For Jeff Anderson, Post Processing Manager at Acutec Precision Aerospace, good leadership starts with a simple principle: treat people like people. He learned this lesson from his grandfather, who built a successful distribution company from the ground up. Watching that company grow gave Jeff an early understanding of what it takes to manage people and taught him that when you treat employees with respect, they’ll work hard for you because they want to.
That pay-it-forward mindset has stayed with Jeff throughout his career. Today, he brings it to his work at Acutec Precision and his involvement with the NTMA, particularly through the Emerging Leaders program.
From Machinist to Manager
Jeff has spent 16 years with Acutec Precision, where he works at the company’s facility in St. Stephen, South Carolina. During his first 12 years with the company, Jeff worked as a machinist. In his 13th year, he was asked to help train new hires through the company’s in-house program, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on machine training. He later helped establish a new nondestructive testing (NDT) department.
As his responsibilities expanded, so did his role in management. Jeff brought prior management experience to Acutec Precision. He also developed a habit of checking in with employees on the shop floor to see how they were doing. “I was doing Gemba walks before Gemba walks were a thing,” Jeff says. These conversations allow Jeff to stay connected with team members and to carry out the philosophy passed down by his grandfather: that investing in people is an important part of ensuring a business’s success.
Learning and Engaging with Other Manufacturing Leaders
To support Jeff’s growth as a manager, Acutec Precision encouraged him to participate in NTMA’s Emerging Leaders program. He joined during its inaugural year and has remained involved ever since. He now serves as a team lead, helping the group plan its upcoming Emerging Leaders conference.
One of the program’s greatest benefits, according to Jeff, is the opportunity to learn from individuals with different backgrounds and levels of experience. Participants include professionals who are relatively new to management, as well as experienced leaders and company owners. These conversations give participants the chance to hear how others approach challenges, lead teams, and navigate their own management journeys.
For Jeff, these conversations are valuable in both directions. He can draw on his years of experience to help others, while gaining fresh perspectives from people facing different situations. “I’m so grateful to be a part of it,” Jeff explains. He especially values “getting to meet so many different people from around the country at different levels of their own management experience.”
Building Connections Through NTMA
Jeff’s involvement with NTMA has also introduced him to people and experiences he might not have encountered otherwise.
His first Engage conference was in Indianapolis. With so many attendees and a brand-new experience, he initially felt overwhelmed. What stood out, though, was how welcoming everyone was.
Over time, his involvement has led to lasting friendships, opportunities to travel for meetings and conferences, and connections with manufacturing professionals from across the country. “Within NTMA, it feels like being part of a huge family.” These relationships have become one of the most meaningful parts of his NTMA experience, broadening his perspective and creating more opportunities to learn from others in the industry.
New to NTMA? Here’s Jeff’s Advice
Above all else, Jeff encourages NTMA members to approach networking and professional development with an open mind. The people you meet bring experiences and insights you may never have encountered within the four walls of your company.
He also encourages new members and first-time conference attendees not to let the size of an event or the fear of the unknown discourage them. You might feel like a small fish in a big pond at first, but you may be surprised by how quickly that feeling fades when you experience the kindness and openness of the NTMA community.
For companies looking to develop future managers, Jeff has a clear recommendation: “I would recommend that every company considering someone on their team for a management position put them through the Emerging Leaders program.”
For anyone considering getting more involved with NTMA, Jeff’s experience is a reminder that the connections and lessons you gain can continue to make a difference long after a meeting or conference ends.
Want to learn more about Emerging Leaders, or get more involved with NTMA? Contact us today!
