Darryl Lee is an electroplater at Electro-Spec, a position he accepted right out of high school.
“This is a never-ending learning experience,” Lee says.
Electro-Spec is continually recognized as one of the leading specialty plating and surface finishing companies in the U.S., with a customer base that expands into North America, Europe, and Asia. Visit https://www.electro-spec.com
Darryl LeeHow did you get your start in the finishing and coating industry?
I was putting applications everywhere where I lived. One of them was Electro-Spec, which I had no idea what they did. I got a call for an interview about a week later and have been happy working here ever since that day.
What does your job entail?
Being knowledgeable about different metals and what chemistry they can run through for best quality, and being able to read blueprints and specs. I need to understand the different grades of copper, steel, and stainless steel.
Can you walk us through a typical day for you?
There isn’t a typical day; you can come in and plan your day, and 30 minutes later, it can change. You have to be flexible to the different curveballs that come your way.
What do you like best about working in the finishing and coating industry?
Knowing that without this industry, the world wouldn’t be the same. A lot of parts this company plates impact everyone in one way or another, even if they don’t realize it.
What preconceived notions about the finishing and coating industry have changed since you started working in it?
I thought it was just another job to work my 40 hours and get a paycheck. I didn’t think it would impact my life as much as it has. I can’t even imagine my life today if I had never found this industry.
Can you describe a particular project you have been involved in that made you most proud?
It would have to be when we moved the facility to a larger building. Knowing I had a part in that makes a difference. I believe a lot of people that work somewhere and move to a bigger facility have a sense of pride knowing they helped in some way.
Why would you recommend to a friend a career in the finishing and coating industry?
The possibilities are limitless on where the final product will go. You can succeed anywhere you work, but the multiple skills you can learn in one place you can’t get at other jobs. This is a never-ending learning experience.
What is the toughest part of your job?
Sometimes it can drain you mentally and physically.
How do you describe what you do in your job to family and friends and the importance of it?
I start with base metal and, through a series of chemicals and liquid metal baths, use electricity that makes it more resistant to other elements, such as the environment it’s in. I help make it more heat resistant to perform as long as it needs to. Without it, there wouldn’t be a space program or telecommunication towers. Basically, anything that would corrode, we help prevent that from happening.
Are you involved in any industry associations or trade groups?
No.
What was the first job you had in your career?
Electroplater.
What type of college, school, or training have you had?
I came in straight out of high school.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
I see myself being a leader. My biggest goal is to innovate something that makes a difference for the finishing and coating industry as a whole.
What is the most humorous day/event you have had in the finishing and coating industry?
Nothing specific jumps out at me; just being around a great group of people and sharing stories and joking with each other.
What was your favorite subject in high school or college?
It was choir; I love music and love to sing.
What motivates you to work hard at your job?
To be a leader and someone that can be trusted to be given a job/task and figure out the solution. I don’t want to be just another plater; I work hard to be the best at what I do.
Tell us about your outside hobbies and interests: I enjoy playing video games.
My fiancé and I have our own gaming setups right next to each other.
What three things do you think of the most each workday?
Music, as there is a song in my head 24/7. And everyday life things, such as what I need to get done at home. Plus food; what’s for dinner and how I want to make it.
Who has been the biggest mentor in your career?
My stepdad, Jim. There was a point where this was just another job to me. One day I said he was lucky because of all the things he had. This one little phrase he said next changed my life: “I am not lucky; I have to work hard for what I have.”
What is your favorite book you have read?
I don’t read very much, so I’d have to go with Ready Player One. It’s a futuristic virtual reality where the creator hides three easter eggs (coins) in the infinite universe, and whoever finds all three first gets to take over the simulation and do what or want in the program.
