Meet Asya, one of our Level II Controls Engineers, based out of the Golden, CO office. It’s an honor to have her as part of the LSI family. Whether she is in the office or at our client locations, we appreciate her contributions every day. We recently sat down and asked Asya 20 questions and learned more about her and what makes her such a great person and engineer. The three words that we would use to describe Asya are Ambitious, Diligent, and Outgoing.
20 Questions with Asya
How long have you been with LSI?
Two years.
What is your role at LSI?
I’m a Level 2 Controls Engineer. Since I started, I’ve gotten to work on a lot of different projects and software, which is really cool. I think what I enjoy most about being here is how much I’ve gotten to touch, from programming, graphics, and even a little bit of hardware design. It’s been really fun.
Where did you go to college?
I went to the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
What industries have you been involved in?
I’ve worked on projects in the oil and natural gas, food and beverage, and logistics/package handling industries.
What is your area of expertise?
Most of my experience and interest is in graphics and programming. I’m still learning every day, but one of my unique experiences is designing graphics and SCADA platforms with Ignition.
What platforms are you familiar with?
Ignition, Aveva Wonderware, Emerson ControlWave, Rockwell FactoryTalk View Studio and, RSLogix 5000
What has been your favorite project at LSI?
My favorite project was a software project for one of our food manufacturers here in Colorado. The client had a custom CIP parameter program (CPP) that they wanted to use to move parameters in and out of their CIP logic. Unfortunately, the existing CIP parameters were hardcoded in the existing CIP logic. It was our job to remove pieces of the existing CIP code from the controllers and rewrite it to communicate directly with the CPP. It was a lot of learning very quickly, and it helped me ramp up my skills fast. Projects that are intense and, at times, chaotic are not easy. But afterward, I realize they are also fun because I was the most efficient, most productive, and learned the fastest in that environment.
What is your proudest moment at LSI?
When I look back on the CPP project and realize how much growth I experienced, that is my proudest moment. I had to pick up the material very quickly. Because the project went in several directions, I also had the opportunity to get involved in some of the project management tasks with the client.
What sets LSI apart as an employer?
It’s our people. I’m surrounded by people that are always willing to help me learn, and they’ll even pick up the slack when needed if someone gets pulled on to a different project. When I need advice or feedback, they share it with me. Our management team makes it so easy to have conversations with them about projects I want to work on, things I want to be doing, and areas that I know I struggle with and need to improve on. And even though I’ve only been here for two years, they trust me to represent LSI in conversations that I have with our clients. That means a lot to me.
What sets LSI apart as a system integrator?
I think it’s the same as the previous question. It’s our people.
What are three ways or words that you would use to describe LSI?
- Growth: We are fortunate to be in many industries and work with so many different programs—there is always room for growth, no matter who you are at LSI.
- Compassion: I’ve seen so much kindness and compassion for each other and our clients from the folks at LSI.
- Teamwork: Everyone is always so willing to help each other. Every project I’ve been put on, there were folks willing to take time to help me learn and become a better engineer. I’ve had many mentors in my short time here so far.
What is one thing that clients may not know about LSI that you would like to share?
We are very versatile in our automation experience. Some of the clients that work with us in one capacity may not know about all of our capabilities. For example, they utilize LSI for graphics programming but not for PLC programming. Or they look to us for SCADA but aren’t aware of our other services. We may operate like a smaller company, but we have a lot of experience within the company that can help our clients.
Long-term client relationships are a hallmark of LSI. Why is that?
We really emphasize the importance of building relationships. We keep it personal; we talk directly to people, we are quick to respond to emails and phone calls. It’s always more than a transaction. Our goal is to do a great job on the current project, so we have the opportunity to work on their next project. That’s the way that we continue to grow and expand our client relationships.
How has LSI helped you in your career development?
I’ve learned the most I’ve ever learned in my two years at LSI. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to touch so many different projects, industries, and programs. It has really helped me determine the direction that I want to take in my career, including the areas that I tend to learn faster, and the areas where I can do better. I enjoy programming, and with my very logical-minded brain, it comes pretty quickly to me. If it’s hardware-related, I know I need to learn more about this, and LSI has given me those opportunities.
What advice do you have for prospective LSI candidates?
Keep an open mind and be willing to take on new opportunities. I started with LSI knowing that I was going to say yes to new projects, new opportunities, and learning anything new. I trusted that I would be put on projects that the people here know I can handle. And that if I need to ask questions, I’m going to ask the questions, and people around me are going to support me through that. It was intimidating at first not having any controls knowledge, but I trusted that our management team put me in this situation because they believed I could learn it quickly. That is the environment we have at LSI and if you like that, you will thrive.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend a lot of time with my family and friends. We do a bit of rec league volleyball.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Probably somewhere overseas like Europe. I’ve had a few opportunities to visit Europe because my family travels a lot. If I could go anywhere, it would be Greece.
Your favorite sports team?
Apple iOS or Android?
Apple
Any random facts about yourself that you could share with us?
- I was born in a different country and moved to the USA when I was four. I’ve lived in Colorado ever since.
- I played varsity tennis in high school.
- I was an RA (Resident Assistant) and a hall director in college.