Strategist, Avid Gamer, Engineer
Keith Joseph leads the Education and Workforce Development (EWD) portfolio at the Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID) Institute, where he's helping build the future of advanced manufacturing within process manufacturing. His work focuses on designing and expanding programs that support RAPID’s mission to improve readiness for the implementation of innovative and efficient process technologies, reaching everyone from K-12 students to graduate-level learners and the incumbent workforce. Keith’s career pathway has benefited from being an engineer, project manager, and education leader.
At RAPID, Keith is responsible for a broad range of workforce initiatives—from eLearning courses and student internships to the ChemE Cube Competition and the K-12 NumberUp program. His role goes beyond oversight; he's a hands-on leader who brings strategy, innovation, and cross-team collaboration to every project. With a talent for launching new ideas and connecting different parts of a business to mutual goals, Keith plays a key role in turning workforce development goals into tangible, high-impact results, which help workers and trainers alike.
Before becoming RAPID’s director for education and workforce development in April 2020, Keith made his mark at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). There, he focused on emerging technologies and helped launch the Center for Hydrogen Safety in 2019. He also led major conferences in the U.S. and abroad, gaining experience that now shapes how he builds future-ready educational programs.
Keith is a graduate of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering. As a hobbyist photographer, he blends his technical skills with artistic creativity. Keith is also a passionate gamer, which reflects his love for strategy and problem-solving, both critical to his leadership in education and workforce development. For these reasons, Keith Joseph is a Modern Maker.
Q&A with Keith
How did you find your way to working in advanced manufacturing?
I found my way into this role through a series of career pivots. Out of college, I was looking for an opportunity to utilize my technical skills in a unique way. I started out as a project manager working on technical conferences for bioengineering. Through several years of success in leading small to medium technical conferences, I then pivoted into RAPID as an education specialist. Interestingly enough, I always had an interest in education back in my days as a teaching assistant during my undergraduate studies. My new role challenged me to combine my project management skillset with my chemical engineering knowledge to ensure that the educational direction of the institute aligned with the institute's needs. Eventually, I was promoted to the Director of Education & Workforce Development role, and through each position and role, I've learned how my dominant skillset evolves. As my leadership and accountability grew, so did the importance of my interpersonal skills, my ability to network, and my strategic plan foresight.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is selecting which projects/programs/initiatives to focus on. There are so many great impacts that RAPID can produce, but we have to be selective!
What is the best part of your job?
I love that the work I do is collaborative. I have two great resources at hand. RAPID's parent organization, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), allows for great collaboration to work together on initiatives that support and benefit both RAPID and AIChE. RAPID also has significant support within the Manufacturing USA network, where institutes share learnings and partner to support advanced manufacturing.
What would people be surprised to learn about manufacturing or your role in manufacturing?
Education and workforce development is vital for our manufacturers to contribute to adapt to new technologies!
What advice do you have for someone new to the industry or considering manufacturing as a career?
Don't be afraid to unify your various interests! They don't have to siloed, there are opportunities out that combine our interests into one! Even if there isn't, create it!
What are the three most important skills for your job?
Listening, partnership building, and vision
If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your day?
I would spend my day eating at restaurants in New York City that are hard to get into during the weekends!
What activity gives you the most energy?
I feel most energized when I go for bike rides and just take in the beauty and uniqueness of my environment. I hope to get the opportunity to go cycling in Amsterdam one day!
What hobbies make you better at your career?
Video games have helped me with my quick thinking and decision-making abilities. Photography has taught me to try new things and to trust that the more I do something, the better I'll get at it. This primarily relates to networking and honing my communication skills.
How does the work you do impact the world?
There are so many career opportunities that live under the umbrella of advanced manufacturing! Growing up, it seemed as though the only jobs out there were doctor, lawyer, and teacher.
