Kortni Pendon

I'm a single parent and I used to work odd and end jobs like retail, warehousing, fast food, and went to college full time. I had a hard time keeping up with my school from working late hours and my body would get sick from not sleeping, so I joined the United Stated Navy. Was in the Navy for 7 years, became a single mom in the military with 2 kids for a couple of years. I decided to get out and try to find a better paying job from my military experience and I couldn't find job to be able to fully support my kids on my own. Luckily, I have a great support system locally and my parents let my kids and I stay with them while I went to school full time. I originally wanted to go to school to be an Aviation maintenance technician until I found a Mechatronics program at Clover Park Technical college. I had no clue what Mechatronics was, so I did some research on it, and it was everything that I've ever wanted to learn. I grew up as a daddies girl getting my hands dirty since he was a mechanic and my stepfather-built houses for a living. I'm currently a student at Clover Park Technical College and one of Mechatronics club officers. I reached out on LinkedIn for guest speakers and tours for the club and that is how Ali from Process and Controls Engineering found me and hired me on as a Controls Engineer while I'm finishing up school. Since I've been working PCE I am able to get more money to support my family. Took me a while to get to the point that I am at now and I've worked at many different jobs. Retail, warehousing, Fastfood, travel defense system, government accounts payable, closing out contracts, aircraft handling, travel merchandising, aviation frame shop mechanic, managed barracks buildings and rooms, worked at a family fun center, and now I'm a controls engineer. haha