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On Monday, March 31, 2025
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Q&As with Kayley Nichols
Kayley, you joined the team in January 2024. Tell us about your professional background before working at Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) and what enticed you to apply.
I started my career at a local hospital, initially working part-time and then transferring to their Central Supply department, full-time. There, I cross-trained for nearly every position, created a training manual, and worked on special projects.
In 2019, I switched employers and started with a company that sold bearings, belts, sprockets, and other industrial maintenance parts (parts I see come through our doors at AHT now). In that position, I processed purchase orders, quotes, answered phone calls, and helped customers at our service counter.
I love learning new things, so when I saw that AHT was hiring an expediting coordinator, I knew I should at least apply and see what the job fully entailed. This job is very busy, and I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment!
What does a typical day look like for you as expediting coordinator at our Burton Ave. location in Waterloo, Iowa?
Every morning, I come in and sort signed paperwork from the previous day’s shipments. I email tracking information, certs, and packing lists to the customers that request it. Then, I gather the work orders that are ready to ship. I organize them by how they will be shipped, for example, customer pick-ups, UPS/FedEx shipments, and LTL freight shipments. I process orders out of the system and schedule all of them for pick-up that afternoon. In between shipping and pick-ups, I keep up-to-date on any customer emails and submit shipments that are required to be scheduled 24 hours in advance.
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
I like to spend time with my husband and son! (Pictured)
We go fishing a lot during the year, ride our bikes, and we love to walk on the bike trails by our house. My brother and his wife just had twin boys, so we are looking forward to the boys getting to play together when the twins are a little older.
We hear you recently had a big life “move”. (Pun intended.) Tell us about that.
We moved into a bigger house last September, and we love it! We have a lot more space for our two German Shepherds and our son to run and play. This house is also a lot closer to a park and the bike trails. We spend a lot of time outdoors so this is so nice! We are still making it our own, and I’m excited for all the memories we will make!
Turnaround time is very important to our customers. What tips/advice would you give them to ensure there are no unnecessary delays?
It helps me a lot when customers put shipping instructions on their purchase orders. It could be as simple as writing “Please ship via Panama Transfer” or including their UPS account number if they would like to ship UPS.
Sometimes, it can delay the shipping process if I have to reach out for instructions, so having this information ahead of time is very helpful!
What is one thing people may not know about Kayley Nichols?
I love to cook! 
I’m always looking for new recipes, and I enjoy recreating meals that we have had in restaurants. My dad taught me how to cook, and I love to run new ideas by him and get advice from him when something doesn’t turn out the way I thought it would. My dream is to open a food truck or a restaurant someday!
Pictured (left to right): copycat Chik-Fil-A spicy chicken strips, Chinese beef & broccoli, cheesecake-filled strawberries
What is one thing people may not know about Advanced Heat Treat Corp.?
AHT holds several employee safety/informational events throughout the year to make sure we are all up-to-date on safety standards and protocols. This helps with making sure we are performing our jobs in the safest and most efficient way possible.
AHT also holds employee events i.e. employee appreciation week in February and then our tailgating event in the fall where we have a bags tournament!
Speaking of Employee Appreciation Week... what did you think about it?
The whole week was great! I’ve never worked somewhere that did an appreciation week like we do at AHT, so it’s nice to have a week full of treats, gifts and games!
Now a list of quick questions...
- Pets? I have two German Shepherds, Haven & Gunner
- Kids? I have a son, his name is Luke and he’s two years old
- Married? My husband and I have been together 12 years, married for almost 5 years!
- Hobbies? Cooking/Baking, Reading, Crafting and Shopping
- Anything You Collect (past or present)? I collect Precious Moments figurines and Christmas ornaments
- Favorite Book: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
- Favorite Concert: I’ve been to two Pink concerts and both were amazing!
- Favorite Food: Lasagna
- A Food You Avoid: Marshmallows
- First Job: I worked as a busser at a pizza restaurant
- Favorite Saying or Quote: “Attract what you expect. Reflect what you desire. Become what you respect, and mirror what you admire”
- Best Vacation: I went to Spain and France my junior year of high school! I got to see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, and the Sagrada Familia. I also got to tour Versailles and the Louvre, both of which I’ll never forget!
- If you could travel to anywhere in the world and money wasn’t an issue, where would you go? I’d love to go to one of the Sandals resorts!
Have a Question for Kayley Nichols? Contact Her at 319-232-0745.
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