This blog series will introduce our audience to some of the brightest and most dedicated young professionals in the PCI Mid-Atlantic chapter. These individuals contribute to the exciting future of our dynamic industry every day. Get a behind-the-scenes look into their lives and innovative career path.
About Mckenzie
My name is Mckenzie Kallquist and I currently work as one of the production managers at Tindall Corporation. My Tindall career began as a co-op student in 2016 while studying Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, I joined the team full time as a Process Engineer based out of the corporate office in South Carolina. In 2019, I moved to Richmond to fill the Industrial Engineering role for the Virginia division and have been here ever since. When I am not at work, I enjoy exploring the many parks and trails of Richmond and visiting my family in Upstate New York.
PCI-MA: How do you have fun at work?
Mckenzie: The dynamic work environment provides ample opportunities for exciting, meaningful work. I am lucky to work with a diverse team that is always willing to support each other while taking on new challenges every day.
PCI-MA: Tell us about one of your proudest work accomplishments.
Mckenzie: There is not one specific example that I could pinpoint as my proudest work accomplishment. Starting off as a college student who had no previous precast experience and didn’t understand the difference between cement and concrete, I would say I am proud of the growth that has occurred over the past five years.
PCI-MA: What is one thing you like most about your career in the precast industry?
Mckenzie: I have many favorites to choose from – and among the top of that list would be the people I work with and the pace of the plant. Both have allowed me to get involved with projects that would have typically fallen outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes there is a narrow timeframe to decide and act due to the fast pace. This limits the amount of second guessing that can occur and puts an emphasis on the notion that you can learn more from how something failed rather than how it succeeded. The range of experience and the strength of the trust amongst the group is what makes it possible to even try.
PCI-MA: What advice would you give someone just entering the workforce and choosing the right company fit?
Mckenzie: In my opinion, finding the right fit with a company is all about finding a place where your primary values align with the core values of the company. Tindall, for example, has the five core values of humility, integrity, can-do attitude, growth, and family which are exemplified daily by our team.
Praise for Mckenzie
"In addition to bringing great technical skill to her role as Production Manager, Mckenzie has also stepped forward as one of our division’s key leaders. She brings an infectious enthusiasm to her work, always encouraging others to grow and rise to the task at hand. We’re very proud of Mckenzie and are so glad she’s a member of the Tindall family!” - Chuck Wynings, Vice President & General Manager, Tindall Building Systems, Virginia Division
About Tindall
Headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., Tindall Corporation is one of the largest precast concrete manufacturers in North America. Tindall’s two business groups have facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, and South-Central United States. Tindall provides engineering, manufacturing, shipping and installation solutions for precast, prestressed concrete systems and underground utility structures.
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