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Whether it is an internship or a self-led project, gaining real-world experience throughout your college career is a great way to apply the information you learn in the classroom. Nick Elzer, a senior manufacturing engineering technology major from Manheim, Pennsylvania, understood this when he decided to work for the company, Quub (pronounced cube), where he gains experience creating satellites that launch into space.
“Quub is an innovative company focused on gathering valuable information for a better world,” says Elzer. “We use a network of small satellites to keep an eye on important resources like water, coastlines and forests. By providing crucial data to governments and private organizations, we help them tackle climate change and its effects.”
As a child, Elzer constantly wondered how things function. Because of this, he knew from a young age what he wanted to do. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by how things work. I grew up doing things from watching ‘How It’s Made’ on the Science Channel to taking apart Transformers to figure out how they work. Since then, I’ve pursued an understanding of how the world works and what can be done to improve existing technologies. Majoring in manufacturing engineering technology will allow me to turn this passion into a career.”
Elzer heard of the company and the work they were doing and was immediately interested. By reaching out to the CEO, Elzer landed himself a spot within the company. “I heard of our CEO, Joe Latrell, and what he was doing about a year and a half ago. Back then, he was operating out of a garage, and I was extremely intrigued by what he had going on. I reached out to him, offering to help out simply because I loved his goals and strategy for getting them done. He brought me in after an interview, invited me to join the team, and we have been growing ever since.”
He notes that Quub has provided him with mentorship and experience that helps keep him engaged in his work. “Working for Quub has been a great experience overall. Since I started there, I have had a lot of individual hands-on experiences and one-on-one mentorship from some great minds. It is a really great work environment with a close-knit team. We take ourselves not too seriously, but our work seriously.”
“On Friday afternoons, everyone works on fun personal projects that help develop our skills and keep us engaged. I’ve made an online puzzle game and am currently working on a rover that will roam the office,” Elzer says.
Elzer explains that MU has been a major factor in his success at Quub, and in return, Quub has helped him succeed at MU. “Millersville helped me find my passions and what I really wanted to do with my life. I came in only really knowing that I liked to make things and problem solve, but Millersville and the MFET major helped me refine my interests and find the best field for me to explore.”
“Quub has helped me find a balance in my school and work life. They made sure that I had the time that I needed to continue working through school to allow me to still get my degree while still working at Quub as much as I can. They really helped me prioritize and learn how to work towards two goals at once,” Elzer says.
Throughout his time with Quub, Elzer has found two main aspects of Quub that help to continue moving forward. “The first one is knowing that the hardware and code that I have worked on goes into space. There really is no feeling like watching the first launch with a satellite on it that you have helped build, and it really will never get old.”
“The other aspect has to be contributing toward what Quub stands for. Being able to help monitor the climate and get ahead of things like forest fires and water quality is a huge aspect of why I wanted to work at Quub, and I cannot wait to help make some changes,” Elzer says.
