His team is focused on the mechanical design for mix systems, trommel screens and compost turners. They are responsible for everything from the steel design to hydraulic system design and all the purchased component choices for the machine.
How did you get involved in engineering?
I honestly stumbled into engineering. I was undecided going into college on what major I should pursue. I grew up on a row crop, cow/calf/show cattle and hog farm and loved running equipment. In high school, my favorite class was shop where I learned to use a T-square and make orthographic drawings and later designed and built a computer desk. All this led me to ag engineering at South Dakota State University where I could hopefully combine some of my passions.
What do you like most about engineering?
I enjoy solving problems for our customers. There really isn’t anything more rewarding than seeing a machine in the field do the job that the end-user was looking for. I also enjoy creating a design that the production team is proud to build and see something you were a part of roll off the production line.
What do you like most about working at Vermeer?
I enjoy the variety of my job. I am not stuck at the computer all day everyday detailing drawings. I get the opportunity to go out on the shop floor and into the field to test equipment. I also get to see the whole lifecycle of the design through test and production. It isn’t just a sliver of the project, but the whole pie!
I have been fortunate enough to travel the world supporting projects during my time in Vermeer. I have had the pleasure of going to Australia, Qatar and all over the United States.
I also appreciate that Vermeer is a family-owned company and stands behind its team members. I had to be out of work for an extended timeframe while I went through chemotherapy in the fall of 2021, and all the support I got from my Vermeer family in Freeman and Pella encouraged me when I needed it most.
What advice do you have for someone interested in a career in engineering?
Make sure you have a passion for solving problems and try to align your passions with your career. The schoolwork you are going through in college is teaching you how to solve problems you don’t fully understand. It is really the ability to learn and apply your newfound knowledge to solve those problems that makes somebody a successful engineer.