Associate Spotlight on John Seavey

Director of Ignition Products at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc.

With Mason Seavey, Son of John and intern at DENSO

John: What does it mean to have Mason following in your footsteps in the Engineering field?

Mason and his brother both know that whatever path they may choose, we would support them fully. Given that, I guess what it means most is that he has recognized that a career in Engineering has provided a really good life for our family. He has seen that with an education in Engineering, and hard work/dedication, that there is an abundance of career choices in front of him. Mason is a really good kid, and we’re very proud of him.

What is it like to have Mason here at DENSO as an intern?

As our kids grow up, the opportunities for spending time together become less frequent. Being able to see him everyday, and share in his work experience was very enjoyable and a great memory that I’ll always have. From the beginning we ate lunch together everyday, including our Friday Lunch Out at a local restaurant.

From a work viewpoint, Mason was supporting one of the PE groups (my background) so we had regular discussions about his  work, such as Safety, Quality, Capability studies, Process Control, Tool/Jig Design, and why we as Engineers at DENSO perform our jobs in the manner we do. Working as an intern at DMAT gave Mason and I a common context as to what Engineers do in a  manufacturing environment. It was also a great chance for him to see what and where I spent the last 22 years of my working life, and get a small understanding of what I do.

What advice would you give him about pursuing a career in Engineering?

Within the engineering discipline, there are nearly limitless career fields to chose from, so don’t just settle for a job. Find a career that your passionate about, one that best utilizes his abilities, and that inspires him to achieve at a high level.

Why did you choose Chemical Engineering?

I chose chemical engineering for a few reasons. First and foremost because I have always been intrigued by chemistry and digging deeper into things on a molecular level. I also find myself taking interest in the problem solving/ constant improvement ideology of engineering.

These aspects drew my focus into chemical engineering but other factors that lead me to major in this field is that the job is extremely versatile. I get to work with emerging technology from at a hands on perspective, as well as the wide variety of companies around the world that hire chemical engineers.

How has your Father influenced your education?

My father has influenced my education by establishing some understanding of the engineering world. My dad being an engineer in itself, is first what attracted me to the field. Another element is that growing  up he always included me on small projects of building things around the house or just providing me with activities where I can do hands on work.

This came into play when he was asking me questions of what I was looking for in an occupation. I realized that I wanted something that challenged me as well as being hands on, so engineering was the right mix of these two things.

What is it like to intern at DENSO? And interact with your Father? My experience as an intern is a little different than most interns since I am only working for the summer instead of an entire year. With that being said, I have really enjoyed my experience at DENSO for the short time here. Everyone at DMAT has been very accepting and friendly to me. I value the DENSO work environment and the core values of the company are something I will always look for in future employment. Most importantly I have learned a great deal and gained valuable work experience that I wouldn’t have received in the class room.

Additionally, working my dad has been nice since I am able to talk about the things I am learning with him and I got to learn more about what he does on a daily basis. I would say the funniest thing about working with my dad has to be at least twice a day someone I don’t know will come up to be and say, “Are you John Seavey’s son” or “You look a lot like your dad.”

On Friday, June 22, DENSO in Athens received the State of Tennessee Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy.  Nominations for the award came from Cleveland State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Athens.  The award was not only for monetary donations, but for community involvement and volunteerism.

Upon receiving the award, the announcement speech recognized several accomplishments.

“What is really special about DENSO is the investment of their staff who have been diligent participants in our programs and activities.  Their employees are consistently engaged in our Business Advisory Council as well as our Advanced Technologies Advisory Council.  Their input has helped shape credit and non-credit programs that are making Cleveland State a regional leader in workforce and economic development.  Their support of the Mechatronics Honors Institute is a natural progression of the many co-op and internship opportunities they have provided our students over the years.

Additionally, DENSO employees regularly participate in our annual Career Fairs and their HR staff have often served in interview panels we offer.  They provide support for judging and advising our students and are regularly involved in our STEM Camps for area youth.  They serve as guest speakers in our classes and they often provide tours of their plant for our students.  Simply, DENSO employees are ‘all-in’ when it comes to supporting the educational needs of our students.”

Hugh Cantrell, director of North America Human Resources, accepted the award on behalf of DENSO.

About the Award

Excellence in Philanthropy Awards recognition program is comprised of two awards – the Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. The awards were created to honor the individuals, companies, and organizations who continue to donate their resources, finances, and personal time to the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions.

Candidates for the Regent Award for Excellence in Philanthropy include an organization or individual that has been very generous to one or more TBR institutions or the TBR system and its students. This award is for visionaries, statespersons of the community, employer and workforce partners, and regional leaders.

Last week, DMAT invited Walker Valley students, family, faculty, local city officials, and some DENSO associates to a small ceremony at the EcoPark to unveil new student sculptures.

In 2016, DENSO sponsored a local STEAM Camp, put on through a partnership between Bradley County Schools and Cleveland State Community College, to teach students about science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Thirteen local high school students participated in the camp, and as part of their final camp project, they created mock-ups of art sculptures. Now, two years later, the student sculptures are life-size, with some on display at DMAT’s EcoPark.

Students from Walker Valley worked with DENSO associates to build their full-scale sculptures in the EcoPark. The school also donated a plaque with a brief description to be placed alongside the sculptures.

DENSO was delighted to partner with students for a hands-on project exposing them to advanced manufacturing and career exploration. These students used problem solving, critical thinking, team work and creativity to create these sculptures all of which are elements we use every day at DENSO.

DENSO’s Athens, Tennessee, location (DMAT) recently awarded $10,000 to Cleveland High School for the third consecutive year, as reported by the Cleveland Daily Banner. With the help of Project Lead the Way, a national organization that develops STEM curriculum for schools, DENSO’s grant supports the local high school’s career and technical education programs.

Crystal Renner, a human resource supervisor at DMAT, credits the initiative’s collaborative spirit and hands-on training for its success.

“Together, DENSO, Project Lead the Way and Cleveland High School allows students access to real world applied learning experiences, which allow them to thrive in their college career and beyond,” said Renner.

This relationship with Cleveland High School – and the rest of the city’s school district – goes well beyond just writing a check. DENSO representatives also have given presentations on STEM careers in these schools and hosted students at DMAT for facility tours.

During the grant announcement, Dr. Russell Dyer, Cleveland director of schools, recognized the importance of working with partners like DENSO to develop tomorrow’s talent pool.

“We appreciate the check, but we appreciate a lot more than that,” Dyer said. “We’re really wanting to figure out what we can do to partner with the workforce, whether it’s DENSO or other companies. This is a really important thing for us.”

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