Katie
Asset Head, Media, Walkersville, MD, USA
Katie has never lived far from our Walkersville site, in Maryland. A graduate of Biochemistry, she joined Lonza in 2005 and has enjoyed a 15-year career journey that has afforded her many varied opportunities. Her current role involves leading a dedicated management team with full accountability for asset profitability and success – and it’s her most favorite role yet.
I chose
Lonza because…
A lifelong friend, and Lonza employee at the time, recommended me for a position here. She knew how much I care about people and felt the company and the role would be a great fit for me. She was right.
Since I
started at Lonza, my career has progressed…
In exciting ways. I joined Lonza in 2005, as a Research Associate where, amongst other things, I helped to launch some of our CloPo bone products. In 2010, I was promoted to a Process Analyst in the newly formed Operational Excellence team. During these years I was able to lead projects and work with the Research Cells, Media, Quality Control and Cell Therapy teams. Then in 2014, I decided to take an opportunity with Supply Chain as a Process Specialist responsible for building the costs for custom media products. Six months into the role I stepped in as the interim Operational Excellence Manager and eventually accepted the role permanently. In 2019, I was asked to ad interim lead operations and could not have been more excited when I was offered the Asset Head, Media role permanently. After a year and a half, I can honestly say this has been my most favorite role yet.
It’s
special to work at Lonza because…
Firstly, because the people here are truly wonderful, they are genuine, they care about and support each other, and are some of the most tenacious people I’ve met! And also because Lonza has offered me so many opportunities to grow professional and personally.
My work
is meaningful because…
My work is meaningful, because we make products that enable our customers to support their patients or to advance research to improve medicines, therapies, etc.
What
makes me feel good at the end of the working day is…
Solving a problem, improving a process, meeting a goal and most of all helping employees to grow and develop.
The most
exciting thing about working at Lonza is…
The ability to always do something different or tackle a new challenge.
What I
most appreciate about my team is…
Their hard work, dedication and resilience. I also like how we can come together and share a laugh or a personal story.