From Design Engineer to Leading New Product Development — This is Emily’s Story
Meet Emily Piatt, a Project Manager at Cincinnati Incorporated. Learn more about Emily and her career journey at Cincinnati Incorporated.
She didn’t come to Cincinnati Incorporated by accident—but she stayed for all the right reasons.
“I’ve been at CI for five years, going on six now,” she says, reflecting on a journey that has taken her from a hands-on design engineer to a leader in new product development.
When she first joined the company, she was pursuing her master’s in additive manufacturing and was drawn in by the innovation happening at CI. “I was really interested in the 3D printing and the BAM and the additive program that CI had,” she explains. It was the kind of work she wanted to be part of—cutting-edge, tangible, and evolving.
But while the technology opened the door, it was something else that made her stay.
“I’ve stuck around because I love the people and I love the culture, and there’s a lot of room to grow here,” she says.
She began her career as a design engineer, working closely with the shop floor to troubleshoot and solve engineering challenges in real time. “I worked mostly with the shop to fix any engineering issues that came up,” she says. It didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t a typical engineering role.
“Engineering is a really collaborative environment here,” she explains. “It’s not just the engineers working in a vacuum—we’re on the shop floor, meeting with manufacturing engineers, assemblers, welders, getting their feedback, and applying it directly to the designs.”
That level of collaboration made an immediate impact. One early moment still stands out.
“I remember being super excited that the first design change I made—a few weeks later, I got to see that change actually happen on the shop floor,” she says. “I got to prototype it and really do the whole process. Not many engineers get to see the entire product from start to finish.”
That hands-on experience became the foundation for her growth. She moved into a project engineering role, taking on more ownership of engineering initiatives, before ultimately stepping into project management. Today, she leads new product development projects—guiding them from concept through completion.
“Project management is really about being the bridge between departments,” she says. “You’re making sure everyone has the information they need, that there’s collaboration throughout the project, and that everything gets done on time. You’re that one steady force from start to finish.”
It’s a role that requires constant communication and alignment—but for her, it always comes back to the people.
“What really stands out to me about CI is that everyone here really cares about what they do,” she says. “If I’m talking to an assembler about an issue, they’re passionate about fixing it and working together to find a solution. It’s all about the people.”
That shared sense of ownership has shaped some of her proudest work. Over the past year, she has helped overhaul project management processes across the organization, bringing a stronger focus to the customer experience.
“We’ve really focused on making our processes more customer-centric,” she explains. “We want to make sure we’re delighting our customers from start to finish and that every project includes strong collaboration.”
Her influence extends beyond projects and processes. She also plays a key role in mentoring co-op students, helping them gain meaningful, real-world experience.
“One thing we always hear from our co-ops is that this is an experience you can’t get anywhere else,” she says. “We treat them like full-time engineers. They get to take a project from the idea stage all the way through to building it on the shop floor.”
It’s an approach that leaves a lasting impression—and often leads to long-term careers. “We’ve had a lot of co-ops come back to work here,” she adds. “Some of our management-level engineers actually started as co-ops. People come here and they tend to stick around.”
That kind of retention, she believes, is no coincidence.
“What I tell people is not just why you come to Cincinnati, but why you stay,” she says. “It’s the environment, the culture, the people. It’s how we work together to find solutions. There’s a reason you see people here for 30 or 40 years—it’s not an accident.”
That culture is felt both on and off the shop floor. Whether it’s collaborating through a tough engineering challenge or connecting at company events, those relationships strengthen the work itself.
“You might have a heated discussion about a project on the shop floor,” she says, “but then you go to a company event and talk about your families. That balance is important—it helps you build real relationships so you can work through challenges together.”
For her, that balance—between innovation and collaboration, accountability and connection—is what defines Cincinnati Incorporated.
It’s also what sets the company apart for customers.
“If I’m talking to someone about why they should work with CI, I’d say it’s because every person here is dedicated to walking with you through the whole process,” she says. “From engineering to service to installation, we’re always going to be there.”
And that commitment doesn’t waver when challenges arise.
“If we run into issues, we’re going to own up to it and help you through it,” she adds. “We’ll throw whatever we have at it to make sure we come up with a solution.”
It’s a mindset rooted in pride, accountability, and teamwork—and one she’s experienced firsthand throughout her career.
She may have come to Cincinnati Incorporated for the technology, but she stayed for something far more meaningful.
The people. The culture. And the opportunity to be part of something built to last.