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Valarie Boatman: Adrenaline Junkie turned Volt Engineer
July 20, 2010 at 9:00 am
Valarie Boatman is a performance integration engineer for General Motors and works at Milford Proving Grounds. She is responsible for testing certain electrical systems in the Chevrolet Volt, constantly working to improve a driver’s experience and safety while behind the wheel. We asked her to tell us a little bit about herself.
My entire life, I’ve been interested in two things: racing and cars. It all began when I was a kid growing up in Galveston, Tex., hanging out at my mom’s skydiving “drop zone,” where skydivers landed from their high-sky plunge. Years of exposure to these crazed skydivers ignited the adrenaline junkie in me. Paired with my love for racing and cars, it was a no-brainer to go to school for engineering and pursue an automotive career. And there’s my confession: my name is Valarie and I’m an adrenaline junkie turned engineer.
When I got to the University of Missouri – Rolla (now known as Missouri University of Science and Technology), I knew I wanted to get my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and get involved with automotive-related student groups. My love of racing made the choice between the solar car and formula car teams easy. If I wasn’t in class, I was almost always in the formula car shop designing and fabricating our race car. Really! I spent about 40 to 50 hours a week there. I started off in the drive train group, moved on to the powertrain group as a group leader; and finally, became team president, during the summer break and fall semester of my senior year.
Since GM recruits directly from my college, and because I had already interned for the company in 2004, no one was surprised when I started working full-time for GM in 2006. I started off working in the Stabilitrak 3.0 group, learning how to calibrate electronic stability control (ESC) of the Cadillac STS. After that, I was off to the hybrid group, doing chassis control on hybrid trucks.
Right now, as a Performance Integration Engineer on Chassis Control (ABS, Traction Control and ESC), I’m working on the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range among other vehicle programs. I get to do cool things like take the cars up to GM’s winter test facility in the Upper Peninsula during the winter months to test them on the giant ice pads and snow fields. And I get paid for it!
The best part of my job is knowing I’m personally contributing to our customers’ driving experience and safety. Even though the software is already in the car, my job is to drive it and make any necessary tweaks to fine-tune its performance. That way, once the car is in the customer’s hands, it will run as seamlessly as possible.
The best part of my day? Well, that’s a tossup. When I’m not running tests or driving cars on the track and through snow fields at work, I spend nearly all of my free time riding something exciting – either on the race track with my Yamaha R-6 motorcycle, or my two Arabian horses, MSU Superstitious and MSU Missile Man AM. Even though my schedule is packed between crazy test-driving maneuvers, racing and horses, I can honestly say that I love every minute of it and wouldn’t change a thing.
Learn more about the Chevrolet Volt at ChevroletVoltage.com.
Nancy Guess
Jul 20th, 2010
I am so impressed. With EVERYTHING about you. I was born in Houston and presently live in Pearland, Texas. Being a fellow Texan, I loved what you do professionally. Also, being a horse lover and former owner of four horses, I’m impressed again. Finally, being a GM owner for all of my life, I’m totally impressed again.
You go Girl! Keep up the good work. You make me proud to be a Texan, a female and a GM owner.
Mark Remelman
Jul 20th, 2010
I have been to Milford Proving Grounds numerous times since I started with DSP Tech. in 1991. Mainly at the safety testing area (VSCL). I have worked with other groups there, never worked with yours however. As a current Honda Civic Hybrid owner, I am looking forward to being able to buy a Chevy Volt, though I hope that they are going to have a CNG option for the gas motor / generator. In California, that would be the golden combination and worth every penny! That combination would qualify for diamond lane stickers good till 2015.
Ashley Fleming
Jul 20th, 2010
It is good to know that people like you keep driving safe!
M. Williams
Jul 20th, 2010
Valarie, thanks for sharing a day in your life. You have a dream job. Go GM!
Judy Miller
Jul 21st, 2010
Valarie – Awesome story. It is great to have you on our team with all your enthusiasm and energy. Keep up the great work.
Judy Miller (fellow GM employee – at the VEC)
Sheth
Jul 21st, 2010
I will never understand why they don’t put engineers like this in the ad campaigns. The average consumer probably has a dated stererotype of who designs GM products and would be suprised by the diversity that exists behind the scenes.
You don’t find many women who ride sportbikes. Impressive.
Michael Anthony Puntillo
Jul 21st, 2010
Hello!
The new electric vehicles are going to save the earth
for the childrens children to come.
It’s a wonderful life. We thank God for this new way of thinking.
“BLESS THEM ALL”. The General Motors Company are our
hero. Hope they ship our new chevy volt to us soon.
You have heard from Michael Anthony Puntillo of
Norwich, Connecticut USA.
Mel Fox
Jul 21st, 2010
Val – so wonderful to see you being showcased on Faces of GM!!! You’re a natural at the video interview!!! I had no idea you raced motorcycles – you’re even cooler than I thought
Keep up the good work – I’m looking forward to driving a Volt now that they are more “mature.” 
DAD
Jul 24th, 2010
Nice job very good article see you soon love dad
Renee Brasher
Jul 28th, 2010
WOW-eee! I Early on I knew there were supersized plans for your life packed into that petite frame!!! Tears fill my eyes thinking of what a vibrant, brilliant, and unpretentious woman you have become. I am thrilled to have you as Family and honored to call you Friend. Keep up the fabulous work cutie.
Stefanie
Jul 29th, 2010
Now I get to put a face behind “my engineer cousin” when I talk about you to a coworker (whose daughter is extremely interested in engineering). Girls can be engineers too! Love you, and hope to see you sooner than later!
Steve Fenwick
Aug 2nd, 2010
Hi Val! It’s Uncle Steve.
Brains, beauty and guts. You’ve got them all. See you next time your home. xxx ooo
nick
Aug 20th, 2010
Hi Val. This one just hit my heart. You’re my role model working with GM as a technician and I have a dream that one day I am gonna be an engineer coz i love cars nyc article