Life at GE Plastics

Laura Wayne Sherry Antonella Kazunao Kay

Kazu Kubotera
Selkirk, NY
Product Development Technologist
Global Noryl¨ Technology

When it comes to knowing where he's headed, Kazu Kubotera has one thing to say:

"I am in the middle of a global market dynamo!"

He's talking about his career at GE Plastics, which began over four years ago. As a Product Development Technologist, Kazu helps shape the materials manufactured by the Noryl¨ Technology team. "We won a bronze medal during the Six Sigma Best Practice Competition," he's quick to point out.

Kazu is also a member of the Asian Pacific American Forum, one of many employee-focused networking and support groups at GEP. As such, Kazu spends a lot of his time helping co-workers who may be early on in their careers. "They just need a little help to learn the ropes," he explains. "The cultures - from the many in Asia, to this one in America - are very different."

The other side of the equation is how GEP relies on Kazu's (and the entire APAF's) insights to enhance the company's competitiveness on a global basis, but especially in Asia. "It's not too much of a strain," jokes Kazu, "GEP on its own has a very global vision."

Receiving his Bachelor's degree from Hokkaido University in Japan and his Master's and Doctorate from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he spent the early part of his career at Toray Industries and Nippon Steel Corp. "It was their technological innovation," Kazu says of GEP, "that drew me to work here. Building on my technical strengths and background, I was able to take advantage of the opportunity GEP presented."

Now, what he appreciates most about the company is both its relentless pursuit of excellence and its intense focus on marketing. He feels that these two qualities, combined with the many valuable experiences he gets every day, will help him meet his own career goal of one day establishing his own firm.

"The industries our Noryl¨ products find homes in are electronics and communication," he says. "Those areas are constantly expanding and demanding new technology. And there's nothing more satisfying than being the person who provides it."