Greg Potts, ME Lab Coordinator & Idea Forge Machine Shop Manager
I truly never saw myself or expected to be involved in education. I found the passion for machining when attending a summer course at the career development center in the summer of 1976. I started working as a machinist in the fall of 1978 in a shop I eventually wound up buying. I spent the next 25 plus years either owning and/or running machine shops – as I stated, I never envisioned myself in education. When approached by the mechanical engineering department here at CU, I was skeptical as to how I would fit. Truly, it has been a wonderful journey. I have a true passion for the process of design and creation, and I really enjoy sharing my many years of knowledge with students eager to learn, and have found it to be the most fulfilling job experience I have ever had. In February of this year, it will be my 19th year with (Rady Mechanical Engineering), and I can say it has been a wonderful journey. I enjoy the team I work with in the Idea Forge not only from a work level but also as personal friends, many of whom decided to pursue a future in teaching others as I did them. I enjoy spending time with them and respect them a great deal.
What do you most like to do to unwind?
I enjoy spending time with friends, enjoying a cold beer with conversation and laughs. Preferably hanging out on the water on a boat or hanging out in the sun by a pool.
Describe one of your favorite traditions.
My favorite tradition is my family’s annual Christmas Eve crab boil. We fire up the crab pot in the garage and have a few cool ones while preparing the crab, shrimp, corn, sausage and potatoes that eventually gets dumped out on a huge table for the entire family to sit and enjoy. This is followed by the continually growing family (this is, at present time, four children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild) opening presents. Full of good food, love and laughter.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?
I enjoy traveling and have been blessed to have circled the globe three separate times with trips for work that included two extended stays in Singapore and one to South Korea.
What was the first concert you attended?
I enjoy all types of music and am known for playing music all day here in my lab at CU. The first concert I ever attended was Tom Petty here at Folsom field in 1978. They used to have concerts they called super Sundays here at Folsom when I was growing up, and I enjoyed numerous concerts at Folsom back in the day.
What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?
I have literally made thousands of projects in my life, but the ones I have enjoyed the most are the ones I have made for my grandkids including a shopping cart for my granddaughter and a trailer for my grandson’s little electric raptor. The smiles on their faces when I gave them to them and the joy they get from playing with them is amazing. I have a few more years here at the university. Then plan to spend as much time in my garage building projects with my grandchildren spending time with friends and enjoying life.
What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?
Begin nothing until you have determined how it will be finished.
One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on…
Tools.
Which TV show do you never miss?
I think TV is a waste of time at this point in my life, and I would much rather be doing something than watching somebody else do something. My favorite reality show is me in my garage.
