By Leah Stacy, freelance writer Rochester. Kenny Baptiste grew up in Grenada, a small island in the southern Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela. After graduating from high school and a two-year college in Grenada, Baptiste began working as a elementary and secondary teacher — expected to teach nearly every subject — before he had even reached the age of 20. In 1988, Baptiste traveled to the United States to obtain a four-year college education. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology and settled in the area, where he now is a researcher at Eastman Kodak Co., working each day to prove that Kodak's digital products can flourish. What do you do? (I) use technical expertise in electrochemistry and surface science to evaluate and implement quality control on (the components of) Kodak products (in) the research and development phase. Why did you choose this career/your degrees? By sheer accident, I was recruited by Kodak from college, and I liked the work. What kinds of challenges does your industry face? The challenges Kodak faces are well-known to the community as we try to transition from film to digital imaging. Competition from (other companies) is fierce and the digital profit margins are low compared to film. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the strength of the Kodak brand and the favorable reception of many items in our recent product portfolio. What's been your biggest career hurdle? The problems brought on by the transition which required a tightening of the belt has led to frustration due to the lack of funding for some projects. Who were some of your mentors? In music, Stevie Wonder. In science, Benjamin Banneker, and in politics, Barack Obama. What advice have you gotten in the past that has helped guide your career? Pay attention to detail for two reasons: The devil is in the details, and the understanding is there, too! How do you spend a day off? I love soccer ... in all its forms and working on home improvement projects. What is your ultimate career/life goal? To become a technical leader in my field and to try to leave the world a better place after I'm gone. Are you involved in any local charities/organizations that help you in your career? The National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers and African American Leadership Development Program have helped my career in significant ways by giving me the opportunity to affect others by getting involved in events and organizations, gaining leadership skills and helping the community. What advice would you give to other young professionals? It is OK to define success in your own language and by your own standards — and keep redefining it as your career progresses. (The above article was written by Leah Stacy for the Democrat and Chronicle.Com and features a young Grenadian, Kenny Baptiste. Kenny is a past student of the St. Andrew's Anglican Secondary school (SAASS) and spent some years at that institution as a science teacher before migrating to the USA to further his studies. The original article can be viewed online at the following link: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009909270301