As a process engineer at the Duluth Plant, Elena Morrissette spent part of her childhood in a rural area of Northern Virginia, on the East Coast, where she grew up with her family. After heading to Iowa State University to study mechanical engineering, she lived in several states, gaining exposure to different regions and lifestyles across the U.S. “Part of my family still lives on the East Coast,” she shares. “My sister is in Iowa, and my brother is in Florida.”
After graduation, Elena settled in Minnesota, where she began her career as a design engineer in the construction industry. “I was responsible for fire suppression system design and construction,” she explains. It was during this time that she met her husband. The couple eventually decided to stay in Minnesota, moving to Duluth in search of a lifestyle that felt more familiar. “I grew up in a very rural area, so living in a big city was new—and I realized I didn’t enjoy it. Duluth felt more like home.”
Since joining the Duluth team as a process engineer in 2023, Elena has spent just over a year in the maintenance and engineering department. Her role requires intensive oversight of large-scale maintenance projects. At the time of the interview, she was focused on repairing a crane. “It’s not just about improving processes, but sometimes completely redesigning them,” she explains. “I work closely with our operations team and supervisors to make sure the steps we want to implement are effective.”
Elena illustrates her approach with an example involving the purchase of new equipment for the plant—equipment that differed significantly from what was previously used. This change prompted a dialogue with the operators to understand their main concerns and necessary adjustments. By actively listening to both the operators and local engineers, several modifications were implemented in the foundry. “It’s been four months since we introduced the new equipment, and I can confidently say it has been a success,” she shares. “People are handling it well, and we’ve received very positive feedback regarding the modifications.”
“Ever since my college days, I’ve noticed that only 5 to 11% of the students in my program were women. I find that disheartening because I believe more women should be part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) world. Men and women often approach problems differently, and when tackling a major project, having both perspectives is incredibly valuable. Everyone brings a unique viewpoint to the table.”
— Elena Morrissette, Process Engineer, ME Elecmetal North America – Duluth Plant
Elena Morrissette reflects on her early days in Duluth:
“The weather in Duluth is very cold, but the people here are very friendly. It was a little challenging at first, because I didn’t have much knowledge about foundries, but the team has taken the time to teach me the processes,” she explains.
She also highlights several aspects of her experience at the company:
Each of these aspects contributes to a dynamic and enriching work environment that continually inspires her.
Elena recalls her previous experience at other companies and explains how the slowdown in the construction sector during the pandemic prompted her to shift her focus to maintenance at ME Elecmetal. “Since I started working at ME Elecmetal, I really love it—even if that sounds a bit cliché. The people here are amazing, the work challenges me, and the benefits are great too. I see myself staying at ME Elecmetal for the long term, perhaps even until retirement.”
