PSD Alumni Interview: Austin Byrd, Sales Coordinator, Dominion Packaging

Describe yourself in a couple sentences: where are you from, what degrees do you have, when did you graduate from VT, and give us some basics about your home life:

"My name is Austin Byrd, and I am from Ashland, VA. I graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Packaging Systems and Design. I love Jesus, and I thank God for putting me in the position I am in today. I have a brother, 2 years younger than me, who I am very close with, and I could not ask for a better and more supportive family. In my free time, I am also a professional wrestler and ring announcer, and I love putting on a show for the families in the audience."

What was your major in the SBIO department and what made you choose that major?

"When I got to Virginia Tech, my major was Computer Engineering. I liked the engineering and design aspect of it, but I did not like the amount of time I was spending in front of a computer. I wanted to find a major that was more hands-on where I could make a tangible contribution, and that is what I found in packaging. I really enjoy that I can contribute to getting food and other products safely to the end consumers via packaging, while simultaneously conserving the planet that is our home."

What jobs have you had since graduation, and what is your current job title?

"Since graduation, I have been a Sales Coordinator at Dominion Packaging. Dominion is a folding carton printer and converter based in Richmond, VA, who produces packaging for many food and beverage customers."

How did your choice of major and your education at VT help you decide on and qualify for your current position?

"The packaging program at Virginia Tech does a beautiful job of painting a picture of the entire system related to delivering packaged goods to consumers. Rather than solely focusing on design or on materials, the major educated me on all aspects of packaging and shipping, including the environmental effects of the process. This gave me a perspective which allows me to look at how the entire system as a whole, and how each step of the very complex manufacturing process of our products all over the world plays a part in delivering what people need.

My education gave me the tools to look at how different aspects of my job can affect one another, rather than looking at each step individually, which helps me to make more informed decisions at work."

What does a typical workday look like for your current position?

"My job includes a lot of travel. Daily, I am responsible for communicating with the customers who purchase packaging from Dominion, meeting with them to talk about their needs, and relaying this information to our design team to make improvements. When we produce new packages for different companies, I will go and visit their plant, meet with them, and watch our packaging run on their equipment, so I can further understand their processes and optimize our products to fit their needs. I also travel to their manufacturing plants to monitor regular production and make sure Dominion’s packaging is designed in a way that sets up operators of their equipment for success."

What have you learned in your SBIO department classes, or through your overall time at VT, that’s helped you the most with your career?

"The classes in our SBIO department helped me to be more open-minded about potential solutions as they relate to packaging and consider perspectives I may not have had alone to improve this system to make our world a better place.

The classes I took really opened my eyes to just how influential packaging can be, as it not only protects products on their way to the end consumer, but also serves as a marketing tool on store shelves. Because it is such an enormous industry with a worldwide impact, it is important to consider what everyone involved may think of different issues, rather than just my own opinion.

The SBIO department does such a good job of including the environmental and social impacts of the technical information we are taught that it makes it nearly impossible not to consider the effects your actions may have on others. Although being knowledgeable on the technical information is very important, looking at the manufacturing process from an overhead view of the whole system and the widespread effects it may have on people was the most helpful part of my education."