Portrait of Michael Banakis

Education, career, and travel — a record.

An overview of my academic background, professional experience, and the places I've traveled.

Get in touch
8Years experience
3Degrees & certifications
26Countries visitedSee the map →

Chapter one

Education

2014–2018

University of Wisconsin–Madison

B.S. in Industrial Engineering

Laid the technical foundation for a career in manufacturing and process engineering.

Class of 2014

Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Lincolnshire, Illinois

Consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Illinois.

Chapter two

Work

2021–Present

Engineering Manager

Precision Resource

Manage engineering and toolroom operations, leading new program launches and driving continuous improvement across the plant.

  • Directed new program launches through the APQP and PPAP phases
  • Built NPV, IRR, and ROI models to evaluate project investments
  • Developed a live OEE dashboard that cut scrap costs and sped up response times
  • Oversaw capacity, inventory, and supply chain coordination
2018–2021

Manufacturing Engineer

Precision Resource

Analyzed and refined manufacturing processes to improve efficiency across the shop floor.

  • Built and implemented a kanban inventory system
  • Designed manufacturing fixtures, gauges, and automated inspection equipment
  • Engineered automated inspection machines using Gage R&R, IMR charts, and histograms
  • Developed Six Sigma templates, including value stream maps and Ishikawa diagrams

Chapter three

Travel

Twenty-six countries and counting. A few of the trips worth remembering, or see every country on the map.

Portofino harbor on the Italian coast, seen from above
Mediterranean Cruise August 2022

Sailed the Mediterranean coast, with stops in Italy, France, and Spain.

View of the Santorini caldera framed by bougainvillea
Greece September 2023

A cruise through the Greek islands.

Colorful Bryggen wharf buildings in Bergen, Norway
England, Belgium & Norway June 2024

A trip through London and Bruges, then on to the Norwegian fjords and Bergen.

Lake Bled in Slovenia, with the island church and surrounding mountains
Germany, Austria & Slovenia August 2025

A trip through Central Europe, from Germany to Austria and Slovenia.

Chapter four

Life & interests

A few of the things I spend my free time on.

Pickleball

A regular game whenever I can get on the court — one of my favorite ways to stay active.

Board games

Always up for a game night, strategy games especially.

See the games I play →

Sports

Playing when I can, and following closely the rest of the time.

Chapter five

Get in touch

Email is the best way to reach me.