Meet Alec Werning – Embedded Software Team

At Punch Through, we encourage everyone to proudly be themselves and want you to know the people behind the work that we’re so proud of. That’s why we launched our “Meet the Team” series, where we introduce you to one of our team members each month. 

Meet Alec Werning, one of our embedded software engineers at Punch Through, who’s primarily involved with firmware development. In his free time, you can often find Alec working on home improvement projects and learning how things work while tinkering with projects. He also enjoys biking, running, nordic skiing, downhill skiing – really, almost any activity that gets him outdoors.

What were you doing before working at Punch Through?

Prior to Punch Through, I was working as a mechatronics engineer for Toro. I’d gotten my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota, and then had gone back for my master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a focus on mechatronics. So, the role really aligned with my schooling and was pretty interesting. It was at a time when a lot of the company’s products were becoming more electrical and moving away from gas. It was also at a time when there was a lot of change at the company, and I decided to start looking for firmware positions. That led me here.

What is your favorite thing about Punch Through culture?

My favorite part about Punch Through culture has got to be how everyone is encouraged to proudly be themselves. There’s absolutely no judgment, just support. You don’t feel the need to fit into certain boxes, which allows you to be the best version of yourself. This makes it super easy to talk with coworkers, share your interests, and just be yourself.

Tell me a story about your most memorable moment while working at Punch Through

Company trips. More specifically, singing karaoke with your coworkers on a company trip is pretty memorable. It’s not something you often do, especially within the first six months of employment. Otherwise, I’d have to say the lunches we share together are memorable. The lunches are a nice structured time to get to know your coworkers and learn about their lives. It’s definitely contributing to the collaborative, team environment at Punch Through.

What cool or rewarding things do you get to do on a regular basis?

As far as cool or rewarding goes, it has to be how many hats I get to wear from day to day. It changes regularly: firmware, test setup, blog posts…you name it; I get to have my hands in so many different aspects of the business. That’s pretty cool and rewarding. And much like our lunches, I think it helps in establishing a strong team dynamic to whatever project you or one of your coworkers might be working on. You get to help the team and share insights that you might not otherwise share if it weren’t for such an environment. 

What is the most valuable part of your work to you on a personal level?

The most valuable aspect of my work is the opportunity to make a difference. At Punch Through, much of the work involves medical devices. So, you not only get a chance to help people working on a device but help people who directly use the device. You get to make an impact on people’s lives. On a personal level, that’s really valuable.

What is different about Punch Through versus other places you have worked?

The big difference between Punch Though and other places is you get to be yourself – truly be yourself. But there’s also this emphasis on communication. It’s a priority. Being a smaller company, communication isn’t generally a problem. However, the extra effort that goes into communication really stands out to me, and a lot of transparency comes out of that. You don’t always see that at other organizations.