Meet: Teri Smith – Design and Drafting Analyst II

At SEE, celebrating our people and their accomplishments is a core part of our culture. In our “Meet: Our People” series, you’ll hear directly from our people across the globe on what it’s like working at SEE, and a little bit about them outside of work.  

Where are you located? Ayer, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  

How long have you been at SEE?  17 years. 

Could you tell me a little about your current role?  I work in the electrical engineering department where my responsibilities include all the mechanical designs for the electric boxes that go onto the protective packaging equipment and creating cable assemblies. We use SolidWorks to create all our 3D modeling. 

What is your favorite mantra or quote?  Treat people the way you want to be treated. It’s just that simple. If we treated people with respect, kindness, and compassion, just think about how much better this world would be. There is no room for hatred.

Do you have any hobbies or activities you like to do outside of the office?  I love reading. I am in a book club with four other close friends that we started over 10 years ago. We go on girls weekends a couple times of year and we had the honor of meeting two of our favorite authors: Heather Morris and Kristin Hannah.

I also enjoy learning about wine making and visiting breweries. I love being outdoors, whether it be hiking or going to the beach. Going on adventures with my husband and our two sons, 20 and 23, is always on the top of my list. I’d also add hanging out with our amazing group of friends, who are more like family. My family traveled to the Outer Banks this past summer with another family and learned how to hang glide off a huge sand dune. It was amazing!  

My husband and I did an “adults only” trip to Disney in December with two other couples. It’s definitely a really cool experience going with adults. You can get in touch with your inner child, as you rope drop at Hollywood Studios to get in line for Flight of the Avatar.

I’ve also recently re-discovered my love of country line dancing. Back in the 1990’s, I was big into it and had the chance to line dance on television at the Wild Horse Saloon. My three minutes of fame. 

If I could have lunch with one person from history, it would be:  This is a tough one to answer. There have been so many inspirational people in history, I am having a hard time choosing just one. After much thought and consideration, I think I would choose Diana, Princess of Wales. In the 1980’s, during the height of the AIDS epidemic, she challenged the HIV stigma by hugging patients. She showed people kindness, which transformed public views about patients fighting AIDS and the epidemic. Her infamous walk among the mines and talking with land mine survivors ultimately led to the signing of the United Nations Land Mine Treaty. She was the “People’s Princess,” which was difficult for the Royals to wrap their head around at that time. Including all the other amazing accomplishments in her short life, she has paved the way for her children to follow in her footsteps. She is an inspiration to many!  

I feel passionate about Wellbeing at SEE, because:  Employee engagement has been so important to me for over the last 15 years. It first started with a weekly tailgate during football season and has evolved to a weekly event with other employees volunteering.

We do events like themed snacks, playing games outside, special luncheons, etc. These activities can really help with people’s mental and physical wellbeing. For new employees, it’s a great way for them to feel welcomed into the group. It gives us all a chance to be social together without the typical “work talk.”  Wellbeing is even more important now, post-pandemic, as many people still work remotely or hybrid and can feel isolated. We need face-to-face socialization, engagement, etc. If people are happy at work, it makes for a great team atmosphere.   

In June, you were interviewed on SEE’s Better Together Podcast for Pride Month. How do you celebrate pride and what does it mean to you?  Pride is very important to me. My son came out as gay when he was a freshman in college, and we support him 100%. He knows we love him unconditionally. I also had friends who were gay when I was growing up. At that time, they felt they needed to keep that part of themselves a secret, which was heartbreaking. 

It’s important for members in the LGBTQ+ to feel loved, accepted, and welcomed, as we are all human beings. Who we love or how we identify doesn’t dictate how we are as people or our character. I have a Pride flag we fly outside our home; we wear Pride clothing and, for the first time this year, we might participate in the Pride Parade in Boston. I try to celebrate Pride all year long by always treating people the way I would like to be treated. I have also been a member of the Pride Initiative Committee at SEE since its inception, and I am truly honored to be a member of this amazing group.  

Interested in joining us? Check out our careers page for open roles.  

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