by Niki Acton '16 and Mary Kate Murray '14

Carol Craig '89 was named one of 28 CEO of the Year Honorees in the Orlando Business Journal. Craig is the founder and CEO of Craig Technologies, a Florida-based company that specializes in aerospace and defense manufacturing.

Craig Technologies was recently selected by the Sierra Nevada Corporation to join the list of "Dream Team" organizations, which support SNC's Dream Chaser program to develop commercial space transportation.

Craig, who majored in computer science at Knox, participated in the 3-2 Engineering Program in partnership with the University of Illinois. There, she earned a bachelor's of science in computer science engineering before going on to earn her master's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Craig Technologies has recently partnered with Sierra Nevada Corporation on the Dream Chaser Team. What about your partnership with SNC do you most look forward to?

I'm completely thrilled about playing a role in bringing manufacturing back to the United States. This program will help to revitalize the aerospace industry with new and advanced technologies and research, improved processes and quality, and show the world that the U.S. is still number one. SNC's culture is people-centric just like ours and they also strongly believe in the mission of returning man to space.

Craig Technologies and SNC are working together on a project that could potentially revolutionize humanity's relationship with space. How do you think the United States, and the world as a whole, could benefit from the accessibility of commercialized space travel?

For half a century, the U.S. set the example for human spaceflight. The rest of the world kept pace and now there is more demand than ever to develop accessible options for bringing humans to lower-Earth orbit and beyond. Commercial development of new spaceflight vehicles has already created new markets for space-based industry like tourism, satellite repair, private and extended network communications, research, and more. The question is not if but when and the United States needs to lead the way in extending our "borders" to the Universe.

You have served in the military, started your own business in engineering and technology, and worked extensively in aviation and aerospace. What challenges have you faced as a woman throughout your career? How has Knox equipped you to deal with these challenges?

While many may see me now as one of the few women who has pushed past the stereotypes and succeeded, I still experience gender discrimination in business. It was just in the past year that a gentleman sitting in my 160,000-square-foot manufacturing facility asked me: "Are you familiar with the term ‘C Corporation?'" I was shocked and amused, but the question is whether a man would be asked the same question in a high-level business discussion - I doubt it.

Knox College helped me learn to be more open-minded and understanding of others. The liberal arts mindset cultivated thinking out of the box before that was even a buzz-phrase. At Knox, I was oblivious to race, culture, religion or other sometimes polarizing views because of the culture of inclusion and acceptance. The small-town closeness combined with the big city exposure that Knox provided gave me a chance to excel and build confidence in my own abilities while gaining acceptance of other points of view.

Craig Technologies prides itself on being a Minority-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business, and a Small Disadvantaged Business. Do you have any advice for Knox students (or people in general) who are in some way "disadvantaged" compared to competitors?

Obstacles are obstacles... I like to believe that the only obstacle is yourself. There are very few things that are impossible and most of the problems come from ourselves - and we let that get in the way of success or just doing the things we want to do. 

Whether you are a man, minority, or fit any other demographic that faces adversity, I encourage you to embrace the fear and take advantage of your passion, perseverance, and competitiveness to identify on your own what it takes to overcome yourself.

Would you say that where you came from has influenced the way you approach your work and the ideals of your business? How so?

Absolutely! I was able to pursue advanced technology courses while earning a top-notch liberal arts education - even while I was still in high school. Both high school and college provided complementary well-rounded courses of study, which has made me a better leader. I was able to continue my music passion at Knox as well. I believe that music is a formula for success and opens your mind to creative possibilities in many other aspects of life. There is no question that my liberal arts exposure helped me excel as an engineer with people skills, which is ultimately what has made me such a successful business leader.