A non-traditional path to BBE

February 16, 2023
Jason Beck is a tall man with long dreadlocks pulled back into a bun with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.

Written by BBE student ambassadors Matteo Bellazzini and Nick Ramberg

We learned about experiences from our BBE classmate, Jason Beck. Jason discusses his life experiences before joining the BBE program, his co-op at Westrock, and his plans for the future.

Jason’s path to the BBE program was unconventional. After graduating from Wayzata High School, he attended Mankato State University for Biochemistry but soon realized that college was not for him. He took a break and spent his time in Minneapolis, adventuring, going on road trips, and eventually visiting California where he fell in love with the state's beauty and culture.

At 21, he moved to California to become a farm aide and spent the next eight years working with many local farms. His hard work was recognized, and he took on a management role in the farm's cooperative group. 

As he developed a growing interest in technical careers, Jason sought a college degree that would complement his background. He found the BBE major, and was drawn to its emphasis on sustainability and technical skills. He moved back to Minnesota to attend Minneapolis Technical Community College, where he completed his general courses before transferring to the BBE program.

At the beginning of his time in the program, Jason was focused on pursuing a career in plant-based proteins. However, after learning more about the industry, he shifted his focus to bioplastics and other bioprocessing applications. To further his knowledge in bioprocessing, Jason secured a six-month co-op position at the Saint Paul Westrock paper facility, which presented him with a unique opportunity to experience the industry.

Jason Beck stands in front of a red truck full of trash from a BBE Earth day cleanup organized by the department.

At Westrock, Jason’s co-op position title is process engineer. At the start of his co-op, he worked at one of the original Westrock facilities and helped improve and sustain multiple mills, including a corrugated box mill. Corrugated boxing refers to the zigzag pattern in between cardboard pieces in a box. While working at the facility, Jason collected samples from the processing line and analyzed them in an Excel workbook. He also analyzed process efficiency and function through a software called PI ProcessBook. However, in the middle of his co-op, the corrugated boxing facility was shut down due to old and inefficient machinery. Jason had the unique opportunity to witness a plant closure and experience the managerial side of engineering.

During the closure process, he worked closely with one of the main plant managers, gaining firsthand experience on how management positions close down a large paper mill. 

Jason continues his work with Westrock where he learns new processing techniques daily. As of now, he continues his work at Westrock in another one of their paper mills. Jason's life experiences continue to provide him skill sets and allow him to continue growing in process control. He is thankful for the work he was given and the growth it provides daily.