Get to know Kris
Program: MRA
Start date: August 2023
Anticipated graduation date: December 2025
Current location: Hendersonville, NC
Life before Jenkins
Work experience: 20 years
Industries: Molten metal filtration, foundry and ceramics
Roles: Production manager, process technician, team lead
Field(s): Manufacturing management
Undergraduate education: Appalachian State University, B.S. in Business Administration
Career goals
As a production manager for SELEE Corporation, Maybin sees tremendous opportunity in the manufacturing industry and hopes to land a role in the C-suite down the road. “North Carolina is a hotbed for manufacturing – one of the top 10 states in the Nation and number one in the southeast – and has such a diverse selection of manufacturing companies. From food processing to automotive, the opportunities in manufacturing are limitless,” he says.
To position himself for advanced leadership roles in the industry, Maybin turned to the MRA program at NC State. “The MRA program can help me achieve my long-term goals by strengthening my skillsets in the areas of strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, informed leadership and cross-functional collaborations. Using data-driven insights and a holistic approach to risk management, I will be equipped to identify opportunities, minimize threats and build a risk-tolerant culture to future-proof the organization,” he explains.
The MRA program can help me achieve my long-term goals by strengthening my skillsets in the areas of strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, informed leadership and cross-functional collaborations.
Why Jenkins?
Daily life
At SELEE Corporation, Maybin combines team leadership with strategic planning to drive continuous improvement – conducting root cause analyses to improve safety, quality and productivity and tracking key performance indicators related to scrap rates, labor efficiency and delivery times to hit organizational targets and maximize operational profit. “There is hardly anything you touch today that SELEE has not had a hand in developing. Each day is a different challenge. Whether that’s staffing, raw materials or operational efficiencies, you never know what the next day will bring,” he says. “Leadership is woven into every part of my role and building a successful team is always a treat.”
In addition to his work and studies, Maybin stays busy as a husband, father and grandfather. “I’m a father of five and papa of two grandkids and three fur babies. When I’m not running around with my family, I love going golfing, fishing or doing anything sports-related. I’m also a huge movie and music buff – and love trivia and experimenting with new recipes.”
What makes it great
With a vibrant career and family life, Maybin appreciates the online delivery of the MRA program that allows him to pursue his graduate education without uprooting his life in Hendersonville. “Being able to pursue this program four hours away from Raleigh and still getting a world-class education at an upper-level institution is top-notch,” he says.
In addition to the flexibility and accessibility of the program, Maybin also appreciates the supportive, down-to-earth community and real-world focus. “The admission interview with Ericka Kranitz and Allison Anthony felt like a conversation with individuals I’d known for years, and having such strong and charismatic leadership from Mark Beasley makes me proud to be part of the program. The faculty brings several real-life scenarios into the classroom – and my cohort is such a diverse and talented group that contributes a number of additional real-world examples,” he says. “Having the resources of the Enterprise Risk Management Initiative at our fingertips is another luxury. It is so nice to gain firsthand knowledge from risk executives and draw from their many experiences. It is almost an embarrassment of riches and I am humbled to be part of it.”
Career impact
Thanks to the MRA program’s practical, hands-on curriculum, Maybin has applied his coursework to his career in real-time. “The courses have helped me make better, more informed decisions – marrying the driving forces of big data with the intricacies of risk management,” he explains. “Leveraging predictive analytics, I can foresee potential risks such as supply chain disruptions – like we saw during COVID – and take proactive measures to prevent operational losses.”
Final thoughts
While Maybin has found the MRA curriculum particularly valuable for his career in manufacturing, he has appreciated the opportunity to learn alongside peers from all kinds of backgrounds – and believes it will benefit individuals pursuing a wide range of career paths. “I would recommend this program to anyone who is wanting a challenging but rewarding educational experience that can be used across a variety of industries and applications,” he says. “Risk is present in every industry – and by leveraging data and technology, organizations can not only identify their potential risks, but also develop strategies to mitigate those risks proactively and turn potential threats into opportunities for growth.”
Get in touch
Connect with Kris on LinkedIn.
This post was originally published in Master of Management Risk & Analytics.
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