Welcome to the 6th episode of our Meet the SOLIDWORKS Super Users Series

We continue to feature Q&A with some of the incredible people from around the world that have been using SOLIDWORKS to power their business and enrich their lives.

Get to know them as they share their experiences, what they find to be valuable to their ongoing success, valuable pieces of knowledge and advice and how they are even engaging within our SOLIDWORKS communities here on 3DSwym.

We are very pleased to unmask the 6th Super User - and this is a first in our series - as you can probably tell by the intro graphic.  Say hello, everyone to: @BB!

Betty has been using SOLIDWORKS for many years and is also a User Group Leader and a teacher, mentor and inspiration to many young kids starting their life's adventure.  I connected with Betty when I was on travel and apologies up front for some of the audio quality dipping below Level Awesome - but I believe you will understand most of it - and I hope enjoy all of it!

Without further ado, I present to you in Audio and Transcript:

Member Spotlight

Interview Transcript:

Matthew Hall  0:00 

Hello, everyone. Thanks for joining us today at our next unmasking of a SOLIDWORKS superhero. And this one, we have a very special guest with us today. 🥁 Drumroll……..: Betty Baker is joining us today to answer a few questions I'm going to pose to the superhero of SOLIDWORKS. So, Betty, thank you very much for joining us today!

Betty Baker  0:21 

Thank you, Matt, for having me.

Matthew Hall  0:23 

Awesome. You're here. So thanks for your time. I know you're really busy. So, Betty, for our listeners, can you just quickly introduce who you are and where you work? And then we'll dive into the questions.

Betty Baker  0:34 

I'm Betty Baker. I am a domestic casegoods, product engineer for Ashley Furniture in Arcadia, Wisconsin.

Matthew Hall  0:42 

Oh, Wisconsin, where they have very good cheese. I've heard - or is that Wyoming? I get my W's mixed up.

Betty Baker  0:48 

No, no, Wisconsin is cheese! 🧀

Matthew Hall  0:50 

It is the cheese. All right. All right. Well, Betty. Well, thank you very much for joining us. Today, I have a few questions similar to like the other superheroes we've asked in the past. So we're gonna see what we can learn about you Today. 

Matthew Hall  1:04 

In your history of working with SOLIDWORKS. How many years have you been using SOLIDWORKS?

Betty Baker  1:11 

I think we started using SOLIDWORKS here at Ashley furniture back in 1998, where we moved from AutoCAD. So I just realized that's 25 years ago already.

Matthew Hall  1:23 

Already! That's a long time.

Betty Baker  1:25 

It is yes. Because I was totally scared to go from AutoCAD to SOLIDWORKS. I wasn't comfortable. I didn't think I mean, I was comfortable in the 2d world. And I didn't know if I could understand a new software and if I could think in 3D, but once we started using it, it was it was great. And we have not looked back once.

Matthew Hall  1:50 

Entering the third dimension and interesting challenge. But it seems you've done very well with it. That's good to hear. At Ashley there, what are you doing at work on a daily basis and integrating SOLIDWORKS into that work? How's it all happen there?

Betty Baker  2:06 

So like I said, I'm a domestic casegoods product engineer, which means I engineer bedroom furniture that is produced domestically here in Arcadia, Wisconsin. So I am assigned a bedroom group and I'm in charge of every aspect of that group from drawing it in SOLIDWORKS, setting up the bill of materials, doing a regulatory testing, I'm out there on the assembly line when the model is in production for the first time. So I basically have ownership of this entire group from conception until it's eventually discontinued. And I work with many areas of the company. So I work with the design department, R&D, jigs and fixtures. We work with the automation, guys, purchasing, packaging, production, inventory, control, scheduling, fabrication, assembly, graphics design, all the way to customer service. So we basically work with every single department and we touch every aspect of the product basically.

Matthew Hall  3:15 

From inception to go out the door to customers. Wow, that is great.

So you're working in this particular area and trends and styles and things change over time. It's probably presenting you with new and interesting challenges on a regular basis. How are you using SOLIDWORKS to solve any of the challenges you face in your daily work,

Betty Baker  3:38 

Our design department comes up with all of our designs, so yes, they're following different trends. But yeah, we use SOLIDWORKS to make sure everything fits together. We're constantly checking for proper tolerances, making sure we have our yields correct for our machines.  We not only assemble each individual piece of furniture - so you know we build the dresser and chest and a nightstand. But we also make sure that it makes a complete bed and like everything fits together. So, you know the headboard, the foot board, the rails use that model, our packaging engineers take our model to make our packaging from it. We use that solid model to make our instruction sheets and our customer service drawings for our customers. So that model gets used over and over.

Matthew Hall  4:32 

You're covering so many areas, so many things. Is there one particular area that is persistent or a big challenge to you but

Betty Baker  4:39 

No, basically just making sure everything that fits together and that. Yeah, it all goes together and assembles the way we want it to. We actually draw the exact way that it's going to flow down our assembly line. So we put it together exactly the way that they're going to see it and they can look at our or images out on the floor and follow right along.

Betty Baker  5:03 

I guess I also use SOLIDWORKS as a FIRST Robotics coach. So we work with high school students and teach them SOLIDWORKS. And I find some of my biggest challenges there. Because here at Ashley they address, bedroom furniture, so it's basically a lot of squares and rectangles that I'm putting together.  I first of all, don't know a lot about robotics and the automation side of things. So I'm constantly having to teach myself so that I can teach the students. So we end up having a six week build time from when we get our challenge each year, until our first competition. So the design and engineering side of things is very short. And we need to accomplish a lot in that short amount of time. So we need to be prototyping parts within a few days or within a week. So that can be kind of a challenge. I have to work with gears or pulleys or belts or things like that. And so those are things I'm not used to working with.

Matthew Hall  6:04 

So you're a teacher, but you're learning and just out of curiosity for the students you're working with what age range? Or what level of students?

Betty Baker  6:13 

They're high school students. So yeah, we have a community team. So we're pulling students in from lie five area high schools.

Matthew Hall  6:22 

Wow. So you're covering a wide range there - or areas.

Betty Baker  6:25 

Yeah, we're in a very rural area here in Wisconsin.

Matthew Hall  6:31 

Is Wisconsin at the home is at the headquarters of Ashley as well,

Betty Baker  6:35 

It is that this is where Ashley Furniture started? Yes. I actually sit in the very first main building we ever had

Matthew Hall  6:42 

Cool - asking because we have an Ashley Furniture up where I live in Vermont,

Betty Baker  6:47 

I actually work in the factory where we're actually produce it though,

Matthew Hall  6:51 

You're using SOLIDWORKS a lot you're teaching students and as you said, your everyday is also you're learning something new. But with all these features and functions that are in SOLIDWORKS and available for you to leverage. Do you have a particular favorite feature in SOLIDWORKS that you really enjoy using? Or is there a best feature best tool aspect of SOLIDWORKS that you really like?

Betty Baker  7:17 

I have a couple of favorite things, I guess in SOLIDWORKS.  Of course, I like how quickly and easily I can copy something. And if it's all mated correctly, I can easily make just a few changes and have a completely new model. So here at Ashley Furniture, we typically do not start from scratch with any item that we make. You start with a dresser and then do our design copy and make it a chest. So we can reuse as many parts as possible, just change the size a little bit. And then that we can always bring along the part and the drawing at the same time when we copy it. Saves us a lot of time from having to recreate all of the drawings from scratch, basically.

Betty Baker  8:05 

And then I also like that there isn't just one way to do things. There's multiple ways of doing things. And I'm constantly learning and finding new things. So I send out a weekly SOLIDWORKS tip. And the software is 25 years old, or I've been using it for 25, and there's still something that I can learn and share each week. It amazes me when I get someone that has been using it for a long time - 20 plus years.

Matthew Hall  8:39 

Well, yeah, that's what I've heard from even those other past people I've interviewed - yourself as well: that is you're always discovering something new within SOLIDWORKS.

Matthew Hall  8:50 

Let's move on to the next question here a little bit...

Betty, you've been using SOLIDWORKS for a little while now, let's say - you're experienced...And if you met a younger Betty or someone else coming in just starting out with SOLIDWORKS, they're they're just getting their hands on it and they're starting to use it and wondering what is this all about? Is there any particular advice that you would share with someone in that situation?

Betty Baker  9:15 

I guess I'd advise all new users to join the SOLIDWORKS User Group and to join the [SOLIDWORKS User] Forum. So by attending a SOLIDWORKS user group, not only will they gain valuable knowledge from the other users that they meet, but they'll also teach the seasoned users something. They're they're gonna bring something to the table, also. So it's always nice to see a fresh mind or a new set of eyes and see the different perspectives that they have.

Matthew Hall  9:46 

So what about the forums, what they recommend about the forums?

Betty Baker  9:48 

The forums are a wealth of knowledge. I mean, the guys are out there, constantly answering questions. There's many users that are on the forums all the time. And they're going to quickly answer your question. So it's like, don't be afraid to research your question. chances are someone has already asked it and it's floating out there somewhere on the forum. And like I said: don't be afraid to ask because we've all been in the same situation, as they have. We were all new users at some point in our career. So we've probably asked that question already. And people are just waiting - like Eric Beatty; he's just waiting out there to answer someone's question and hop on the forum. And the answers are out there, and people are willing to help you. And they want to see what you're working on. Also waiting for you to ask the question. Yes, that's the nice thing is like you're there other people are there waiting to help out. 

Matthew Hall  10:36

For someone who's starting out someone who's new to SOLIDWORKS to continue on that theme, what certifications do you have and what learning paths or SOLIDWORKS certifications would you recommend for someone new to SOLIDWORKS? And I'll leave it there. Yeah. So what what would you recommend for them to pick up and learn?

Betty Baker  11:01 

So I am currently a CSWP, which is a Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional. So I got certified back in, I think 2005 When it was the horrible eight hour test, but it was awesome. But I'm a big fan of  SolidProfessor for new users, and the tutorials that are inside of SOLIDWORKS. Even after using SOLIDWORKS for 25 years like I do, you can easily go to each of the tutorials and get a quick refresher on something and if you aren't sure how to do it.

Resource: SOLIDWORKS Certification Program

Matthew Hall  11:37 

Any other bits of advice you'd recommend to them?

Betty Baker  11:40 

Yeah, I'd also recommend, besides the SOLIDWORKS certifications, we offer, like our FIRST Robotics students and our interns the chance to get certified. It shows they know the software, and hopefully gives them that advantage when they get to school and get in the job market that they know the software and, you know, it shows that they have the knowledge of the software. And then I guess also talk to your VAR - they're extremely helpful, and they offer classes for you to take also.

Matthew Hall  12:11 

Okay, good. So there's plenty of opportunity to study up and learn, make yourself more marketable. Great advice. Earlier, we mentioned the SOLIDWORKS User Forum. And just kind of curious, what are you doing in the forum? And how are you? How are you engaging there?

Betty Baker  12:28 

I do engage in the SOLIDWORKS forum, but not nearly as much as I should.

Matthew Hall  12:34 

Uh, oh! 😒

Betty Baker  12:35 

...I do wish, I know, I wish I had more time and more knowledge so that I could help more people and answer more questions for them. But I actually find I'm the one that's out there trying to gain more knowledge for myself, so I can learn different things and teach the students.  So I'm actually using the forum to learn and not as much as I would like to share with other people.

Matthew Hall  13:01 

They but time is our most precious commodity. So I understand but no thanks for what you are already and have been doing there in our user forum. So thank you for that.

Matthew Hall  13:10 

And: so you're active in there. So and you mentioned a name earlier, Eric. And besides following you within our 3DSwym-based, SOLIDWORKS User Forum, who else comes to mind that you would recommend to our listeners to check out connect, follow within the forum

Betty Baker  13:31 

The SOLIDWORKS community is full of expert people. And I hate to name names because I know I'm gonna miss someone, but there's so many people that I've met over the years and look up to, like,  @SC from Texas, @JM, @ML, @EB, @TB, @JL - who ends up being everywhere, and everywhere all the time. Yeah, @DG - he, constantly is having answers for people; @AV and @TS. You know, these are just a few of the people but these are the regular names that you hear all the time.

And there's also many user group leaders and the committee reps; they're constantly sharing ideas, giving presentations to anyone that needs help. I guess one of the biggest experts that has helped me over my career is probably @JSr. Jeff's been - well, he's used SOLIDWORKS from day one back in '95 - but he's helped me with so many SOLIDWORKS presentations from our user group over the last 20 years. So I'm the leader of the La Crosse, Eau Claire, Winona Area User Group (LEWA). Since its conception, I've been part of the group and Jeff's been helping us since Day One. But he's always willing to drive to my meetings in a snowstorm he has about a four hour drive every time and he's willing to lend a hand to answer your question, anytime that I have one, or if someone from my User Group asks a question, I can send it off. And I guess Jeff and his whole team at GSC have been kind of our backbone on ways for us to learn SOLIDWORKS.

Matthew Hall  15:18 

Well, thank you to Jeff if he's listening in. And you know, and thanks for covering such a wide area in getting the word out and helping people and you know, your User Group Leadership as well. And you mentioned some very familiar names that we see in the formula. They're all well known by many, many people's is become like a second family in a way I would suggest.

Betty Baker  15:39 

Yeah, it is. It's like I talk to these people, some of them, I mean, on a weekly basis. So yeah, I do talk to some of these people more than I talk to my family. We are a family.

Matthew Hall  15:54 

Yeah, it's a SOLIDWORKS Family. That's great & that's a message I've heard a lot. You feel that family. And it's great, it's not anonymous, you know who the people are, you can trust them. So thank you for being part of that family and you're reinforcing that message there.

Let's see, I'm just keeping one eye on the clock. Because I know you're you're quite busy out there with your work and all the areas that you have to touch and take care of. So I'm going to ask you a final question that I've asked all the superheroes that we are removing the mask on and I'll ask you the same - is there in your life? This doesn't have to be SOLIDWORKS related or not, but it's up to you. So in your life, is there a particular quote that inspires and motivates you, Betty?

Betty Baker  16:38 

I guess I don't know that I really have a quote. But I guess the thing for me is to:

Always Say Yes

It's one thing that I wish I would have done sooner in my career. And I always try to tell, like, a new person or robotic students, that they need to say, yes. You just need to be open, you need to try things. Some of the biggest and the best things in my own career and have happened to me have been because I said yes. And I tried something new. Was I scared and uncomfortable? Definitely!  But they all turned out to be amazing experiences that made me grow, and made me better. You know, like, traveling overseas... I taught a SOLIDWORKS class at our local community college. And that was scary, because I'm not a teacher. But they needed someone. And I said, yes and that turned out to be amazing. It was an awesome adventure for me. And then like being a FIRST Robotics coach. You know, these are just a couple of things that I was very hesitant about, but I said yes to them, and they turned out to be great experiences. And they helped me grow as an individual and as a leader. So I always try to tell students that for their career path, you know, it's not a straight line. So they're just not going to go from point A to point B and retire, you know. Chances are, where they start their career will not be where they end it. There's going to be many twists and turns along the way. So you know, just try to stay yes, and try new things. You're gonna find out if you like it, or you don't like it, but you'll have that experience, and it will help you grow.

Matthew Hall  18:25 

That's great advice. Yeah, get out of those comfort zones. Because life is never just a straight line like you said. One of my favorite sayings is: Better to try and fail than fail to try. And like what you said, saying yes, it's, it's going to open up your life and experiences so many different new possibilities and opportunities. So great advice for people just starting out.

All right, Betty, well, thank you very much for your time, taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us and share some of your experiences with us. And of course, all your contributions you've been giving back to the SOLIDWORKS family and students who are just starting out - that's wonderful and greatly appreciated. So I'm glad we had the opportunity to "unmask" you today and expose who you are and everything that you are doing for the community. So thank you very much for your time.

Betty Baker  19:18 

Thank you for having me. I enjoyed it!

Matthew Hall  19:20 

All right, thanks!

Additional Link(s):

• Click to access all the SOLIDWORKS Super Hero Stories

Super User SOLIDWORKS Super Users Stories  Q&A