MBA and Former National Guard member now "molds" students for success in STEM

This article was written for our sponsor, NCBiotech.

For Brandon Frederick, who was recently promoted to engineering manager at Core Technology Molding Corporation in Greensboro, success is all about collaboration and connection. "Whether we’re partnering with local businesses or connecting with students from local schools, we understand the value of working together," he says.

Now that Frederick is serving in his first supervisory role at Core Technology, he has an even greater appreciation for collaborating and sharing information. "The injection molding business is unique," he says. "It’s important to understand both the business and the technical side of things because there’s a tight window for production and the business is capital intensive. When you see all the different roles in the manufacturing path, you realize how much you can learn from others."

Indeed, there’s a lot at stake for the companies that Core Technology serves. From syringes that will deliver life-saving vaccines to automobile parts that require exacting safety standards, the items manufactured at the company are used by some of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. "There is definitely a sense of pride knowing that what we produce is being used by companies like Merck and BMW," Frederick says.

Frederick’s path to engineering manager included a couple of interesting turns that he says offered valuable lessons. When he began his studies at North Carolina A&T State University in 2008, his plan was to study medicine and eventually become a doctor. However, after shadowing a doctor as part of a school project in his sophomore year, he realized that path was not a good fit for him. "I’d always heard that if you do something you love, it doesn’t feel like work," he says. "So, I went back to the drawing board."

Knowing he enjoyed working with his hands and wanted a career where he could help others, he decided to shift focus and study manufacturing systems. Grateful this revelation came early, Frederick earned a bachelor of science degree in Applied Engineering Technology from North Carolina A&T in 2016.

In the interim, to help pay for tuition, Frederick joined the Army National Guard, a commitment that sent him to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where he served a yearlong deployment as a vehicle mechanic. When he returned in 2014, he was eager to re-engage his academic pursuits—this time with even greater clarity and purpose. "I jumped right back into classes in January of 2015," he says. "I had a sharper focus. I had contacts."

Perhaps most influential at this stage in his academic career was Geoff Foster, CEO, president and founder of Core Technology and one of Frederick’s professors at North Carolina A&T. Foster taught classes on polymers, materials, asset maintenance and quality control, the kind of coursework Frederick describes as "more practical, less theoretical." When Frederick was a junior, Foster offered him an internship at Core Technology.

"Brandon is a very talented and detailed team player," says Foster. "With his strong engineering background from North Carolina A&T State University and solid work experience, he leads several project and manufacturing engineers, who have been out of school for only a few years. He ‘molds’ and mentors these engineers."

"One of the things I really like is that there’s no typical day," Frederick says. "From managing projects to bringing in new equipment, every day brings a challenge." The challenges extend beyond the manufacturing floor. Frederick says the company identified the need to build a sustainable workforce model by encouraging interest in STEM careers.

The discussions that followed focused on helping young people gain exposure and hands-on experience to complement their classroom education. In 2022, after careful planning and preparation, Core Technology welcomed 26 middle school students to its inaugural "Molding Kids for Success" summer camp.

"Brandon is passionate about ‘Molding Kids for Success’ and has taken on the program administrator role," says Foster. Frederick has developed a partnership with Guilford County Schools and this year will be leading four weeks of camp serving 80 students. "The students will get hands-on experiential learning with clean room molding, robotics, 3D printing and advanced manufacturing," Foster says, adding that the nonprofit program targets local students, some of whom may not be able to afford a STEM camp.

Frederick says students will tour the facility, hear from guest speakers and specialists, and participate in hands-on learning experiences. They discover the practical use for the concepts they’ve learned in the classroom. "They see how they can use geometry, physical science, environmental science," he says, "and they begin to tie those things together."

Plans for the program include expanding opportunities for students at all levels, from kindergarten through advanced college degree programs. For students who seek alternatives to the traditional college path, Frederick says ample opportunities exist. "If they want to go to school, that’s great. If they don’t, we make sure they understand that other options are available."

During one recent visit from a kindergarten class, Frederick said he was impressed by students’ understanding of advanced technology. "These students were so young. But, they understood what they witnessed on the tour," he said. "They were familiar with everything from robotics to materials to 3D printing. Some had even received 3D printers for Christmas and had hands-on experience at age four or five."

As Frederick continues to collaborate with community leaders and school administrators as an Accelerate NC Ambassador, and connect with students through the Molding Kids for Success program, he wants future leaders to receive the exposure, training and guidance needed to pursue rewarding STEM-focused careers. Frederick says, "I believe we all benefit when we work together."

This article was written for our sponsor, NCBiotech.