With a career of more than 40 years in the manufacturing industry, I look back now and see that I was greatly influenced by my father, who worked for an engineering firm. He shared his vast mechanical know-how with me. The two of us worked on many projects together, including rebuilding my car’s engine—an experience that wasn’t common among my peers at the time.

Deep manufacturing roots

During my teen years, I worked for Vermeer Corp., a global manufacturer of industrial and agricultural machines. I also watched the production lines at the Rolscreen site of Pella Corp. So my manufacturing roots reach back far into my youth.

After graduating from Truman State University with a biology and environmental science degree, I began my career in manufacturing with Carnation Co., later acquired by Nestlé. We produced canned pet food that required a complex process in a niche market. I’m proud of the contributions I made to help the company become a global innovator of pet care products.

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