Employee Spotlight – Jim Swain

“No matter where you go, there you are.”

This month’s employee spotlight is on Jim Swain, Applications Consultant for Synergis Manufacturing. Jim joined Synergis 25 years ago this June as a Trainer/Applications Engineer. Since then, he has held various roles as a MCAD Applications Engineer and as a Project Manager of our EDS Manufacturing Solutions Services Group. Today, Jim’s days are devoted to training customers on various Autodesk tools, largely in the mechanical design and analysis areas. When he’s not on Zoom calls or training in person, Jim is either working on customer challenges or exploring the Autodesk software world.

The team at Synergis is very fortunate to have Jim working alongside us.  He has an amazing and dry sense of humor, and he appears to be an eternal optimist, looking for the silver linings to every challenging situation.  His product knowledge is exceptional, and he will go above and beyond to help our customers, our partners, and his peers.   He’s also been a featured speaker at Autodesk University, which is to say that the learning content he’s preparing, and sharing, is highly rated and in demand.

When we asked Jim what he enjoys most about working at Synergis, he shared that he typically learns something new every single day and enjoys “the overall environment at Synergis, which in the end, is the people.” He believes our customers choose Synergis based on personal connections and strong technical knowledge, particularly in the document management field.

Jim graduated from The Swain School and Lehigh University. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Jim and his wife of 35 years, Tamie, have 3 sons and a granddaughter with another on the way!  He feels the most important thing he learned in the past year was just how fun it is being a grandfather! Prior to winter, Jim hopes to add an Australian Shepard, or similar dog to the family.

When not working, Jim enjoys hiking, backpacking, sailing, and model railroading. However, one thing he cannot live without is books!  He is into the sci-fi and fantasy genre, so his favorites include “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” – D. Adams, “The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings” trilogy – J.R.R. Tolkien, “Starship Troopers” – R. Heinlein, “Tales of Known Space” – Larry Niven (collected short stories), and “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors” – J. Hornfischer (non-fiction).

In addition to reading, Jim enjoys cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles. His favorite food is cream chip beef on toast; a Christmas morning tradition while growing up. If Jim could choose anywhere in the world to live, he would choose the Scottish Highlands known for its history, proximity to exploring Europe, rugged hiking terrain and, of course, the “water of life”.

A cause close to Jim’s heart is the Boy Scouts of America. His involvement has allowed him, his sons, and the troops he leads “the opportunity to fail (safely) then learn and grow from that experience”. One of the proudest moments in Jim’s life was standing on the top of a 12,441’ mountain he had just climbed, with his sons.

Jim lives his life by the guiding principles of trustworthiness, loyalty, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. A favorite quote of Jim’s is from the movie “Buckaroo Bonzai” – “No matter where you go, there you are”.

When asked about our Synergis Family Values, Jim shared that he embraces #12 – Have Fun since “people typically learn better when they are relaxed and enjoying what you are trying to teach.”

Keep following along with #synergisCADspotlight to get to know more of our Engineering Design Solutions Family!