It has been an honor for Empowering Pumps & Equipment over the years to shine a light on the professionals behind the industries that are vital to life and share their stories with our #PumpTalk Community. We are proud to have Caitlyn Young-Gilbert as our June #Pumptalk Celebrity. She is the Chief Of Staff and Head of Community Impact at UpKeep Technologies and has tons of insight to share with us. We hope you enjoy her story!
Q: How did you get started working in your field?
Caitlyn: I’ve always been passionate about making a positive impact on the world, and I got my start in the nonprofit sector, working on various social impact initiatives. However, I always knew that I wanted to be able to create change from a for-profit business’ very beginning which is what drew me to the world of startups. So when I heard about UpKeep and their mission to improve the lives of blue collar workers through better maintenance management, I was immediately intrigued.
It resonated with me that UpKeep’s work had a direct impact on the lives of so many hardworking individuals in the blue collar workforce. I knew that I wanted to be part of a team that was dedicated to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m excited to see what the future holds as we continue to innovate!
Q: What do you love the most about your job? What are you most proud of?
Caitlyn: What I love most about my job is the opportunity to make a real, tangible impact on a population that has been underserved for a long time. At UpKeep, we’re focused on improving the lives of blue collar workers by empowering them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. I love that I am able to be a part of such a collaborative culture that continues to create new outreach initiatives to help connect us with the communities we serve.
And what I’m most proud about is my ability to grow the company while staying true to our core values and continuing our commitment to doing good every step of the way. It’s not always easy to balance the needs of a growing business with the desire to make a positive impact on the world, but at UpKeep, we’ve found a way to do both!
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work or new to the field?
Caitlyn: If I were to give advice to someone who is considering my line of work or who is new to the field, it would be this: don’t be nervous to dig in and learn as much as you can! When I first started in this industry, I struggled with imposter syndrome and worried that I didn’t have the skills or knowledge to make a positive impact on a community so foreign to me. But what I quickly discovered was that the entire industry was incredibly welcoming and supportive, and that people were eager to help me learn and grow. Once I embraced the challenges and gained more experience, knowledge, and support from my community, I never looked back!
Q: Can you talk about a project you recently worked on?
Caitlyn: One recent project that I’m particularly proud of is my work on The Maintenance Community Coalition Slack Group (https://upkeep.org/) This group was created to connect individuals in the maintenance, reliability, and manufacturing fields with job resources, opportunities, and recruiters.
As a team, we created a platform where job-seekers could find the resources and connections they need to succeed. We recently rolled out several exciting new features for our members including regular job bulletins that include expert interview advice and job-seeking tips, resume pointers from professional resume writers, and even a network of recruiting partners who are sharing brand new job openings with our members on a regular basis!
Overall, this project has been incredibly fulfilling, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to support individuals in these critical industries. I’m excited to see how the group continues to grow and evolve in the months and years ahead.
Connect with Caitlyn on LinkedIn!
