#LifeatNutrabolt: Celebrating Black History Month with Ron Taylor Jr.
As we celebrate Black History Month, hear from some of Nutrabolt’s incredible team members as they share how their personal and professional experiences have shaped who they are today.
How would you describe yourself?
Ron Taylor: Logic really sticks out to me. I’m someone who likes to solve puzzles and figure out the best way to approach things. That lends itself to the type of work I do at Nutrabolt as a Senior Supply Chain Analyst because I’m always thinking of ways we can optimize our supply chain process as we produce and transport our product assortment to customers around the world.
What made you decide on a career in Supply Chain?
RT: I started as a General Business major at Michigan State and around my sophomore or junior year, took a Supply Chain course. What I was learning spoke to me like no other class had done, and from that moment forward, I was hooked.
I initially didn’t understand what a career could look like, but that’s what made Supply Chain so alluring. I had heard about others pursuing careers in transportation, inventory, and CPG, and felt like there were a lot of opportunities so I wasn’t limiting myself.
How would you describe the work that you do?
RT: I provide resources and data sets that allow our Supply Chain team to continue optimizing its current process. Our goal is to create tools and graphs that people can look at each day and make smarter decisions. In summary, we help enable others.
Where did you grow up?
RT: I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.
What brought you to Texas?
RT: I never thought I would live anywhere but Michigan until I landed my first job out of college in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and went from cold to colder. You wouldn’t think there is a big difference, but there is — trust me. And when I started thinking about my next career move, I knew I wanted to live somewhere warm.
My girlfriend at the time (now fiancé) lived in Dallas, so I began looking for jobs in Texas. During the two years we were there, we took a few trips to Austin and really enjoyed the vibe. We finally made the move in 2018 and not long after, I found myself working at Nutrabolt.
What attracted to you to Nutrabolt?
RT: When I first read the job description, I knew that this role would help propel me forward in my career. What I didn’t expect was how well I was treated and how friendly everyone was during my interview.
The atmosphere was — and still is — so welcoming. If I could compare it to anything, it would be like when I first visited Michigan State. I chose to attend college there because I could really see myself being there and had that exact same feeling when I walked into the Nutrabolt for my interview.
What’s one thing you love about working at Nutrabolt?
RT: As I mentioned, one thing I’ve always enjoyed is how we have a naturally welcoming culture. We’ve welcomed several new teammates in our department, and it feels like we’ve been working together for years. Nutrabolt has a rapport that people can easily adapt to. We don’t have walls that you have to break down. Everyone is inviting and there is so much knowledge sharing that you can absorb.
What surprises people about you?
RT: I have four tattoos! The one that means the most to me is the one I share with my family. The week before I moved to Minnesota, we all decide to get one together. It’s kind of a family crest because it has everyone’s name written in a circle and in the middle is the letter T for Taylor. It’s a cool symbol because it keeps us all connected, even though I’m across the country.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
RT: For me, Black History Month has always felt like a time to spotlight my own.
Growing up in Detroit, while the schools I attended were predominantly Black, it still felt like we didn’t focus on Black history outside of the month of February. And it was a shock to me when I got older. Now, I use this time, and throughout the rest of the year, to learn about Black leaders and others of influence.
One of my passions is video games and I didn’t realize how influential Black engineers were, like Jerry Lawson, in impacting my daily life in a way that I never thought about.
Even back in my neighborhood, I hear more and more about Black land developers, people who look like me and came from where I came, who are taking advantage of the opportunity to build a foundation for people going forward.
How will you pay it forward?
RT: Growing up in Detroit, I’m one of the only ones from my neighborhood to move away, go to college, and have a successful career path. I feel like I owe it to my friends and family to show that it can be done and be a resource for them.
I also recently joined Nutrabolt’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council and am excited to be a part of the change that is happening across our organization. I’m ready to move from giving my opinion to running with it and seeing its full potential.
