Daniela Alcantar-Brooks is a client program manager who joined SPK in 2017. Previously working as a CAD operator for a small irrigation company, Daniela first joined SPK as a CAD engineer. While she still works with CAD daily, her role revolves around meeting with customers to ensure everything is performing well.
My Role at SPK
Two years ago, I became a client program manager. What’s great about this role is I get to dive deeper into the client side while still maintaining my technical strengths. I’m still answering client’s CAD questions, but now I get the bigger picture. I meet with clients periodically and ask them questions like “How’s the infrastructure?” or “Are you onboarding new software?” If for example performance has slowed or they need a new service, these calls allow us to determine how SPK can support them. In addition to this, I work with clients on statements of work, ensuring we agree on the scope, timeline, and requirements for a project.
Another fun part of this role is I get to help out with sales and marketing. I make walkthrough videos that help people resolve common problems, typically within SolidWorks and Creo. I’ve been the person who Google’s something, trying to find a solution, so it’s nice I occasionally get to be the one providing answers. Overall, I still get to utilize my skills as a CAD engineer but I get to work closer with our clients and other SPK teams.
What Motivates Me
The biggest motivator for me is the problem-solving and troubleshooting aspects of being an engineer and consultant. Designing a tool in a CAD program and seeing the solution in action is extremely rewarding. Not only do I get to help people with something my team and I create, but we often continuously support the solution so I get to see how it helps the client over time. I also enjoy helping clients and peers with issues that go beyond CAD and PDM. For example, maybe an engineer is having issues modeling something, and I can help determine whether they need a different program, computer, etc. Being able to help people, even in the simplest form of answering a question is a huge motivator for me.
Career Advice
The best piece of advice I can give to others in this field is don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Working as a consultant always comes with some fears such as “What if I don’t know how to help?” or “What if I mess up?” The reality is that when you’re new to any job, it’s expected you’re going to have some questions. If you don’t know something, you can always learn. Take that as an opportunity to broaden your knowledge. Additionally, I’ve learned that if I don’t know something, it’s likely someone on our team does. If you end up making a mistake, do your best to focus on how you can avoid that mistake in the future rather than getting down about it.
Similarly to the advice I would give, the best piece of advice I’ve received is not to let fear lead you. You have to become experienced somehow, and that starts by trying something new. I was told to take every opportunity and “just go for it!” Additionally, you have to advocate for yourself. If you are interested in learning something new, don’t be afraid to ask for training. At SPK I have been fortunate that my peers encourage this.
Extracurriculars
In my free time, I am a mom to a five-year-old son. As an introvert, I don’t know how I ended up with such a social child, but he certainly enjoys speaking with anyone he can. He takes up most of my time and has encouraged me to talk to more strangers than I ever thought was possible. When I am not in the toy aisle negotiating with him on how many cars he’s allowed to take home, I am brainstorming home renovation ideas. I enjoy home improvement, even if my husband may not always share my excitement for each new project. It is in my nature to troubleshoot and solve problems and that has extended to my home!
Looking To The Future
Daniela Alcantar-Brooks has been a valuable member of SPK’s engineering team for 8 years and has adapted beautifully to her current role as a consultant. Her passion for helping others through product designs, videos, meetings, and more is something our team is proud to share. Moving forward, we are excited to see how Daniela uses her talents to find new innovative solutions for our clients.
