- How did you come to the US- why and when?
I arrived in San Francisco on January 12th 2019 with my spouse, Cécile. For the moment we are planning to stay in SF one year. My spouse is starting a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology, in San Francisco, at SKERI (Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute). So, in 2019, I took an unpaid leave of absence to come to SF with her. I have applied for a US work permit and hope to get it quickly. I would love to find a job linked to the maintenance or investment projects, as it is how my career started and is what I like doing. I am also ready to work in any other field if I have an interesting opportunity, as this year I am open to try something new.
- Tell us about your career path and area of expertise today. How did it come about?
In France, I have worked for 7 years at ArcelorMittal in Dunkerque, a big factory of 2500 employees - which produces steel coils from iron ore and coal. I spent these 7 years in a Central Maintenance Department. During the first four years, I led maintenance projects and I implemented 5 numerical control machine tools for our workshop.
When I found out that our mechanical workshop manager is leaving the company, I applied for this position. I was young and it was a challenging position as the job implied managing 100 people, but it worked out. So for the past 3 years, I was responsible for the site mechanical workshop, which main mission was to repair mechanical parts for the production facilities.
My area of expertise is the maintenance strategy, the mechanical repairs (including machining and welding), and I have a good experience of team and project management.
- How did being a Gadz’Arts help you in your everyday tasks and team management?
Gadz network was very helpful! In ArcelorMittal, we were a good team of Gadz’Arts seeing each other at work and spending time outside of work together. Thanks to my network, I knew some maintenance managers who later became my friends. It helped communicate faster.
- What is the best advice someone ever gave you? Why?
“Set your objective. If you have an objective, work hard for it, you will manage to achieve it”. This is pretty much what my best friend said to me when I was following preparatory classes. The first semester, I was ranked in the second half of the class, as I was not working enough. My friend talked to me about Arts et Métiers engineering school, and this is how I started working for this goal, and was 1st of the class after that for 2 years.
- What is your favorite way to spend your free time (hobbies, weekend activities)? Tell us about places, activities you have discovered in SF and surroundings.
My favorite activity is hiking, especially in the mountains. The last big hike I did was in Switzerland: “Le tour des dents du midi” in 4 days. I also enjoy biking, running.
In France, I often played tennis and squash.
I also love playing music. I have been playing the saxophone for 16 years, and the guitar - for 5 years.
A place I really like in the SF Bay Area is Marin Headlands, especially by bike. I bought a used bike and like to explore the area going down from Hawk Hill to Point Bonita Lighthouse. I hope to discover a lot of new places I will enjoy here in San Francisco.
Thank you, Pierre-Edouard, for sharing with AFAM!
On the picture: Pierre-Edouard with his wife Cécile
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