Arkansas State University student Jimmy Farrow is finding career success at the age of 23.

The mechanical engineering major in the College of Engineering has been selected to participate in the prestigious two-year Operations Management Leadership Program with the Power Systems division of the General Electric Corp.

Farrow began working part time at the Jonesboro GE plant in December 2000, and quickly set himself apart from other employees, according to plant manager Don Rollins.

When a position became available for support supervisor in the die cast department of the plant during the summer, Farrow took the position and soon caught the attention of management personnel at the plant.

"He literally turned the area around," Rollins said. "Jimmy did a terrific job of cleaning up the area, reducing injuries and increasing production. He has a natural leadership ability that really shines."

Farrow modestly acknowledges his accomplishments at the local plant.

"People in the die cast department are kind of stuck behind the wall and don’t really receive that much attention. I think that if people see you working hard for them, they’ll work hard for you," Farrow said.

The senior from Osceola claims he didn’t really know what he wanted to do when he enrolled as a freshman at the Jonesboro campus, but selected engineering as a major due to the advice his father had given him.

"My father has been my biggest influence in engineering. He works with engineers on a regular basis at American Greetings in Osceola, and has shown me what a versatile field engineering can be. Math and science were my two best subjects in high school, and those areas are a central part of engineering," Farrow said.

The OLM Program is designed to bring together the brightest and best engineering students across the country, according to Rollins.

"Normally the program is populated with graduates from MIT or Harvard, in fact Jimmy is the first ASU student to ever be a part of the program. I think that speaks volumes for Jimmy and the College of Engineering at Arkansas State University," Rollins continued.

Farrow had just begun his fall and final semester of study on the ASU campus when he received word that he had been accepted into the OMLP.

"I traveled to North Carolina for an interview, and within a week of returning I found out. I called my mother first, she of course was very excited and thinks it’s an amazing opportunity for me," Farrow said. "I told the plant manager and other employees during a staff meeting the next Monday, and it was congrats all the way around."

When the Jonesboro plant was offered the chance to nominate a person from their plant, Farrow stood out because of his strong thought process, problem solving skills and leadership capabilities, Rollins said.

The program is an ideal entry point for engineers with the energy and drive to deliver world-class manufacturing processes, according to a company spokesperson. Recent program graduates have gone on to assignments as productivity engineer, customer center manager, operations leader, sourcing leader and "six sigma" quality specialist.

Upon entry into the program in February, Farrow will begin an intensive two-year entry-level program with four rotational assignments anywhere in the United States. Assignments could include fields such as environmental health and safety, manufacturing/process engineering, six sigma quality or materials management.

"This will provide Jimmy a jumpstart on his career, and as much as I would love to keep Jimmy here in Jonesboro, I think the best thing for him and GE, is to let him go. He’ll have the opportunity to network, learn the process of GE management and travel the country," Rollins said.

Between classes and working as part-time supervisor for the plant, Farrow is preparing to start his new career with General Electric. Looking five years into his future, Farrow says he hopes to be challenged by his career.

"I’ve not lived long enough or been enough places to know exactly what I want right now, but I think that participating in the program will offer me that opportunity. I look forward to the work, the challenge, living all over the country and meeting new people."

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