Chantelle Sims came to engineering late in life, enrolling in Portland Community College’s Civil/Mechanical Engineering Technology (CMET) program as a 43 year old.
She graduated in 2014 with High Honors, receiving her AAS in Mechanical Engineering Technology and started her career at NW Rapid Mfg, a small, woman-owned boutique Additive Manufacturing service bureau in McMinnville, Oregon.
Experts in the manufacture of aerospace production parts for the UAS (drone) industry, NW Rapid Mfg is known for its success with laser sintering thin-walled nylon parts with structural integrity. As one of NW Rapid Mfg’s two Project Engineers, Chantelle focuses on customer service and client education. She enjoys presenting and writing on Women in STEM, Additive Manufacturing, and 3D Printing.
Nora Toure: Chantelle, could you let us know about your background and what brought you into 3D printing in the first place?
Chantelle Sims: My background is highly varied: I have been a fashion model, director of an equestrian program at a school for “troubled girls”, a medical assistant, and a production coordinator for a commercial and editorial photographer.
At the tender age of 43 I went back to school, choosing Mechanical Engineering Technology because it was a 2-year degree and there were jobs with starting salaries that would support me and my daughters.
I “chicked” my way into 3D printing – literally- getting an interview simply because I am a woman. My company, NW Rapid Manufacturing, is woman-owned and there was a desire to have more women in the office.
Read the rest at Women in 3D Printing
