Continuously Improving: Traci Barnum’s professional development journey at Steffes
Traci Barnum joined Team Steffes in January 2015 as a drafter for new product development, applying knowledge she gained through her studies at North Dakota State University. Her interest in project management sparked when her design engineering team participated in a training on the subject, and she made a career move to align with this interest when a role opened in 2022. Initially, Traci’s efforts were focused on the engineering department, helping them standardize processes, and when she began to play a larger role in corporate initiatives, she decided to further her education. She became a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), a national standard in the field. While she felt this gave her a solid foundation, she sought to build upon it. “I wanted to be able to speak more confidently about project management and know how to help people,” Traci said. She connected with Steffes’s Learning & Development Department and learned of an offering for extended education.“Steffes supported me financially as I earned my master’s degree in project management, graduating in April 2024 from the University of Mary. My degree has helped strengthen my working relationship with other internal groups, like Continuous Improvement and Quality, and I can more confidently speak the same language of support across the company. I’m very proud of the journey I’ve been on and am honored that Steffes allowed me to do it. They’re investing in their people and hopefully I can show my gratitude in how I do my job.”
With a few years of experience in project management under her belt, Traci’s days look a lot different than they used to. “I try to help Steffes understand what we’re working on as a corporate entity in all areas,” she explained. “That includes looking at all of our processes, from when we get a request from a potential customer or when our market analysis tells us we should be developing a new product, all the way through production to shipping the final product to the customer.” Traci then develops a “new product roadmap” detailing how each department is involved in every stage of the process with the goal of providing a calculated timeline to potential customers. “I tend to find myself a part of everything, whether I want to be or not!” she joked.
Traci’s favorite project to date is her first 3P (Production Preparation Process) event she participated in for Steffes’s newest facility in Shelby, North Carolina. “It was requested by a contract customer when we were trying to ramp up our production of one product line while also bringing on a new product line for them,” she said. “Our goal was to organize the facility in a way that would help with better flow and visibility for the floor. I got to work with a lot of people I’d never worked with before – a really diverse group. I got to learn how things are produced on the contract side of our business, see how things moved on the floor, see what our manufacturing engineers and sourcing team actually do, and how we can, as a support function, help them make their jobs easier. That was a big learning experience for me, both from the project management aspect and also being a part of Steffes and understanding how the company works.”
Traci felt the next step in her educational journey was calling to her, whether she wanted to take it or not! In November 2025, she passed her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification test, which was a grueling four-hour proctored exam consisting of 180 questions. The certification was well worth Traci’s effort as it validates her experience and expertise in leading projects across different methodologies and for different industries.
But in what we’re going to call “typical Traci fashion,” she didn’t stop there. She heard about a unique opportunity offered by the University of Mary called “Leadership North Dakota.” Traci submitted her application for the program, was accepted, and Steffes provided her with the funds to cover tuition. “I was interested first and foremost because it was bringing different people from around the state together,” she said. “I just thought it would be so interesting to learn from others what their sectors and organizations do across North Dakota.” Over the first six months of 2026, Traci met with her peers for two days per month in various cities across the state. They stayed at the same hotels, shared meals, collaborated in classroom discussions and workshops, toured local hotspots, and participated in team bonding activities such as escape rooms and fireside chats.The group read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, reviewing a chapter and progressing in the accompanying workbook each time they met. They would spend time discussing the habits before diving into breakout sessions, either individually or in small groups, to make the experience as personable as possible. “We discussed the issues we were having at work and what the habits could do to help us with those issues,” Traci said. “There was so much personal insight that was shared, and it was amazing to learn how we all have the same problems although we have very different jobs. There were individuals from all sectors—nonprofit, government, teachers and professors, and more—all people I thought I would never need help from, but definitely people I will be reaching out to in the future.”
“The biggest takeaway for me had to do with both the book and the University of Mary’s idea of servant leadership. I was taught the difference between being a manager and being a leader: bringing people along with you, and it’s not about you, but about the whole. It was an invaluable experience, and I hope that Steffes continues to encourage people to participate in it. The places I got to see and the people I got to meet and learn from were just incredible.”
The group’s numerous tours included the state penitentiary in Bismarck, the sugar beet plant in Fargo, the pasta plant in Minot, and a drilling rig in Williston. Traci’s favorite experience was a behind-the-scenes look at the zoo in Williston, when she learned how the facility endured the 2011 flood and how they successfully evacuated a number of the resident animals. “It was crazy from a project management standpoint understanding how they put it together, how they engaged their plan and made sure all the communication was correct. It was very fascinating, too, how long it took for them to get all their animals back. They now have a diversion wall, and they have a plan in place in case that ever happens again. That type of thing was just so cool to see as it is my role in action.”
At Steffes, we believe in every team member’s potential, and we’re committed to helping them reach it. By fostering a culture of support and continuous learning, we create opportunities for our employees to build meaningful careers. When our people grow, we all grow together.
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