Spending a good portion of his seven-year career as an IT generalist equipped Eli Albright to contribute to the advanced manufacturing industry in a variety of ways; focusing more recently on cybersecurity and networking made him invaluable at Allegion, where he not only guided deployment of CNC machines, robotics and other high-tech tools but also designed and implemented a year-long network segmentation that increased security without inhibiting operations. Outside of work, the Cedarville University honors graduate serves as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, teaches Sunday school and leads a small group at his church.

The seeds of Kaya Arnold’s career were planted in healthcare, where she developed a deep appreciation for caring for people during life’s most challenging moments. Her path later expanded into environmental and planetary health, with a focus on horticulture and native ecosystem preservation. Today, those two foundations have cross-pollinated in her role at anu, where her passion for nurturing living things has evolved into a fierce commitment to improving nutritional access and education. She supports leading healthcare institutions using Food as Medicine to help treat and reverse chronic disease. An Indiana Master Naturalist and licensed phlebotomist, Kaya is pursuing a double bachelor’s degree in environmental science and sociology.

The 16-year-old Brock Bawel who joined Jasper Engines & Transmissions as an R&D intern likely didn’t see himself leading a 50-person division at the company in less than a decade. As Quality Engineering Manager, the gas and diesel engine technical expert guides his division in shifting Jasper’s quality operations from a reactive posture to a proactive accountability-driven system. Serving as a bridge between the company’s engineering team and floor-level execution, Brock has increased collaboration and knocked down silos. The Purdue University graduate is also active in his community, most notably as co-founder of Brothers for Veterans, a nonprofit that connects active-duty military and veterans with the great outdoors.

As director of finance for Belden’s copper cable business in the Americas, Shane Boyd serves as a translator: translating data, spreadsheets, numbers, tables, and graphs into actionable information for Belden’s leaders. As the company transforms its operating model, he also has been translating the new model into a finance-team action plan and serves as a go-to finance mentor that helps leaders diffuse information efficiently. With a Purdue University finance degree and IU Kelley School of Business MBA, Shane hopes to build his career at Belden by continuing to create clarity from complexity and building teams for growth.

Diego Castillo is a bridge builder. As a student at the University of Southern Indiana, he founded an Engineers in Action chapter dedicated to constructing footbridges in remote communities — a program that continues today, with bridges now spanning villages in Africa and South America. At Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, he brings that same instinct for connection to the plant floor and Toyota suppliers. Diego leads cross-functional teams through complex production challenges, fostering collaboration and empowering team members to solve problems together rather than chase reactive fixes — resulting in resolved issues and reduced cycle times. A native of Venezuela, Diego is also active in TODOS, which provides resources and opportunities to help all Toyota team members thrive.

Bosses often exaggerate by saying an employee “revolutionized” something; Dominic Desalvo’s bosses back up their claim with numbers: a 40% reduction in programming time (with projections of an 80% reduction), 97% first-time yield for new CNC programs and more than $56,000 in annual savings for Arcamed and its customers. And that’s just one of the initiatives Dominic’s worked on. He also leads the way in AI, mentors peers and youth apprentices, started a book club to encourage continuous learning, and serves as an assistant coach on a high school lacrosse team — all while pursuing a Ball State University MBA to complement his Trine University bachelor’s degree.

Sasha Fry had no experience in the automotive industry when she joined the market quality unit at Honda Indiana Auto Plant, so she dove in head-first and learned all she could. Now she leads that team, overseeing warranty analysis, JD Power Initial Quality Study performance and plant-level corrective actions. The Indiana State University graduate double-majored in operations & supply chain management and marketing. Sasha is Six Sigma Green Belt certified through Purdue MEP, serves on the Honda Young Professionals leadership team, and is enrolled in Honda’s Leading with Influence program — continuing to grow as a leader in the automotive industry.

While Jack Harrison’s work with One Southern Indiana puts him in contact with a wide range of businesses in an effort to bring more jobs to southern Indiana, his greatest impact might be on the region’s manufacturing sector. Assuming leadership of the regional organization’s Metro Manufacturing Alliance two years ago, Jack breathed new life into the group of 80 manufacturers by reprogramming its content, creating sold-out trainings on topics from import/export and foreign trade zones to lean manufacturing, and sparking renewed interest in the Women in Manufacturing Group. With a bachelor’s from Centre College and an MPA from Georgia State University, Jack seeks long-term impact as a community leader.

“The student becomes the teacher” would be a good way to describe Roman Howard’s impact on EBEAMS, the student-led business at Eastbrook High School. Even before he could take engineering classes, Roman was teaching himself, his peers and even teachers how to use advanced manufacturing technology, and he drove setup and calibration when the program received a CNC mill, CNC lathe and large-format 3D printer. His teacher says Roman “was more influential than any other person” for the award-winning program’s growth. Roman plans to attend Taylor University to pursue a mechanical engineering degree and ultimately begin a career in aerospace or nuclear engineering.

William Huffman boils his work down to a pretty simple concept: He helps customers translate ideas to production-capable products. His bosses say he enhanced Photon Automation’s ability to deliver on that promise by combining keen technical knowledge with strong leadership and operational and communication skills. Will says he simply enjoys the challenge of solving complex problems, especially in early-stage manufacturability, process strategy and system definition. With a bachelor’s and MBA from Trine University, Will is excited to contribute to reindustrialization and strengthening domestic manufacturing — a commitment he supports by working with area students and making the world of advanced manufacturing an exciting career choice.

Denisse Juarez tells her story simply: “I am a Mexican woman, born and raised, that pursued a career in STEM and that migrated to pursue a better life.” The details reveal steady progress in that better life, as well as an impact on the future of the logistics industry. Coming to the states from Ciudad Juarez, Denisse earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and soon joined Cummins as a performance engineer. Seven years later, having added an IU Kelley School of Business MBA to her resume, she manages strategic partnerships that will put autonomous trucks on the road — a process that has seen her collaborate on more than 3 million miles of self-driving-vehicle road testing.

Ask Kelley Klein the secret to her success at Antique Candle, and she’ll likely say it’s her entry-level start, making candles and cleaning. Moving through various roles in her more than five years with Antique Candle has allowed Kelley to understand — and improve — a range of activities. Her leaders say she has helped to modernize operations, drive cross-functional collaboration and build resilient teams. In one specific example, she helped the company address a long-standing enterprise resource planning issue by pulling together a group representing various aspects of the operations and aligning data, process and accountability. Her bosses say the Arizona State University student has emerged as an influential leader and positive force on the organization.

When Desiree Lambert first stepped into the role of CNC machinist at Aegis Sales and Engineering five years ago, her most relevant previous experience was the two years she spent making ice cream at nearby Nestlé. She learned quickly and advanced to leadership roles in Aegis’ quality management. Emerging as a reliable leader and team builder, Desiree has helped the company strengthen its internal inspection and documentation processes. She recently developed and introduced an inspection log that gives machine operators better quality metrics — with meaningful results: reduced rework, improved first-pass part inspection results and repeatable quality outcomes across the operation.

As someone intrigued by the way manufacturing and engineering decisions affect communities, it makes sense that Kartik Maheshwari would find his career sweet spot in a role that allows him to help a number of organizations instead of just one. In his job at enFocus, the Ahmedabad, India, native helps northern Indiana manufacturers modernize, improve processes, solve problems and scale up. With a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Indus University and a master’s in engineering management from Purdue University, Kartik has notched such successes as uncovering $10 million in savings for a Fortune 500 company, increasing welding uptime by 76% for another firm and helping a European manufacturer find a localized U.S. supply chain.

MSP Manufacturing’s leadership happily acknowledges that Ethan Mathis’ contributions make a difference, crediting his quality assurance work as a direct contributor to the company’s recent record-setting revenue months. A lifelong shop rat whose dad taught him how to operate machines at a young age, Ethan joined MSP as a machinist and quickly demonstrated technical proficiency and a drive to learn as well as a keen sense for operations. His recent redesign of the company’s quality department has resulted in improved quality outcomes, better workflow and increased collaboration. With an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College, Ethan is working to add a Purdue University bachelor’s in mechanical engineering to his knowledge base.

No one will ever accuse AlyxaKay McKee of thinking small. Not only does the former Marian University volleyball captain acknowledge her intention to one day be CEO of SHIELDS Windshields, but she also plainly states that she intends to make the Martinsville company “the Cummins of Morgan County.” Her bosses say she’s made progress on these goals by bringing modernizations to SHIELDS Windshields that help it grow and earn recognition. Her implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system “revolutionized” accounting and operational efficiency, created 20 new jobs, and her help in launching an online retail store raised the company’s profile. Accolades have included earning the company a Top 100 Small Businesses in America listing by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Pavan Vishnu Kiran Medaramati traveled halfway around the world to pursue his passion for materials science, and found his calling in advanced manufacturing at Plastic Recycling. Driven by a commitment to sustainability and innovation, he applies rigorous research and technical expertise to develop and improve recycled material solutions. His work supports the company’s mission to reduce waste and advance circular manufacturing. Pavan brings both scientific discipline and a collaborative spirit to his role, earning recognition from colleagues and leadership for his contributions to the lab and to the broader organization. He continues to grow his expertise while making a measurable impact on one of manufacturing’s most pressing challenges: building a more sustainable materials future.

Sean O’Dell has served as Air Service Development Analyst with the Indianapolis Airport Authority since July 2023. Supporting both internal and external parties with key data, Sean has contributed to air service efforts for numerous new routes — including Indiana’s first flight to Ireland on Aer Lingus. Leading the airport’s special event strategy, Sean has secured additional service for NBA All Star weekend, the Total Solar Eclipse, US Olympic Swim Trials, the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, Men’s Final Four, and more. A proud Purdue University graduate, Sean is thrilled to do this rewarding work for his hometown airport.

It took a lot of individual drive for Amar Avinash Patil to earn a master’s degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, master technical skills and earn a career-path job with a century-old Lafayette company that serves the metal supply chain. It took an abandonment of that individualism for Amar to establish himself as a leader who can guide, teach and uplift others. Among his achievements are leading his team in the implementation of a flexible virtual gauging system that reduced measurement errors by 20%, inspection costs by 30% and inspection time by 40%, and spearheading the organization’s adoption of ISO 9001 certification. Beyond his day-to-day role, Amar serves as a Chapter Enhancement committee member for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Philip Rangitsch often confronts two challenges in his aggregate mining career: being one of the youngest leaders in the room and consistently advocating for modernization within a traditionally late-adopting industry. A graduate of Missouri University of Science and Technology with an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, Philip was brought in to stabilize and deliver a new crushing and material handling facility that had fallen behind schedule. By engaging site leadership, plant operations, maintenance, safety and local stakeholders, he aligned priorities, resolved constructability challenges and established a clear execution path. His leadership enabled the project to achieve operational readiness, improve throughput and uptime, and ultimately bring the facility successfully across the finish line.

A lot of people can describe their role the way Alex Rapp describes his: drive efficient business processes through technology. But Venture Logistics’ COO says that Alex stands out by complementing required technical skills with an ability to “work the seams” — standing at points where two business units or functions meet, acknowledging their individual needs and forging alignments that move the organization forward when it could get bogged down by conflicting objectives. Matching this with a keen eye for initiatives that serve the entire organization has allowed the IU School of Informatics grad and IU Kelley School of Business MBA to drive tech advances that boost efficiency, workflow, cost savings and more.

Matthew Rodibaugh and Fiber Global share a common mission: They want to make the world a better place. Matthew complements this shared passion with strong technical skills and hands-on work designing and implementing mechanical, hydraulic, and control solutions. The twelfth person hired by the startup and its first Indiana-based engineer, Matthew has been promoted three times in two years. He credits this rise in part to the hands-on experience gained in his early career after earning his Purdue University engineering degree: welding in a custom fabrication shop and managing projects for a national electric contractor. That foundation of real-world experience continues to shape how he leads and delivers at Fiber Global.

Zimmer Biomet hired Bella Rubin as a quality engineer not only for the technical knowledge and expertise she gained while earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, but also for the values she developed as a four-year Division III lacrosse player. Bella brings a team-first mindset to her work — an approach that has earned her respect across teams, strengthened collaboration, and enabled her to implement process improvements that reduce costs, increase operator efficiency, and achieve top performance metrics. A New Hampshire native, Bella continues to expand her impact at Zimmer Biomet by pursuing additional certifications, proactively learning new processes, and leading team-building initiatives that benefit both her colleagues and the Warsaw community.

It’s not surprising that a four-year football player at Saginaw Valley State University would bring the discipline, strategy and teamwork needed to excel as a supply chain planner. What might not have been expected is how much of a collaborative change agent Chase Sager has proven to be in his three years with Lippert. Having earned responsibility for supply chain planning in the company’s largest division, Chase has revamped operations and processes to the tune of a 14% increase in forecast accuracy, a 37% reduction in potential excess material, and a 7-point boost in overall inventory health — stats that have earned him MVP recognition from leadership.

Coming out of Butler University as a dean’s list regular with a degree in international business and a minor in Mandarin Chinese, Quinn Shanahan probably could have grabbed a high-visibility private equity job. Instead, she sought hands-on impact in the world of advanced manufacturing. Tasked with resolving resource constraints on the plant floor at LDI’s Walkerton-based Polygon Composites she has deployed technology and operations improvements that achieved such wins as increasing capacity on existing equipment by 20%, reducing scrap from 20% to 6% and meeting higher regulatory standards. Originally from the East Coast, Quinn is adding to her skillset by pursuing a master’s in computer information technology.

Tyler Sidwell describes himself as “an aspiring physicist,” but his work with Fort Wayne Carbon Fiber, the company he co-founded three years ago, suggests he might be qualified to drop “aspiring” from his description. A 10-year veteran of advanced manufacturing who started out as a general laborer and floor sweeper, the Purdue University Fort Wayne physics grad helps customers in a range of industries get carbon fiber components that are light, strong and precise to the finest measure. He has helped develop proprietary processes and groundbreaking methods that his team believes can redefine manufacturing possibilities, create jobs and plant a flag as an in-demand carbon fiber source.

Sometimes numbers say it all: 167 programs created; 2,320 development objects; 1,475 change requests. Those metrics document the transformative impact Tyler Smith has had for customers at Endress and Hauser InfoServe, an impact felt at operations across North America as well as in Brazil and Germany. Tyler started his association with the company more than 10 years ago, when he was still in high school. He stuck with the company as he pursued his bachelor’s degree from IU’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering — along with a business minor from the Kelley School of Business — and spent time developing software before moving into his current logistics process consulting role.

Coming to the U.S. from her native Colombia to work as an au pair, Valentina Tamayo so impressed her host family that she earned a job in the business the father co-founded, Thrive Orthopedics. Then her work at Thrive so impressed her bosses that, a little over a year later, she has moved from taping boxes to guiding operations. Now she leads a team of four tracking inventory and demand to ensure a smooth process from order receipt through production and delivery. Valentina’s co-workers applaud her dedication to employee development and strong communication — a particularly noteworthy point of praise considering she came to the U.S. with virtually no English-language proficiency.

Brett Walker’s journey to his role at Allison Transmission started in garages with his grandfathers; both were career mechanics. He is proud that his experience and current work support affordable public transportation and sustainable solutions to enrich our vehicular environmental footprint. A significant contribution of Brett’s to Allison Transmission was the creation of a $100,000 Electromagnetic testing lab that has saved from $20,000 to $40,000 on various product design iterations. With a bachelor’s from Indiana State University, Brett is pursuing a master’s from Michigan State University while continuing to make a difference — honoring the hands-on heritage his grandfathers instilled in him.

When Taylor Young was a college intern at Toyota Material Handling, a full-time position opened up that was right for her. The problem was, the first-generation college graduate wasn’t scheduled to finish her degree until after the hiring deadline. She quickly contacted her Indiana State University professors and coordinated an online study program that would allow her to take the job and finish her degree early. Taylor has applied similar enthusiasm and problem-solving abilities to her work for Toyota, notching such successes as driving cross-team collaboration to quickly improve a supplier’s delivery performance from 93.5% to 96%, and to boost it to 99% a year later.