Profile

Name: Heather

Group: Technical Marketing

Year Started: 2002

Why is your National experience different than other companies you've worked for?

"National moves at a very fast pace, caters to the customer's needs through new cutting edge products, yet still maintains a friendly atmosphere."

What do you think makes your particular work group unique?

"Everyone has some hidden talent and everyone works well with one another."

What aspect of National gets you up in the morning and makes you want to come to work?

"Every day brings new opportunities and exciting experiences."

What's the best part of your job?

"I love audio, and I love constantly trying to find solutions."

Why is analog an exciting industry in which to work?

"Some technologies have been around forever, but we still find ways to make them the latest and greatest."

Can you tell us about a certain incident or experience that really captures your National camaraderie or inside experience?

"After going through the Product Line Marketing Rotation Program, you realize that you share something in common with all the other rotatees. Before long, I was able to become really close with everyone in my group. We always check back with one another now that we are in different product lines (divisions within National that develop different products), and still the situations that we are each going through are not much different from one another. It is always nice to have a few close friends at work that you can share personal and work related subjects with; it just makes work a bit more fun."

What can you tell us about the direction of the company? Where is it headed? "It seems as if the company has no place to go but up, we just seem to have the right formula to make it work."

What do you think is the coolest solution or product that National has created?

"I'm biased, I think the coolest product that National has created is our LM4857 which is the first audio subsystem for multimedia handsets. There are so many different modes to play the output, and it has I2C control to determine which mode you want, I must say who knew Audio could get so complex. I also think the new products we are coming out with to drive ceramic speakers are pretty cool. Technology is always changing, and audio always seems to have a solution that fits."

What object on your desk can you not live without?

"Binder Clips."

Why is your career with National a good opportunity for you in terms of the technology?

"I've learned so much about technology here at National, the rotation program allowed me to learn more about other product lines and the new technologies in the various end products as well as our technological abilities at National. Now that I am in Audio, I've learned so much about various capabilities I can truly say that anything is possible. Due to the fact that we have so many capabilities it's become imperative to know about all the cutting edge technologies in the market and keep myself up to date. I just wish someone would have let me in on some of these things when I was in school."

Is there corporate inspiration or leadership that you can talk about and reflect on?

"My former boss is very inspirational to me, he has a very strong love for audio and it can be seen in all his devotion to the product line. He is a role model from his technical expertise and his knowledge of the market. Shall I say 'pure genius'? However, everyone is constantly growing and the trick is to grow in ways that make you happy, whether it is up the corporate ladder or developing interests in different areas. My former boss has shown me how to look inside and really find what I want and what makes me happy. How happy he seems in his new position in audio is inspiration enough."

Elaborate on the personal side of National, the touchy feely aspect...

"If you read everything that I have said above I don't know how I can add any more to the personal side of National. It is a technical place to be but I don't think I would be able to work here without my close relationships and the happiness I feel."

Share an insider scoop about National that nobody knows about except those who work there.

"The cafe is pretty good and the courses at the gym are taught well. We have a beautiful campus, which makes me feel like I'm still in college at times."