In this blog spotlight, we interviewed Steve B., Former Logistics Officer for the U.S. Marine Corps, about his experience transitioning from his military career to working at CONMED. As a Global Product Manager for the Smoke Evacuation portfolio within the Advanced Surgical division, Steve works with sales, engineering, regulatory affairs, and many other teams to drive growth for the smoke evacuation product portfolio.

What was your role in the military?

I was a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years. I served in logistics billets (specific jobs or positions we fill at a given time), as well as operational and command billets.

How was your post-military job-seeking experience and why did you choose CONMED?

During the interview process, what stood out to me the most about CONMED were the people. Not coming from a medical device or marketing background, I was concerned that I would have a hard time connecting with my civilian coworkers, but everyone at CONMED is very driven and passionate about providing the best quality service to not only the customer, but also to each other. I found the culture here very similar to how Marines and Sailors are trained do whatever it takes to take care of each other and accomplish the mission.

What leadership qualities did you develop in the military that have helped you in your post-military career?

As a Logistics Officer, I was responsible for providing the Marines under my charge with the resources, training, supplies, or time they needed to be successful. The only way I could know what they truly needed is by having a thorough understanding of how they did their job so I could go to the unit leadership or external support agencies and clearly articulate what my team needed and why.

In my current role as a Product Manager, by knowing how the sales professionals position my product line and how the end users interact with the products, I can provide valuable insight to the rest of the cross-functional team when making decisions for the future of our business.

How have the skills you learned in the military helped you to succeed in your current role?

The cross functional team leadership skills I developed in the military have greatly helped me with being an effective Product Manager. Instead of coordinating with S-2, S-3, S-6, supply, or medical, I’m working with sales, engineering, regulatory affairs, and our international business units to make sure everything concerning my product line gets to where it is needed, when it is needed. Building those cross-functional relationships has been essential to success.

What does being a veteran mean to you?

When I was an active-duty service member, my main priority was always taking care of my Marines and Sailors. Now as a veteran, I want to find ways to continue to support them as best I can. By showing transitioning veterans that the skills we developed in the military might not have direct parallels with the corporate work force, but are still applicable and very desirable, it will give them the confidence to try their hand at something new and be successful outside of the military.

Are you looking to apply your military career experience at a growing global company? Join our talent community and visit our careers website to stay up to date on career opportunities at CONMED.