Granbury native Alyssa Garcia’s dream of designing parts for Formula 1 race cars was just always there. A self-described creative, she recalls being motivated by her father’s career in aerospace engineering.
A pivotal moment at a “Take Your Kid to Work Day” introduced her to computer-aided design software and planted the seed for a future in drafting.
Now racing along at Fort Worth-based Martin Sprocket & Gear, she credits Tarrant County College’s Computer-Aided Drafting & Design (CADD) program for providing the skills and self-belief to succeed. Her journey reflects not only personal ambition but a growing movement to empower more women in engineering and manufacturing.
TCC South Adjunct Instructor Kevin May, a leading designer at the multinational manufacturing company, calls his colleague a committed student and employee. He marvels at her work ethic and communication skills.
“Alyssa was a quiet but fastidious student who worked very hard on her academic success. And since joining us at Martin Sprocket & Gear a year and a half ago, she has been a key member of the Idler engineering group, consistently delivering excellent work,” he said.
“Her ability to connect technical precision with practical operations has allowed her to quickly grasp the inner workings of our division, and she’s done it all by communicating well through the engineering work she produces. Alyssa’s contributions continue to strengthen both our team and our service to the industry.”
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What prompted your decision to pursue a drafting career?
I was inspired by a mix of creativity and influence from my upbringing. I’ve always loved drawing and being hands-on with design. My dad introduced me to the technical side of things early on. I remember going with him to his work and seeing a woman using CAD software to design a plane door. That really stuck with me — it showed how design and engineering could come together. As a young girl, I hadn’t seen many women in those positions, so it made becoming an engineer or designer feel possible for me.
Why did you choose TCC?
It’s affordable, has a good reputation and offers the drafting technology degree I was looking for. Also, it’s close to both my home and work.
How did TCC prepare you for your current position?
It gave me a strong foundation in CAD and real world skills. One of my instructors, Tom Ford, connected me with my first internship at Remis America by recommending me when they were looking for students. Thanks to the CAD knowledge and hands-on training I received at TCC, I felt confident stepping into that role. It was my first real opportunity to apply what I had learned in a professional setting, and it showed how valuable my education really was.
How did you secure your role at Martin Sprocket & Gear? Why was this company so attractive to you?
After about two years at my first job, I moved to the other side of town and began looking for opportunities closer to home. I applied at Martin Sprocket & Gear through LinkedIn and prepared thoroughly for both the phone and in-person interview. The company was appealing for its strong reputation — several people at my previous job had either worked here or were hoping to. I saw it as a great opportunity to grow professionally at a well-respected company that values quality.
What are your daily responsibilities?
A typical day starts with me receiving a new order. In most cases, an approval print is required, so I begin by drafting a print to send to the customer for review. Once the signed approval is received, I create the manufacturing print and move forward with planning the bill of materials and the operation route for the shop.
Are you able to talk about any cool projects that you’re working on or have completed?
What I can design from scratch is the part that I personally love. A picture not to scale and at a weird angle was provided of a conveyor system recently. I was expected to guess the dimensions from the picture and design a replacement idler and frame. This was a brand new design, plus I had to be creative, as the customer didn’t really know what they wanted. What I created went out, and they sent that same photo with the new designed product I made.
What is your dream job, and how will this position help you get there?
My dream job would be designing car parts, especially for performance or F1 vehicles. I’ve always been passionate about cars, and it would be incredible to contribute to the design of something so advanced and high performance. This position is helping me get there by giving me hands-on experience with design software and exposing me to real world manufacturing processes. Working closely with the shop has taught me how designs translate into production, which is essential for a future in automotive design.
[ what does this really add? Do you work with Martin employees who have TCC ties??
I haven’t had the chance to work directly with anyone at Martin Sprocket & Gear who also attended TCC yet. ]
What advice would you give a prospective student considering TCC’s CADD program?
TCC’s CADD program is a great place to build strong skills in computer-aided design. My advice would be to stay consistent with practice, take advantage of the instructors’ knowledge and get hands-on experience whenever possible. The program really prepares you well for working in manufacturing or design roles, so being dedicated will pay off.
Explain why your field needs more women.
The manufacturing/engineering field needs more women to contribute unique approaches and creativity, which improves processes and products. Having more women in manufacturing helps break stereotypes and shows younger girls that they can succeed here, too. I want to be part of that change and encourage more women to join and thrive in this industry. Encouraging more women to enter manufacturing/engineering benefits the industry, and that creates better opportunities for everyone.
Learn more about TCC’s Computer-Aided Drafting & Design program.