Employee Spotlight

Getting to Know
RYAN FRIEL
Human Resources Generalist

Ryan Friel isn’t the official face of Amtech (we don't actually have one of those), but his is the first and friendliest face that many of us encountered when we joined the Amtech team. His role as an HR Generalist puts him on the frontline of recruiting, screening, and onboarding new talent to the company. His generous nature and friendly disposition make him a potent one-person welcoming committee.

It's no surprise, then, that Ryan was one of the first recipients of an Amtech C.A.R.E.S. Award, an employee recognition program that celebrates team members who demonstrate the company's guiding principles of being: Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Empowering, and Solutions oriented.

While his coworkers would agree that Ryan demonstrates those qualities daily, his work on the 2022 user conference earned him the recognition. According to the nomination submission...

Q&A

Q: How long have you been with Amtech?
A: Seven years with the company total. I was brought into a company that Cos [DeNicola] owned called PHA in 2016. When that was sold, Stephanie [DeNicola] brought me back to Amtech.

Q: What has kept you with Amtech through all the changes?
A: The people I interact with and the talent behind the product that goes out to our customers. We have great people who know what they're doing and work hard to improve our products and processes. Being part of a company where we get to do that is exciting.

Q: How do you feel that your role impacts Amtech customers?
A: I think one of the ultimate responsibilities of HR is to be available to help people navigate the things that could distract them from their jobs. For example, during open enrollment — that can be overwhelming for people. So to take some of that burden off of our employees, I hope that it allows them to be more focused on their work to support our customers.

Q: How do you like to spend your time when you're not at work?
A: Well...I'm absolutely obsessed with my nieces and nephew! So, when I'm not working or working out, or trying to make my apartment more of a home, I'm watching a dance recital, a game, or just spoiling them!

Q: Any hidden talents?
A: I wish I was more talented! I sometimes bite off more than I can chew. I got a keyboard and said, "I'm gonna teach myself to play the keyboard." I started with Coldplay Clocks, which was probably a kind of an aggressive song to start with. I maybe played it twice.

Q: How about hobbies?
A: I love hiking! Just the other night after work, I didn't feel like going to the gym, so I went on what ultimately ended up being a six-mile walk. I'm really into true-crime podcasts, so I just put one of those one on and before I know it, I've gone six miles!

Q: What's your taste in books and movies?
A: I'm very into autobiographies and documentaries! You know, we're constantly chasing down these life lessons, and they can sometimes be presented to you in other people's stories; so I like being able to take little nuggets of information away from those.

Q: Do you see a connection between your interest in autobiographies and the passion you have for your work?
A: I do. I take an interest in people and their stories; I want to do what I can for people to make them feel good about the position they're in. So, as best as I can, I want to make people to know that they matter.