Donald Knapik

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

If anyone does it….So can you! My Mother gave me that piece of advise which I didn't particularly appreciate at the time. As far as I could see she accomplished pretty much anything she set out to do. She was a very smart person and stuck to whatever she started. I was a poor student, had an undiagnosed learning disability, and I would graduate from high school as a “c” student. I attended a semester of community college after high school but had no real drive until after I was married (at seventeen), had our first child (at eighteen) and all in all: I worked in many jobs before I "found" my calling so to speak. When I started on the railroad I worked as an assistant conductor (they called us "brakemen" back then). The lowest thing in the transportation “food chain” and while I made it to Vice President, lead the team that brought the first high speed rail operation to north America, managed one of the most expensive transportation projects ever done in the United States, Ran the fourth Largest Commuter Agency in the country, opened railroad, closed railroad, implemented new technology and sat in every chair in the operations hierarchy I always believe that if Someone else could do it so could I. At various career points I was responsible for the entire northeastern passenger service, support or mechanical operations in United States and in parts of Canada. Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right....I thought I could and I did. I think most people can too! After I retired from the railroad, I started my own company....DO it, llc...The name says it all!

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

I was a mid level transportation manager for Amtrak in Philadelphia PA. It was during a very difficult period and everyone was working lots of hours and there seemed no end to the problems we were encountering when the company had decided to open a passenger rail service between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, NJ. I was at a staff meeting and our superintendent was telling us about the project. Most of my peers just looked at each other....they saw it as more work coming their way. When my boss unexpectedly asked if anyone was ready to take on this project, I found myself standing alone in the middle of the group saying,"I will take it on" and shortly thereafter I became the project leader. Because it was new railroad, all departments were working together in a project setting to deliver the line on a very tight schedule, with a constrained budget and with very high expectation for quality of performance and service. It was a chance to practice all the skills I had learned and input them on a very different organizational model. When the line opened, it was on budget and on time. We gradually attained very high marks in overall customer service, equipment reliability and on time performance. It was a team effort and departmental lines had been organizationally blurred to a point where they became insignificant functionally. My experience during this project broadened my experience and set the stage for my next promotion which occurred three years later. The organizational model which we developed would later be used as a prototype for formation of Product lines on the Northeast Corridor between Washington DC and Boston,MA.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

Someone needed to explain that a job was more than just doing some tasks...So you want to work at my company. That’s great because I need people who are going to help us design, build and sell my products and services. I offer money, benefits, and opportunities for advancement, education and security too. So what are you offering me in exchange for these things? Now some people are, in reality, offering to simply trade their time for money…they may, “need a job”, “want to work” or “need the money” and from my perspective…..I may need to hire some of these people to get the product or service out the door. ……But the people I really want (and need) are different…let me tell you who they are: The people I really want are those who are passionate about their work and are going to be the future of my company. They have done their homework and know what we do, how we do it and where we’re going. They want to be involved in moving the company forward and create the innovations and efficiencies that will increase our profitability, market share, and lower our costs. They are the people who consistently perform, help others and want to learn about everything that makes this company work. They know that every position in this company is important to make it run smoothly and efficiently – from the people who sweep the floors to create at safe environment to keep our injury rate (and insurance costs) low, to the people who design the high quality, reliable products we manufacture and sell. They know it’s a team sport and everyone has to play to make it function. They value and respect each of us who plays a part. Not all companies share these attributes and it really does make a difference if you are not, cannot or are unwilling to fit into the work environment where you are seeking employment. So do your research. You’ll be glad you did. When I first entered the job market, I didn't understand the whole business thing - I think I would have done better faster if I had known all this!

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

I was interested in electronics; so it studied and passed a test as an amateur radio operator, This required a broad knowledge of electricity, communications and regulations. I think I was around 13 when I got my license. I was interested in flying and worked at an airport washing private planes, cleaning and helping mechanics in exchange for flying lessons. I had a glider pilots license when I was 14. At the airport I met people who ran the air force training center and was able to get simulator time and got to meet numerous pilots who were happy to share their knowledge. I got to work with my father who repaired equipment for bakeries and restaurants. I learned a lot about mechanical systems, controls and having already had some experience with electricity, I was able to help in a meaningful way. I had a paper route, that is, I delivered papers to 50-60 homes every day for several years. This helped develop a healthy "work ethic". You had to go out every day, very early and if you missed somebody, you had to answer for it. I also learned that making money on your own was very satisfying. I always had an after school job....everything from flipping burgers to working in a print shop. I got to learn a lot about how a business operates.....these jobs did not always help my grades, but did give me lots of varied experiences.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

My Father wanted me to be an "engineer". I didn't do well in math which made going in this direction very difficult and frustrating. Further, in high school, I had no real understanding of what an engineer did. My father had many interesting jobs over his lifetime and I think he always admired the engineers he worked for. This may have contributed to his encouraging me to go in that direction. Over the years, I have taken many "engineering courses" but never really considered taking engineering up as a profession.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

In the transportation industry, when things go wrong, there are usually significant effects. Results of accidents are very serious, even for minor incidents. Things have to get resolved quickly, there is pressure from all directions (media, regulators, customers, state and local governments), there is always difficulties recovering from a disruption, planning and executing a normalization plan, and dealing with regulatory, legal and community issues subsequent to recovery. Depending on the severity, these events can take from a few hours to months and I can recall one that took years before all was said and done. If you're in charge, it is not easy!

How did you start building your network?

I started my "network" with people I knew, had similar interests and whom I trusted. In each job, trade association, hobby or social setting I would be listening to people, and began associating myself with the ones' who held similar values and experiences. I would try to help anyone who asked, listened when people needed to talk, and gradually and incrementally, a "network" started to form. I believe a real network is so much more than having lots of followers, electronic friends or groups.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

Regardless of what position I held, I was always working with people, tracking what was going on in my work area ( by walking around, examining statistics, meetings and communicating via all means), looking for things that could be done better, formulating plans for projects, events, and operations. Training and mentoring people...insuring that things that I was responsible for were accomplished and the goals of the department and company were being met in a safe and efficient manner.