At Norwest, we are incredibly fortunate to have a fantastic team. With our website’s relaunching, we have created a program to feature one staff member monthly. We are starting 2021 with a dose of positivity by featuring the very talented Taryn Bye, one of our mechanical drafters.

If you ask Norwest employees about Taryn’s differentiating quality, they will probably agree with her manager, Randy Miller. “Taryn is a virtual sponge, wanting to soak up as much information and knowledge as possible. She’s not happy with just doing something; she wants to know why and how we can do it better and more efficiently.” It was a pleasure getting to know Taryn a little better through this exercise, and I cannot understate how lucky Norwest is to have such a passionate, dedicated, and fun-loving employee. The woman we all know and love has a fascinating story to tell. Join me in learning more about Taryn Bye.

Lindsey (L): "Taryn, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. I want to start by getting a better understanding of your background in the industry and what brought you to Norwest.”

Taryn (T): “Where to start, so I guess the Cliff Notes would be that I got my Bachelor of Science in geology at Oregon State University. Two days after graduation, I started working at the Department of State Lands, which led me to be a geophysical technician for OSU. Then that led me to New Zealand, where I lived there and worked there for a few months trying to get residency and to afford a university out there.”

L: “Wait, you moved to New Zealand? What made you come back to the states?”

T: “I had to move back to the states because student loans are expensive, and I did not make enough money to pay for my bills here. I came back home, and I started working as a Geotech for a local firm. Unfortunately, I was injured and had to take a year off. I could not find work, so I decided to go back to school to obtain my AutoCAD certificate. There were several jobs I was looking into, but they all wanted CAD, and I didn’t know the program.”

L: “So is this where you changed courses in your career?”

T: “In a roundabout way, yes. I had to learn CAD for any jobs that I was interested in applying for. I had no idea where to start. So, I signed up for classes at the local community college. It was there that one of my professors brought up that one of his old students had reached out to him and said that Norwest was hiring for someone interested in engineering. I remember thinking that I have a geology background, started my new journey, and did not know the likelihood that this engineering firm would hire me. My next thoughts were, 'Worst case scenario, and this would provide me with interviewing practice.' So, I reached out, and I ended up getting an interview. My first interview was over the phone, and it was difficult.” 

L: “How so?”

T: “I'd just come back from Peru, my grandmother had passed away two days after returning home, and I had bronchitis for the first time. All of this happened at the same time. Then on top of it, I had finals. Of course, this is when Norwest called for an interview. I remember Marcy (McCoy) and Randy (Miller) asked me what I knew about the company, and I did not have an answer. I told them I was not going to lie to them but had not researched the company. I wanted to be completely honest.”

L: “Wow, that is impressive with how upfront you were. What were their reactions? I’m assuming good, as you just celebrated two years with the company, I’m guessing.”

T: “I think they appreciated that honesty because they ended up giving me an in-person interview. I do not know if I have ever felt that comfortable in an interview before. Normally I get nervous in interviews. I went in thinking there is no way they are going to hire me. I did not know anything about the company, and I have a geology background which does not have a lot to do with engineering.”

L: “You went in nervous, so what changed?”

T: “Yea, I just went in and had a conversation with them, and it was very fluid. The next thing I know, they called me back, and they wanted to hire me. It just felt right, so I accepted the position.”

L: “It’s amazing how everyone at Norwest makes you feel welcome, a part of the team. How has your experience been working for Norwest?”

T: “There are so many positive things I can say about working here (at Norwest), but I think the two biggest things for me are the people I work with and the fact that I learn a lot. I am constantly learning with every new project. If I had my way, I would be a lifelong student, and at Norwest, I get to be.”

L: “Is it safe to say that education and the ability to grow professionally is important to you?”

T: “Usually, I think people typically find a job; you do the job, go in, go out, and that is it. But here, it is different. I get assigned work to do, and I ask a million questions because I am that person that always asks why. I am inquisitive by nature.”

L: “So I take it that working from home hasn’t been a hardship, and you’ve enjoyed it. Do you have any ‘home office helpers’ so to speak of?”

T: “Working from home has been amazing, I mean, there have been a few comical issues that happened in the beginning, but aside from that, I can’t complain. I do have an "office helper," Sir. Corgo Waddlesworth the Waddle Twinkie, my little Corgi. When I brought him into the office, pre-COVID-19, people called him Twinkie. He answers to all of it.”