Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Smith.
Hi Greg, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, science was not a subject I was particularly interested in. In fact, I always wanted to be an airline pilot. As I got older, I became interested in people, and after some thought, majored in psychology for my first degree. In the 1990s, I became a career changer and went back to school. Majoring in chemistry seemed natural for me as I grew up in a family of pharmacists. Pharmaceuticals were often a topic of discussion around our dinner table and at other family gatherings. After graduating from East Carolina University, I began working at a start-up biotech company, which provided me with a foundation in various areas of the manufacturing industry. I enjoyed the teaching and training of employees. When the opportunity arose to work full-time in training for the state’s community college system, teaching industry workers, it was the perfect blend of my interests in people, learning strategies, and sharing what I had learned from working in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, statewide, and especially in the Research Triangle Park area where there is a large concentration of life science companies. I retired in October 2024 with the intention of continuing as a contract industry trainer. I started my own limited liability company (LLC), which provides customized training through community colleges in North Carolina or to companies with specific training needs that do not have state-funded projects. I have successfully combined my love of teaching others about what I love and helping them make a difference in the lives of others worldwide.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to where I am today has not been as smooth as I would have liked. Changing careers in the middle of my life was frightening and challenging. My experiences have taught me that starting early with a plan is ideal, but not essential. While change is hard, it is not impossible to achieve. If one has goals and strives to achieve them, putting 100% effort into that pursuit is great. But if it doesn’t work out, don’t give up on dreams. You can always change to do what makes you happy. I have no regrets about changing my path and now doing what I love.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Quality Training Solutions (QTS), we are passionate about training and dedicated to helping companies achieve their fullest potential. With years of industry training experience and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving regulatory landscape in the life-science sector, QTS tailors our development and delivery model to meet the unique needs of each client. Our mission is to provide the life-science companies that contract with QTS with the very best quality training solutions (our name says it all). Our courses are customized to give you the best solutions for quality-related and other life-science classes for the pharmaceutical, biomanufacturing, medical device, cell and gene therapy, and cosmetic industries. We believe in a customized approach to delivering training courses that will enhance our clients’ businesses, unless the desire is for an off-the-shelf course that already exists. We strive to provide coursework that companies demand to improve their business in the ever-changing, regulated industry sectors. We make life-science training easy, affordable, and customizable to meet the specific training needs of a life-science company. Improving the health of our clients’ customers is our ultimately goal. Effective training of these company employees helps them to accomplish this mission.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a close family. An Italian mother who believed in having a career and a father who had a strong work ethic were perfect role models for my two brothers and me. I enjoyed sports and music. As a twin and having a brother who was eleven months older, we were close and often did most activities together. It was a good family to be part of. Our parents afforded us many opportunities that most kids did not have. College was their dream, and they were proud that we all graduated with degrees (ironically, on the same day as our oldest brother, who had spent five years pursuing his advanced degree in pharmacy). I spent my early career working with people and utilizing my degree, but I felt that I was stagnant with no opportunities for advancement and financial security. Choosing to change careers was both professionally and personally life-changing for me. It was indeed the hardest thing I have done. The change was worth it and finally I was satisfied in an industry that gave me what I was looking for.
Pricing:
- Negotiable (starting at $150/hour)
- Travel expenses and sustinence are extra
Contact Info:
- Website: https://qualitytrainingsolutions.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566639207571
