By Ericka Link, Marketing Intern
Ethan Marshall — the pivotal figure driving Andersen Sterilizers’ operations — always goes beyond engineering solutions; he sees them across the finish line. His relentless pursuit of excellence and determination to troubleshoot the most complicated scenarios may stem from his passion for transforming discarded sedans into high-performance racing vehicles. While his journey to mastery has been far from linear, Ethan consistently achieves success by steadfastly maintaining course—whether at home, in his workshop, or in the workplace.
Ethan had an eye for design and a knack for construction as a child. He built his first seaworthy sailboat at just nine years old, and by 11, he had rebuilt the engine of his first car, a 1971 Datsun wagon.
“Everyone’s brain works in a particular way and mine is just weird enough to transition from constructing Legos to building highly functional machinery.” shares Ethan.
Growing up, Ethan drew inspiration from his parents.
“My mom owned an auto shop,” Ethan says. “My father was a certified ASE master automotive technician and an AMI-certified master motorcycle technician. He owned a motorcycle repair shop, served as a communication engineer for the Coast Guard and worked as a dialysis technician. They both worked long hard hours.”
Hoping to capitalize on his gifts, Ethan enrolled at Alamance Community College after high school. He went on to earn his associate’s degree in drafting. Soon after, Ethan found a job as an entry-level woodworker. He quickly began climbing the ranks, and it wasn’t long before he was promoted to plant manager.
“I had the opportunity to work with Hill Country Woodworks and Aventine — a fulfilling and lucrative career,” he remembers. “I specialized in crafting custom millwork for Duke University Hospital and various local churches.”
However, among other things, Ethan grew I weary of working without air conditioning during North Carolina’s brutal summer months.
“I also wanted a garage so I could play with my cars,” says Ethan, who at the time was 30 years old. “I had to decide if I wanted to go into debt and build a garage or go back to school, get a job in air conditioning, and then with my increased salary build my garage. I went with Plan B.”
Ethan observed firsthand that although his father’s extensive knowledge and skills were on par with those of his college-educated colleagues, his father earned significantly less and had to work much harder.
“My father had a great deal of real-life experience, but because he did not have a four-year degree, he worked twice as hard as those who did,” says Ethan. “This propelled me to pursue a four-year engineering degree.”
Ethan had purchased his first house at 21 and paid it off by 30; he felt he was finally in a good place financially to apply to North Carolina State University. However, the university informed him that his current drafting degree was too old to provide any meaningful credits. He had to return to start.
Ethan worked nine-hour days and returned to Alamance Community College at night to complete his prerequisites.
“I got my drafting degree with a 4.0,” he says. “I completed my prerequisites also with a 4.0., and I completed my engineering degree in three years and nine months.”
Having passed Health Science Park for years going to and from ACC, in 2017, Ethan contacted Ted May, president of Andersen Sterilizers. The pair discussed potential job openings.
Ted hired Ethan to serve as Operations Manager where he was tasked with launching a field service program.
“Ethan has played a pivotable role leading the ongoing automation and modernization initiatives within our manufacturing processes and equipment,” shares R. Scott Krewson, CFO and COO. “As a result, we meet the growing customer demand for our sterilization products. This initiative blends manufacturing efficiency, greater output and employee safety as our business expands. Without Ethan’s contributions, we would not be in the enviable position that we are in today, meeting our customer’s needs.”
Over his now seven years at Andersen, Ethan has become the go-to person for troubles big and small.
“Arguably overcoming the backorder situation — which was persistent from before I arrived through late 2023 — has been most rewarding,” Ethan recounts. “I take great pride in our growth as a company. When I came here there were about 60 people on campus and in seven short years, we have grown our organization by 40%.”
“Looking to the future, I hope to help Andersen grow market share,” he says. “I define my success by the success of my teammates.”
Ethan attributes his numerous achievements to his family’s unwavering support and belief in him and his abilities.
“My primary goal in life is to be a good husband and good dad,” says Ethan, who can be found in his airconditioned workshop on weekends tinkering with one of several late-model Datsun vehicles. “My wife and my daughter are my motivation.”
For Ethan, every problem has a solution, and he’s prepared to see every challenge through to the finish line. His experience transforming one-time sedans into high-performance racecars reflects his hard-driving quest for professional success — one marked by determination, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.