At the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) and Missouri Protoplex, the team is proud to introduce you to their Research Project Engineer and Business Manager, Tammy Wilson, whose journey into her current role is both inspiring and unique.
Tammy’s path to CAM and Missouri Protoplex began unexpectedly. After retiring from a 25-year career with the State of Missouri, she wasn’t actively seeking a new role. However, a friend reached out about an opportunity at CAM, and after reading the job description, Tammy realized she wasn’t quite ready to step away from meaningful work. “When I met the team and learned more about the Missouri Protoplex and its potential to bring manufacturing back to our state, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” she recalls. Even a year and a half later, Tammy remains convinced that this is something special. Watching the team grow and seeing such a passionate, talented group of people working toward a shared vision gives her hope for the future of American manufacturing and the next generation entering the workforce.
In her role as Research Project Manager and Business Manager, Tammy wears multiple hats. As a project manager, she works closely with the Director on proposal development for new projects and manages grant application processes, including budgeting, document preparation, and compliance with sponsor requirements. She ensures that project reporting and purchasing are completed timely and that financial monitoring on CAM projects is kept current. In her role as Business Manager, Tammy leads the day-to-day operations of the business office, ensuring all financial and administrative functions are executed accurately, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational goals.
Tammy finds managing projects at CAM particularly rewarding. “Financial and administrative staff often don’t have the opportunity to see just how critical their roles are to the overall success of a project,” she explains. As a project manager, Tammy has the unique privilege of being involved from inception to completion. She participates in technical discussions and presentations, working closely with engineers to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed. “This dual exposure, both technical and financial, has given me a well-rounded perspective on how these elements intersect to drive project outcomes,” she notes. Understanding the broader context helps Tammy better appreciate the challenges others face and enables her to support the team more effectively.
Tammy’s background includes 25 years of experience with the State of Missouri, where she gained valuable experience in both administrative and fiscal roles. She started as a secretary but soon realized that advancing her career required a college degree. Despite having young children, a full-time job, and a family to care for, Tammy made the commitment to earning a business degree. “Balancing work, family, and school was challenging – it required determination, countless hours of studying, and sacrifices, including missed family events,” she recalls. Though her goal was to finish in four years, it took five, but earning her B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Management and minor in Accounting remains one of her proudest achievements. That degree opened doors she wouldn’t have had otherwise, allowing her to advance from secretary to Fiscal Grant Manager by the end of her state career. The experience she gained in budgeting, compliance, and managing large grants has been invaluable in her current role at Missouri S&T.
One of the things Tammy enjoys most about working at CAM is being part of a team that is genuinely passionate about their work. “For our group, it’s not just a job, it’s a shared mission,” she says. Tammy has never worked with such a committed, collaborative, and driven group of professionals. Their dedication to the students they mentor, the respect they show to one another, and the enthusiasm they bring to each project is truly inspiring. “Our director has brought together a team whose strengths and skills complement each other exceptionally well, and it shows in everything we do. It’s a rare and rewarding environment, and I honestly look forward to coming to work each day,” she adds.
Outside of work, Tammy enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her grandchildren, who keep life fun and full of energy. She is a lifelong Alabama Crimson Tide football fan, so Saturdays in the fall are all about watching Alabama play. Roll Tide! Tammy also loves the outdoors and has spent many peaceful hours hunting turkey in the spring and deer in the fall and winter, with bow and rifle. More recently, she has enjoyed spending time with the wonderful women on the team through cookie baking get-togethers, dinner outings, and attending performances at Leach Theater and Ozark Actors Theater. “It’s been a great way to build friendships outside of work,” she notes.
Throughout her career, Tammy has been fortunate to have several individuals who have had a meaningful impact on her, both professionally and personally. Her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and a deep sense of integrity, emphasizing the importance of character, honesty, and treating everyone with respect. Her husband was one of the greatest influences in her life, consistently encouraging her to pursue her goals, even when the path wasn’t easy. “His unwavering support gave me the confidence to return to school and earn my bachelor’s degree in business administration – all while working full-time and raising young children,” she shares. Tammy credits much of her personal and professional growth to the belief he had in her.
Tammy Wilson’s journey and contributions to CAM and Missouri Protoplex exemplify the innovative spirit and dedication that drive the team. Her work not only advances project management and business operations but also inspires the next generation of professionals, ensuring a bright future for U.S. manufacturing.