Samuel Kidwell

Quality Intern

Hometown: Bettendorf, IA

Summer Intern Project

Quality Intern – Olympic Steel, Bettendorf, IA


“My project centered around using Excel and VBA automation to cut down on time spent manually entering data. With hundreds of thousands of data points flowing through each week, my goal was to build a system that could handle large volumes and still run smoothly. By automating some of these tasks, we’ve freed up time to focus on more impactful work. One part I’m especially proud of is the justification feature I built, which gave us a way to submit tickets for recurring issues and solve them. The tools are already being used day to day, and I’m glad they’ll continue making things easier and more efficient for the team.”

  • Why did you choose to intern for Olympic Steel?
    I have a strong interest in manufacturing, and like working with my hands. Olympic Steel has that process; I get to go out on the floor and work with my hands a bit, and I also get to work behind a desk.


  • What do you hope to accomplish during your time here at Olympic Steel?
    Process improvement and helping as much as I can.


  • What do you like to do in your free time?
    Hang out with friends and go to the gym.


  • What is your proudest moment so far?
    Starting an automation process with our RCH holds.


  • What is your favorite quote?
    "Every day above ground is a good day."


  • Three words to describe me are:
    Smart • Funny • Hardworking