NSME graduate makes his way up

Alum Jesus Banuelos thrives at Mazzei

By California State University, Bakersfield

July 8^th, 2020

California State University, Bakersfield graduates are not just getting jobs after college; they are excelling in them, working their way up the ranks and making their mark.

After a little more than a year on the job, CSUB alum Jesus Banuelos just earned a promotion at Mazzei Injector Company, which develops products providing solutions to water and wastewater problems ranging from municipal, industrial and agricultural to pools and spas.

“It's been great!” Banuelos, 23, said of joining the workforce. “I've been in school all my life so transitioning into the ‘real world’ took a bit of a learning curve, but I'm happy with the progress I've made.”

Banuelos graduated from CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering in December 2018, earning his degree in engineering sciences with a concentration in management. He was first hired at Mazzei as a product support engineer, helping customers understand the company’s technology. Now, he is transitioning to the position of quality control engineer specialist, a role that has him checking on the quality and functionality of both internally fabricated and externally purchased products to ensure that they meet the highest standards.

“In Jesus’ short time at Mazzei, he has worked in a variety of areas including system design and assembly, as well as in quality control,” said Geoffrey Whynot, president of Mazzei Injector Company. “This experience makes him a perfect fit for our new position as a dedicated quality control engineer specialist.”

The team at Mazzei has been so impressed with CSUB’s graduates that they are looking for another to fill Banuelos’ former position.

“Those of us who have graduated from CSUB's engineering department have shown we are capable of doing our job and more,” Banuelos said. “It helps that a big portion of CSUB students are local to Bakersfield and want to start their careers in the same place they grew up.”

Whynot echoed those sentiments about the value CSUB graduates have added to Mazzei.

“Not only do they demonstrate strong technical knowledge, their enthusiasm and eagerness to contribute enables them to quickly become an integral part of the Mazzei team,” Whynot said.

Banuelos feels his time at CSUB prepared him well for life after college. While a student, he made the most of his time on campus, learning not just in his classes but from research, clubs and other extracurriculars.

“The education you get plays a big part,” Banuelos said. “However, being involved in different areas of the campus helped me gain the necessary experiences to prepare me post-graduation.”

Within NSME, Banuelos was a research assistant for associate professor of engineering Dr. Luis Cabrales and active in the Fab Lab. He also interned for the USDA and served as president of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Outside of STEM-related activities, he was also involved in student government and the National Society of Leadership and Success, among others.

“I believe it is important to be involved as much as possible,” Banuelos said. “By getting involved in different areas it allows you to experience and learn as you continue to grow. Being involved in school can lead to meeting people outside of your major, it could lead to a promotion at work, or you can learn to have empathy for others in your community, providing a different perspective.”