Imran Shamsi is Vice President of Premier Metal Processing in El Cajon, California.
After a career in marketing and sales for AT&T, Shamsi joined his father’s facility but had a rough go at the start. But his father, Mohammed Shamsi, has been a huge mentor for him.
“I failed tremendously at sales in the beginning,” he says. “My previous experience did not translate well in this industry.”
But Shamsi enjoys all aspects of the finishing industry now and recommends the industry to other people he meets.
“I also deeply care about our staff and their families,” he says. “It’s my goal to take care of the business in a way which benefits all of us. I treat our customers the same as well.”
How did you get your start in the finishing and coating industry?
Imran Shamsi and his father, Mohammed Shamsi.My father, Mohammed Shamsi, worked in the industry for quite a few decades. He worked at facilities throughout California. He decided to own his own facility much later in 2007. I decided to join him to try something different than what I was doing at the time, which was marketing and sales for AT&T.
What does your job entail?
I typically deal with all facets of the business.
Can you walk us through a typical day for you?
A typical day begins with looking at production goals for the day. This leads to any production issues or concerns we may be encountering and figuring out solutions. I do communicate with our customer base to figure out current priorities and projections of what is in the pipeline. Towards the end of the day is when I try to focus on more of the bigger picture, long-term items. Things such as overall facility improvements, financials, regulatory agencies, etc.
What do you like best about working in the finishing and coating industry?
I like that it is an industry that is smaller in the sheer number of people and organizations, but not necessarily on an economic scale. The best part about my job is the people and the relationships I have with them. I truly appreciate the relationships I have with our staff, customers, and vendors. This is what keeps me sane in times of stress. Since this is a fairly small and tight-knit group of people in the industry, it makes this even better.
What preconceived notions about the finishing and coating industry have changed since you started working in it?
I would say the necessity and scale of this industry are what I was a little blind to prior to being involved in it. Our industry’s services are needed in nearly every industry there is, whether it be for engineering or aesthetic purposes.
Can you describe a particular project you have been involved in that made you most proud?
It was a long-term project involving a couple of prime contractors for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System on aircraft carriers. I’m proud of this project due to the reviews we got from it, but more so because it was a major undertaking for our facility at the time. It’s the first time I personally decided to undertake a challenge like this. It broadened my understanding of what we are capable of.
Why would you recommend to a friend a career in the finishing and coating industry?
I would recommend a career in this industry as there are a lot of different career paths within it. You can have — or develop — many skills and utilize them in many positions.
What is the toughest part of your job?
The toughest part is managing the stress. However, I would say this isn’t specific to the finishing and coating industry but rather to my position. The hardest thing for me to do is to clock out at the end of the day or week. Work-related things are always on my mind. However, I’m working on getting better at this!
How do you describe what you do in your job to family and friends and the importance of it?
As I’m sure many in this industry can agree: it’s amazing how many individuals don’t know anything about this industry. It’s something that can be difficult to explain to friends and family. I explain that we apply coatings to manufactured parts for various industries. I then give examples of what they see in their everyday life, such as the anodized back of the cellular phone. I then follow up with some more items which they may have never thought about, such as a component in an airplane.
What was the first job you had in your career?
Sales with AT&T Mobility. This career led me to be a regional manager for Southern California for about a decade. In the metal finishing industry, I started off as a salesperson. I failed tremendously at sales in the beginning. My previous experience did not translate well in this industry. Moved on to do many other things, including going through the undertaking of setting up a new facility from scratch.
What type of college, school, or training have you had?
San Diego State University. However, most of my technical education in this industry happened on the job.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
I see myself doing what I do now. However, being in California, I see us altering the angle at which we conduct business. I foresee metal finishing in California changing a bit in the next decade. It is our goal to evolve alongside it.
What is the most humorous day/event you have had in the finishing and coating industry?
I don’t have a specific event or day that stands out. However, I do find humor in something every single day. There are moments when a complex problem has a simple and overlooked solution. Those are the things I find especially humorous and frustrating at the same time.
What was your favorite subject in high school or college?
My favorite subject was biology. I did like chemistry a bit as well, which helps out now.
What motivates you to work hard at your job?
To be able to support my family is what motivates me the most. But I also deeply care about our staff and their families. It’s my goal to take care of the business in a way which benefits all of us. I treat our customers the same as well. We are all part of a team in which we all succeed and do better, or we fail, and everyone fails, including our customers. I also find gratification in what we do; it’s a service that is critical to many industries for many reasons.
Tell us about your outside hobbies and interests:
I enjoy time spent with my family the most, whether it be outings, get-togethers, etc. I also love cars and technology. Unfortunately, both can be quite expensive and time-consuming to really dive into. Still looking to develop more on the car side when time and finances allow for it.
What three things do you think of the most each workday?
How are we doing as a business and overall? How is our staff doing? How are our customers?
Who has been the biggest mentor in your career?
My father has been the biggest mentor to me. He has taught me a lot in regard to the technical side of the industry. Outside of the job, he has also helped me understand many life lessons and provided all the support and guidance a son could have asked for.
What is your favorite book you have read?
Animal Farm by George Orwell.
