Christopher Miranda-Ruiz Thrives at Click Bond

Employee Spotlight: Christopher Miranda-Ruiz Thrives at Click Bond.

Christopher Miranda-Ruiz hasn’t slept much in the last seven years. Since he first became a Click Bonder in 2016, his seemingly boundless energy and desire to learn have led him to work full time and attend classes full time, while also taking on additional responsibilities whenever he gets the chance.

Interested in mechanics from a young age, he enrolled in a dual-credit program during his sophomore year at Carson High School in 2015. He not only received training in AutoCAD drafting but also earned his Manufacturing Technician Level I (MT1) certification through Western Nevada College, all while completing high school. It was during that time when he and his fellow students got the opportunity to tour several manufacturing facilities in the region, including Click Bond. His interest was piqued, and he applied to work here the following year, once he had his MT1.

His first job at Click Bond was as a Production Assistant, working the night shift as composites trimmer, while still completing his education during the day. 

“After about five months, I started becoming very interested in the other processes taking place here,” he remembers. “At the time, Shaun Fisher was a production supervisor, and I approached him and asked him, ‘What else can I do?’ He had me learn every single machine in the facility for the next six months. And then I asked if there was something else I could do, and he sent me down the street to work in nutplate assembly.”

He quickly became interested in becoming a mechanical engineer. While still working full time and receiving additional training at Click Bond, he attended classes at WNC to earn his Associate of Applied Science, which he planned to eventually transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno, to earn his Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in mechanical engineering. However, he learned about a first-of-its-kind degree program at Truckee Meadows Community College that seemed like a perfect fit: the B.A.S. in Cyber-Physical Manufacturing. 

This innovative program takes students through the hands-on, technical aspects of mechanical equipment, pneumatics, electronics, programmable logic controllers, and more, all to aid in meeting the evolving needs of the Industry 4.0 manufacturing environment — which aligns perfectly with the aims of Click Bond’s Factory of the Future initiative. Christopher enrolled in the program in 2021 and expects to complete it in 2026; he was recently inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society. 

As if that weren’t enough, when he’s able, he helps his fiancée, Natalie, and her family at their business, Big Ed’s Alley Inn in Reno, a long-running locals’ favorite restaurant. “I support in whatever functions they need, even if that means being a dishwasher,” he says.

Meanwhile, his role has consistently expanded at Click Bond. From his early days as a Production Assistant, he went on to work on as Production Technician, eventually becoming cross-trained in roles throughout the many departments, from receiving materials to painting the final products. When work there slowed, he began learning the packaging/assembly functions, as well as assisting in the machine shop. He worked his way up from Painter 1 to Production Technician III, learning about the passivation and special processes. He became curious about injection molding, so he started working weekends to learn more. 

His list of accomplishments kept growing — he was promoted to Senior Technician, helping  to earn its NADCAP certification and learning the role of Production Lead. And he was asked to spearhead a project to update the passivation line. Since then, he has worked as Manufacturing Engineering Technician I, II, and III, his current role. 

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten here at Click Bond,” Christopher says, adding that he has every intention of continuing to push himself in the years to come. “After I finish this degree, I’ll take a few months, then go back for my master’s!”

If the last seven years are any indication, Christopher is likely to continue impressing us for many years to come!