Jason Zaperach
Class of 1994, Computer Aided Drafting
Current Job Title: Mechanical Engineer
Current Employer: Near Earth Autonomy
Please provide a brief job description and list any awards you have received:
I have been designing mechanical ‘things’ for over 26 years now, everything from Longwall Coal Mining Equipment to bakeware. My most accomplished job was at Medrad, where I designed imaging equipment for MRI and CT scans. While there, we went from a regular manufacturing facility to a “Just in Time” operation that involved learning 13 different products and how to build them to revamping the drawings to a Tact Time environment. For the successful completion of this, I won the Spirit Award and the company won the highly-prestigious Malcolm Baldridge Quality Award.
Explain any interesting projects that you have worked on:
At my previous job, I designed bakeware and the processes and tool and die that supports those projects. I have a patent for designing the World’s First Water-Tight Springform Pan, in which one bakes a cheesecake, custard, flan or any baked good that involves batter with eggs. My pan does not need to be wrapped in aluminum foil or the like, which would cause it to be insulated and therefore not bring the eggs to a proper temperature of 195F.
What did you learn at PTC that still inspires you to this day?
Ms. Pysk (Meyers) always told us to save every 15 minutes, or after completing a critical task in CAD, so as to not lose your work should a power outage occur or the software crashes.
Who was your biggest influencer as a PTC student?
Mary Beth Meyers
Is there anything else you’d like to share? Personal accomplishments?
I’d like to tell students that you should take on every opportunity because you never know what it will turn into. In my case, I was still working at my job where I interned, but wasn’t sure I was going anywhere fast. So, I put my resume out there with a temp agency to see if there were other jobs that paid more and had a brighter future. I ended up quitting my job at the internship for a temporary three-month assignment 30 miles away, in the dead of winter. That temporary job led to three years in Australia where I lived in Sydney for 2.5 years and then again in Mackay, which is on the coast of the Great Barrier Reef. That was my dream and I made it happen by taking a chance and volunteering for the overseas position.