news & events

Brooke Zavesky: Lifetime of Influences Led to Engineering Career

The goal of National Engineers Week is to increase the understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. We asked some of our seasoned engineers about the influences that drew them to the field, memorable career events and their greatest challenges.

Brooke Zavesky is a process engineer with Carlisle Brake & Friction. She said she was first drawn to engineering while in her high school physics class where she had to design a roller coaster on a simulator. “During this project, we were in close contact with a few Disney imagineers, and they helped us make our coaster safe but also fun,” she said. “This project really got me interested in engineering and had me looking at amusement parks much differently.”

Zavesky said one of the influential engineers she looks up to is her stepfather. “He is a mechanical engineer and worked in IndyCar most of his career,” she said. “I saw that his input made a difference in the outcome of what he was working on. He really introduced me to the idea that engineering could be a great job.”  

Zavesky’s favorite part about her job is her coworkers. “I love that I get to work with multiple departments and a variety of people who are highly skilled in different areas,” she said. “The people I work with challenge and educate me. I really enjoy coming up with solutions to help make people’s jobs easier and more impactful. I have learned so much from so many while at Carlisle Brake & Friction. They make the job fun and I enjoy going to work every day!”

She said her most memorable project is one she’s currently working on. “We are building one-piece flow cells using equipment we already have on site,” Zavesky said. “This project is important because it will help us improve productivity and decrease downtime. I get to work with experienced engineers who have inspired my way of thinking by mentoring me, and I have learned a lot in a short period of time. This experience will greatly impact my future projects. I’m so grateful to be a part of it!”

Zavesky describes her biggest engineering challenge as when she needs to implement a new process, one that will change a long-term procedure. “Changing the way you do things after doing it a certain way for many years can be hard,” she said. “I try to take a hands-on approach, working on the floor and running the process myself. I listen to the thoughts and concerns of the operators and keep the lines of communication open. I hope this gains the operators’ respect and trust. I think working as a team we can come up with even more process improvements in the future!”