
Why did you choose this position and this company?
I chose to work at J&M Lifestyles, LLC because it’s a very unique precast decorative concrete company. The company tries to break the boundaries of concrete with every project, which is very exciting. One such example is with one of the company’s most popular textures WoodForm. This is concrete that is made to have the appearance of wood without the intensive-care properties of actual wood. I chose to work at this position because I wanted to develop my managerial skills while still being connected to the development of a product. Another reason is that I wanted to see how such a universal material could be manipulated and produced into the most unique pieces that clients have seen.
How has the CIM program prepared you for your current job responsibilities?
The CIM program has prepared me for my current job responsibilities by giving me hands-on experience. Even though I have a more managerial position in the office than actual QC or QA in the shop, I still know what I’m looking at and how items are interacting with each other. The program gave me, within the school year, a real sense of responsibility which is also needed in the outside world when working within a company.
What advice would you give to current CIM students?
The advice I would give to the current CIM students is to take advantage of everything the program offers because every class, every event, and every person you talk to can help you shape the person you will become in the future. Also, there are many areas within the concrete field that are still unexplored, so don’t settle for the typical job within a typical company. Explore the field, find what speaks to you and go for it without any regrets.