About Me:
Full Name: John Nicholas Smarto (Please call me Nick)
School: Carnegie Mellon University, 2009
Degree: B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Born in Cumberland, MD, I but currently reside in Trafford, PA on the outskirts of Pittsburgh.
Hobbies: Photography, woodworking, filmmaking and videography, rowing crew, music festivals, riding my motorcycle, camping, hiking, glass flameworking, creative writing, sketching, cooking, playing piano, jazz and blues.
Favorite Music: The Clarks, Jamiroquai, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, The Beatles, The Black Crowes, Jamie Cullum, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Allman Brothers, Miles Davis, Entrain, The Roots, Jason Yudoff, just to name a few.
I chose to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering because I felt that it was the broadest of the engineering specialties. In my education and professional experience, I’ve been exposed to all flavors of engineering and science, such as physics, electrical engineering, chemistry, industrial design, marketing, and programming. Living up to its promises, the program at Carnegie Mellon has taught me to be a quick learner above all else, so the broad foundations and experiences I’ve had allow me to quickly adapt and specialize on any project I work on.
For as long as I recall, I have developed a tendency to prefer to immerse myself in the great outdoors. I’ll rarely refuse any type of outdoor activity. While I’m very comfortable with the great wilderness, my recent stint at college in Pittsburgh has forced me to develop a certain taste and respect for the city, and I’m equally comfortable sidewalk shopping in an urban environment as I am camping in the mud.
I’m a team-oriented person, and work effectively in groups of all sizes. The nature of my internships and design experience has trained me to be a fast yet effective engineer. I value a team that is creative and diverse, and I prefer an intensely collaborative environment. I get excited by personal connection with individuals, and highly value a conversation.