ENGINEERING
DESIGN
At Ford Motor Company, I designed automotive air-handling components. I made things like overhead ducting with maximal laminar flow for a quiet passenger experience, and auxiliary console assemblies for back seat passenger comfort. I saw projects through from concept to product launch and incorporated post-launch user feedback improvements. To satisfy my more creative side, I volunteered for a position as an organizer of the Ford Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge, and designed the rad Lucite trophies.
PROTOTYPING
While attending Michigan Technological University, I had the opportunity to intern for General Motors. I performed solid modeling and finite element analysis to simulate mold filling, casting cooling, and rectify any porosity or other defects. This was when my eyes opened to what was possible just with a computer and a lot of algorithms.
MANUFACTURING / QUALITY
At John Deere, I was the lead Quality Engineer at a new cab operations facility. I systematized the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) process for all products, adding hierarchy to address everything from screws to final assemblies. I can thrive working at this level of detail – to create something that eliminates redundancy and ensures efficient use of team resources. Systems for the win.
TESTING
At Ford, I spent the hottest days of the year field testing automotive air conditioning prototypes in the hottest places (Phoenix), and the coldest days testing in the coldest places (Bemidji, MN). It was excellent training in how lab testing can only provide so much information. Real environmental conditions and real humans can be surprising.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
I became very familiar with Gantt charts, lead times, and task dependencies while working on multiple product launches at Ford Motor Company and John Deere. I kept cross-functional teams on track cost-wise at John Deere, leading value improvement initiatives balancing cost and quality. I independently research new tech productivity tools for specific applications in professional, entrepreneurial, and personal life based on where they are most effective in the behavior change intervention literature.
PROGRAMMING
I took programming courses at University of Northern Iowa as part of my preparation for graduate studies. I found out that my mind works algorithmically when it needs to. I almost went the computer sciences route, but human factors was calling from a mountain town in Idaho. Those programming skills came in handy in many human factors lab projects at the University of Idaho, and equipped me to "talk the talk" of developers.