NES September Employee Spotlight
Skip Giberson
Ten years ago, it would have been difficult for Skip Giberson to envision himself in this position.
In his early days, after starting at Napoleon Engineering Services in May of 2014, Giberson was a wide-eyed young engineer who possessed an undeniable intellect and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Alfred State, but little in the way of bearing design knowledge. At that time, he was one of just two dedicated NES bearing engineers, alongside Al Elliott, and the one who was asking all the questions – not answering them.
My, how things have “massively changed,” as he put it.
And not just for him, but for the company, too.
Over a decade later, Giberson is now NES’ senior product design engineer – one of two bearing engineers with “senior” in his title next to Andrew Hvizdzak. He’s also essentially the captain of a squad that’s grown from two individuals to six.
Giberson oversees the engineering department from both a complete bearing manufacturing and modification standpoint. In that role, he assigns jobs to co-workers, adjusts priorities and reviews their work. Additionally, he’s the engineering liaison to the plant floor, providing support and answering any questions it may have.
IN HIS time here, Giberson has become “very knowledgeable about bearing design for manufacturing and manufacturing processes, particularly offset grinding,” NES president Chris Napoleon said. But more than that, he’s become a leader … and a central figure in NES’ engineering operation.
And that’s what made him an easy selection for this month’s NES employee spotlight.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate,” Giberson offered, when reflecting on that transformation. “I never thought that I would be the guy who’d be getting asked all the questions; I was the one asking the questions for a long time.”
He added: “It’s rewarding to have my hands in everything, I guess. I mean, there’s not a bearing project that leaves here without my involvement in some way. Some more than others. But … 10 years ago, I didn’t think I was gonna be the guy people were asking questions; I always thought I’d be asking the questions, so it’s pretty rewarding.”
AT HIS core, Giberson, perhaps above all else, is a solution creator.
His goal each day is to take that kernel of an idea and turn it into a tangible bearing product, to solve any problems that might exist, to, as his title suggests, engineer an answer that meets the customer’s requirements.
Take, for instance, the new bearing that NES is producing for ProEnergy Services.
“It’s difficult,” Giberson said, noting that it’s a project on which bearing engineer Marina Miketish has the lead. “It’s just a pair of angular contact (ball bearings), but it has massive phalanges on the OD with a bunch of holes in them. We have a pre-load and crossed-corner requirement, so that’s a little tricky figuring out how we’re going to manufacture that with the phalanges and when we’re going to remove stock, when we aren’t, things like that.”
Giberson, though, loves the challenge.
And for the Portville Central School graduate, it’s rewarding when he and his team can meet that challenge, as they often do, and successfully bring that part from a drawing to a manufacturing print to a completed bearing.
“We’re involved from the very beginning to the very end,” he said. “We get to see everything from a piece of paper to the final bearing, through the whole progression. We’re never not involved. … It is rewarding to see something that you created (come to life). You can also be hands on with it throughout the whole process, which many places you don’t get to do that.
“Not only can I see what I did here, but I can go physically see it and see how it’s manufactured and have conversations with the guys on the floor and (help) solve problems within that process. They may have issues with a certain operation that they may have to adjust or figure out a different solution.
“We’re always involved in that. That’s what I love about it.”
In his free time, Giberson, who’s married with three children, enjoys racing go-karts and coaching youth softball. (“My hobbies aren’t much anymore with the three kids,” he joked). In the office, as a team leader, problem-solver and veteran presence within the company at large, his efforts are greatly appreciated.
“Skip is the kind of guy you call in when things go sideways,” said Chris Truman, NES’ vice president of business operations. “He is willing to roll up his sleeves and muscle through orders, ensuring they are completed, no matter the difficulty. He operates with confidence, leaning on his years of experience.”