YPN Spotlight: Megan Baker
Learn about Megan Baker’s impact on the future of Material Handling through YPN.
In the material handling industry, young professionals like Megan Baker are stepping up and making a meaningful impact.
Megan joined the Young Professionals Network (YPN) in 2022, bringing her passion for collaboration and growth to the group. Since then, she’s become an active member, contributing to YPN initiatives and engaging with peers who share her enthusiasm for overcoming industry challenges. For Megan, YPN has been a place to connect with other young professionals navigating similar journeys, providing a supportive community within the larger MHI organization.
YPN, guided by an advisory board and committees, is dedicated to fostering the development of young professionals in material handling. The network offers a range of programs to its members, including webinars, virtual coffee chats, book clubs, and in-person networking events.
YPN Spotlight Q&A
Megan Baker, the Director of Marketing at UNEX
How long have you been a part of YPN?
Since 2022, 2 years.
What motivated you to get involved in YPN?
UNEX is very involved in MHI. When I joined the team in 2019, I was immediately encouraged to get involved with groups like YPN, Mpro. COVID put a damper on things for a bit but as soon as MHI Spring Meeting returned to in-person, I became very involved with YPN and never looked back!
YPN is a great group of people that is growing all the time and we have fantastic conversations. Our coffee chats are a great chance to connect with peers who are going through the same challenges and triumphs our youngest generation of workers are experiencing. It is very encouraging and reassuring to hear from your peers who are saying, “Hey, that happens to me too! And here is how I handled it…”
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in getting involved in YPN?
Attend a virtual coffee chat! That is the quickest and easiest way to meet lots of YPNers and see what the group is all about.
There is no other place (that I know of at least) like this where you can hear from young professionals in the material handling industry and how they navigate today’s workplace in this industry. So, if you’re looking for support, networking, or even just want to listen in, jump on a coffee chat to get started!
What is special about the material handling industry that gets you excited about your future career?
I’ve never been a part of an industry like this before. It’s a vast industry, yet so tightly knit. It’s kind of hard to describe! There are so many people involved in MHI, yet I feel like I know all of them personally. The energy in this industry is off the charts and having resources like MHI and groups like YPN have really helped me feel at home in an industry I had never even heard of before I started at UNEX in 2019!
Which topics – pertaining to our industry – are you especially passionate about and do you think we will all need to focus on in the future?
Supply chain management in the age of eCommerce. I know eCom is not new but it seems to be the big thing that continues to propel this industry forward while presenting the most challenges at the same time. Super important for all of us to provide thought leadership and solutions to supply chain leaders who are navigating omnichannel fulfillment in particular, I think.
Automation, supply chain of the future, industry 4.0, emerging tech, etc. For some of us, our solutions may not be the newest tech, but how they integrate with it matters so much! The new and now solutions and how it all comes together is something that should matter to every single person in this industry. Whether it’s AI or robotics, as an industry, we must keep our fingers on the pulse of what is out there, what is possible, to ensure we can continue to ‘make supply chains work’ now and into the future.
What challenges has YPN faced? How could YPN improve your experience in the future?
I don’t know that I can think of any true challenges YPN faces. From where I sit, it is one of the most organized and robust MHI groups I’m involved with. Maybe growing membership who will stick with the group for a longer period of time? I’ve seen a lot of new faces over the years but they aren’t always in it for the long haul. So I guess if I had to pick something it might be retention.
What professional or community accomplishments would you like to highlight?
I’m Director of Marketing at UNEX and I’ve been involved with MHI since I started in 2019. I’m a member of EASE Council and I sit on our Marketing committee there. I’m a proud member of our YPN Book Club and a YPN delegate for EASE, working to always spread the good word about what a great group YPN is!
In addition to YPN I am also involved with Mpro which is another great MHI community! I’ve been in the industry for coming up on 5 years now. I’ve got 2 MODEX shows and 1 ProMat under my belt and am currently planning ProMat 2025 with my team at UNEX.
