Tim Monzello grew up in Southern California during the 1960s and 70s. His early years shaped his mindset. After losing his mother at age 10, his father raised him and his siblings alone.

That experience stayed with him.

“I learned early that you have to keep moving forward,” he says. “No one is going to do the work for you.”

As a teenager, he spent time playing piano and studying martial arts. Both required discipline. Both carried over into his career later in life.

Unlike many professionals, Monzello did not take a straight path through school. He returned to education after working for several years.

“I didn’t rush it,” he says. “When I went back, I was serious about learning.”

He earned two degrees from Citrus College in 1996. One in Electronics. One in Language Arts. That mix of technical and communication skills would later prove valuable.

He continued his education while working full-time. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2009. Then an MBA from Arizona State University in 2012.

Along the way, he built a strong technical toolkit. His certifications include Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, advanced GD&T, supply chain management, and multiple Oracle systems.

“I always believed that the more you understand the system, the better decisions you can make,” he says.