Greetings! I'm Garrett. I work with automotive software, I think computers are neat, and I have a cat named Chicken. 

professional experience

Technical Specialist - Software

Blue Bird Corporation

9/2022 - Present

I develop and manage the embedded control software for vehicles and the associated production tools. Acting as the lead software architect, I designed improvements to diagnostics and functionality, and implemented an automated software tool chain for automated build production. I frequently work with other engineers on new software features, helping to define requirements, testing procedures, and implementation details. I also often work with field service engineers to address bugs and other software issues among units in the field. All these tasks and software projects are managed through a GitHub Enterprise environment that I also administer. Continued efforts include designing and implementing more safety sensitive software for powertrain, ADAS, and similar controllers. 

Design Engineer - Chassis

Blue Bird Corporation

5/2020- 9/2022

As a chassis design engineer, I worked on projects ranging from fuel tank analyses involving FEA and crash testing, to suspension and driveline changes involving careful coordination with vendors and internal departments to manage the supply chain.  3D design work in CATIA was extensive, and analyses involved both technical and business effects. Peer reviews and presentations to outside stakeholders were a frequent part of this role as well. Contemporary experience with software, both in school and from personal projects, led to my subsequent role.

Program Chair - Metrology

Central Georgia Technical College

3/2018 - 5/2020

The Metrology (calibration science) program at Central Georgia Technical College was the nation's only fully online metrology diploma and degree program at the time. My goal while Program Chair was to revitalize the curriculum and boost local enrollment. All while also working with Academic Affairs staff and industry experts to ensure changes met accreditation and enrollment requirements. 

Program Chair - Engineering Technology

Central Georgia Technical College

8/2016 - 5/2020

Under my leadership, the Engineering Technology program at Central Georgia Tech grew from a nascent and struggling program to one of the school's flagship offerings. Articulation agreements were signed with four-year universities to facilitate 4-year degree pathways. I also worked with Institutional Effectiveness staff to implement federal grant initiatives, maintain continuous improvement among course materials and student outcomes, and pursue further accreditation through ABET's Engineering Technology commission.

Instructor - Engineering Technology

Central Georgia Technical College

5/2016 - 8/2016

Leveraging my industry experience building and selling 3D printers, I was able to obtain a full time faculty position to supplement my business income and provide benefits. I quickly acclimated to the teaching environment and received excellent reviews from students. Academic Affairs realized the existing leadership was not prepared to grow the program, and approached me to take over as Program Chair. 

Founder and Systems Engineer

Marion Systems LLC

4/2012 - Present

After graduating from Georgia Tech right as the Great Recession peaked, finding work was difficult. I turned a hobby into a modestly successful small business. I designed, built, sold, and supported three separate lines of filament based 3D printers. Leveraging open source parts and software, as well as custom designed and fabricated parts, I built and sold several dozen 3D printers, and service contracts to schools, colleges, and small businesses throughout the state of Georgia. Over time other career opportunities, coupled with market shifts, resulted in the business being scaled back to occasional projects for artists, non-profits, and other small businesses.

Education

Master of Science - Software Engineering

Kennesaw State University

5/2024

Coursework completed on advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence, and software systems management. Thesis option was chosen as I wanted a more research-focused program of study to pursue AI more intensely than coursework permitted. Research focus is segmentation of point clouds in an automotive context, and similar embedded applications of 3D computer vision.

Thesis: Semantic Segmentation of Point Cloud Sequences using Point Transformer v3

Bachelor of Science - Aerospace Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

12/2011

The chosen focus was Space Systems, and included coursework in control system design, high and low-speed aerodynamics, and orbital mechanics. My senior capstone team won third place in a national AIAA Undergraduate Design Competition. I also completed a minor in German and spent an 8-week summer term in Germany as part of the LBAT (Language for Business and Technology) Program. 

Minor: German

Associate of Science - Engineering

University of North Georgia

12/2007

The associate of science in engineering was a degree program offered as part of the Regents' Engineering Transfer Program (RETP). The program encompassed the core curriculum in addition to math and science coursework specific to engineering. As I finished my degree here and began coursework at Georgia Tech, I worked as a full time staff member of the Office of Information Technology; managing a group of student help desk workers and assisting with IT support and deployments.

Minor: Mathematics

Certifications

Fanuc CERT Level I - Material Handling Operation and Programming

Ogeechee Technical College

3/2020

Certified to operate and program Fanuc material handling robots. Course was taken at Ogeechee Technical College's official Fanuc training facility. 

Fanuc CERT Level II - IRvision

Ogeechee Technical College

3/2020

This course certified me to implement the Fanuc IRvision add-on to the material handling robots. This add-on helps facilitate automate sorting and material handling through the use of computer vision. The course was also offered at Ogeechee Tech's official Fanuc training facility. 

Graduate Certificate - Computer Science Foundations

Kennesaw State University

12/2019

This graduate certificate covered the highlights of a computer science undergraduate program. It included coursework on computer architecture and hardware, object oriented programming, data structures, database design, and discrete mathematics. 

Volunteer work

STEAM Committee Chairperson

Magnolia Soap Box Derby

5/2019 - Present

I coordinate with roughly two dozen local high schools, non-profits, and community organizations to facilitate a gravity racing competition based on the All American Soap Box Derby's Super Stock class of racing kits. Additionally, I work with other day-of volunteers to set up and operate a STEAM Learning Zone in the adjacent park to the event. In the learning zone are stations where kids can learn the basics of physics and racing using hot wheels cars and tracks. We are also including art among the learning zone, thus the "A" added to STEM. 

STEM Committee Volunteer

Magnolia Soap Box Derby

1/2018 - 5/2019

Initially volunteering to help with the STEM committee in implementing the newly proposed STEM Learning Zone for the park. This was a project implemented with a grant that helped supply super stock derby kits to public schools, and to set up an outreach to younger children who couldn't participate in the race. 

Member - Engineering Advisory Committee

Houston County High School

2017 - 2019

As a member of this engineering advisory committee I provided feedback and recommendations for engineering education and program enhancements. 

Member - Engineering Advisory Committee

Mary Persons High School

2018

As a member of this board only briefly, I provided similar feedback and recommendations to the faculty for the betterment of the school's engineering program.