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College of Natural Resources
Forest Biomaterials

Carter Rechtin – Class of ’13

March 11, 2019
Alumni Spotlight

Carter Rechtin graduated from NC State in 2013 with a degree in Paper Science and Engineering. We reached out to Carter to find about his current career, and advice for current students. Thanks for your time and for sharing Carter!

Experiences at NC State

  • Internship/co-op experience: I worked 2 summers for Eka Chemicals – Summer 2012 in West Point, VA and Summer 2013 in Zachary, LA. I was also fortunate enough to be able to also work occasional weekends during the academic year.
  • Clubs/Hobbies: PSE Intramural Sports
  • Favorite part of PSE Program: My favorite part of the PSE program is the closeness of the students, faculty, and alumni. It truly is like a family.
  • Favorite Classes: PSE 201 – Aside from the fact that this is everyone’s introduction to Dr. Byrd and Paper Science, this is also the class where I met my wife, Cydney. This class will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason.  PSE 360 – I enjoyed PSE 360 with Dr Jameel so much so that I asked to be the TA (teachers assistant) the following year. I believe this class was integral in my development as an engineer. This was also the beginning of my personal relationship with Dr J which eventually led to us asking him to be the officiant at our wedding.  PSE 415 – Despite the difficulty, the analytical tools that I gained in this class were a comparative advantage when I joined the workforce.

Current Career Information

  • Company/job position: Georgia Pacific – Brownstock Manufacturing Engineer
  • Years at current job: March 2019
  • Favorite part of current job: My favorite part of my current job is the opportunity to learn new things daily, innovate, and impart sustainable positive change.
  • Biggest accomplishment in your career: I was part of a team in one of my previous roles that filed for a patent on a process that I was heavily involved with. If the patent is granted, I will consider this one of the largest accomplishments of my career to date.

What other positions have you held

  • What other positions have you had: Enzymatic Deinking Technologies – Field Service Engineer, Georgia Pacific Containerboard – Corporate Containerboard R&D Engineer, Georgia Pacific Palatka – Shift Capability Leader

What is your advise for current students

  • Study to learn, not to pass tests, and be social. Networking has gotten me many of the job opportunities that I have had up to this point in my career. I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of being social and building relationships with industry professionals at career fairs, interview days, and foundation events.

Personal Information

  • Hometown:Greensboro, NC
  • Family: Cydney (my wife) and I live in St Augustine, Florida with our two cats. We enjoy spending time on the beach and being active in our free time. Taking in the sights of the many national parks through hiking and camping trips has been one of our favorite hobbies lately.  My parents still live in Greensboro and I have a younger brother who currently lives in Raleigh.