Age: 34
Process Engineer, Nicolet Plastics, LLC
Bill Schmidt learned about plastics engineering during his freshman orientation at UW-Stout, and when one of his classes required a job shadow, his grandpa — a former Nicolet Plastics employee — suggested he check out injection molding at the Mountain-based company. That’s when he got his big break into the industry.
“During our lunch break, the sample technician at the time (Neal Mangin) had asked me what I was planning to do over my winter break from school,” Schmidt says. That December, Schmidt began working at Nicolet, came back during his breaks from school, and started full-time in 2013.
Schmidt, a New London native whose first job was at the former Beacon Street Deli, moved into his current role in November 2020 and serves on the advisory board for the AIM Institute.
I wish I’d known: That plastics is a career path! I did not even think of going into plastics until my freshman orientation for UW Stout. The tour and information that Adam Kramschuster (program director at the time) gave me inspired me to get into plastics.
Proudest professional accomplishment: Mentoring two other process technicians to take on the Process Technician 3 role (injection molding process development) and for both to flourish and be high performers for our organization. One won a 2023 NEWMA All-Star!
People are surprised to learn: that I am an award-winning cake decorator. (I learned cake decorating in 4H and was taught how to decorate from my grandma and great-grandma.)
Click here to learn more about our 40 Under 40 event.
