I've done a number of difficult things in my life, but about the hardest was getting through fourth grade. You see, I was great with numbers, but language? That was another story. So my teacher made me repeat fourth grade, which turned out to be the best thing that could ever have happened to me. The lesson became my mantra, along with the title of a book I helped write for children: "Never Give Up."

My name is Marshall, and my 30 years as a mechanical engineer at GE Global Research has been filled with opportunities to move forward, to expand on my career, to create goals that support my philosophy of never giving up. I was always interested in research, and after completing my graduate studies, I chose Global Research because of its industrial research reputation. It's a decision I've never regretted.

Although my major was in solid mechanics, my work here has led me into areas beyond my wildest dreams or training: that of laser material processing and fiber optics. The beauty of this work is that laser technology is both an emerging and an enabling technology that has potential of impacting most of GE's core businesses. And the beauty of working for Global Research is that I've helped solve problems in lighting, medical, aircraft, power generation, plastics, and other GE core businesses - without ever leaving the company.

In my book, I tell children that they can get through anything, if they work hard enough and are willing to ask for guidance and support. The same can be said for working at Global Research. Thanks to the work I've done here, and the support I've received, I've earned 46 U.S. patents and 32 foreign patents, authored or co-authored more than 40 publications, received GE Global Research's highest individual honor, the Coolidge Fellowship, and GE's most significant award for community service, the Phillippe Award; been voted one of the nations Top 100 Innovators of the Year by Science Digest, received the National Society of Black Engineers Pioneer of the Year Golden Torch Award, been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

It's a long way from repeating fourth grade, but when you never allow yourself to give up, everything is possible. And thanks to GE, my sky has no limit.