My name is Zack Tokarczyk. I have been working with/on automation since 2005 and PCs since 1990.
I currently based near the Seattle WA area, but I also have a place in Kentucky. This is me (guy in the hat) with some great teammates.
TLDR: I’ve gained experience at Dynax America, Amazon, Google, and now Microsoft, where I’ve been involved in creating, integrating, and deploying automated solutions. I’ve personally developed applications, led their productization, and helped others in programming machines and robots. You can learn more about my experience by checking out my LinkedIn, accessible via the button at the top.
It all began in kindergarten when I told my parents that after seeing an RC car with LED lights and dryer vent hose arms at school, I wanted to be a "robot fixer." That dream has never left me, and it's what I do every day. My journey took me through college while working full-time, where I started in industrial maintenance at Mid Continent Nail Company. Rodney Holdrum gave me my first chance to transition from being an operator to working in maintenance by testing my skills. I eventually became the subject matter expert for new equipment, as I developed a knack for making machines run.
When the company closed due to competition from China, I joined Dynax America Corporation as a maintenance mechanic. There, I learned the importance of communicating with line operators and supporting them. I became known as the guy with the "magic finger" for getting machines running, though I wasn’t always that skilled — I didn’t give up and learned a lot, even if I was humbled a few times. I owe much of my growth to mentors like Rodger Thurlow, Rodger Slate, Kuni Murai, Toshiyuki Kumagai, Chip Lamb, and Hero, with a special thanks to Kuni Murai. He took a chance on me and trained me in control systems, which is why I make it a point to mentor others wanting to enter the field. The Dynax family was incredible, and while it was a challenging place to work, I have fond memories. I eventually became an Engineering Technician, developing air balancing systems for oxidizers. I was told that only someone with a PhD could balance it... well, I balanced it, and pretty quickly, but no PhD for me!
From Dynax, I moved on to Amazon Fulfillment in Lexington, Kentucky, where I worked with legacy systems, learned Linux, and discovered how PCs could enhance industrial control systems. Alongside Chris Pelfrey and the night shift team, we solved long-standing issues that integrators couldn’t resolve and kept aging equipment running long past its end-of-life. It was my manager, Phillip Perdue, who encouraged me to take on a role in Seattle with the Advanced Technology group. There, I gained invaluable experience building, integrating, and deploying robots to solve problems at scale for Amazon. I learned the challenges of managing automation on such a large scale and made lifelong friends, including Tri Quach, John Wang, Chris Kemp, Keith Nixion, Keith Tate, and many others. That said, working at Amazon was tough — this how I learned how important it is to have good leadership.
After Amazon, I moved to Google to work on their Datacenter Automation team, where I had my first opportunity to build an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV). Google was a fantastic place to work — we built some truly cool machines, and it was a great environment to collaborate with exceptionally talented individuals. While I would’ve loved to stay, I was offered an exciting ground-floor opportunity at Microsoft, where I’m now working and continue to grow in the world of automation and robotics.