CONTACT:

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology [Link]
Graduation: November, 1996

COMPUTER SKILLS:

I have been exposed to many types of computer systems and am ready to adapt to anything new. The following is a brief list of some computer systems and software that I have used:

Computer Systems: Microsoft Windows, Linux, NeXT
Programming Languages: HTML/CSS, MS Access Visual Basic, C++, Fortran
Design Software: SolidWorks & AutoDesk Inventor 3D modeling, AutoCAD, MicroStation, CAD-Pack
Computational Software: Excel, Quattro-Pro, Lotus 123, Mathematica, MatLab

RELATIONAL SKILLS:

I have experience leading project teams, giving presentations to large groups, and working in the office and floor of a manufacturing engineering environment. I enjoy working as part of a project team designing and developing new processes and products. The past 2 years I've been working offsite, connecting to the company's network through the internet and telecommuting about 4 days a week.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Featherlite Inc., Cresco, IA (Feb 2000 - Apr 2007) [Link]
Project Engineer

My primary responsibilities were motion systems design and structural design for custom semi-trailers. I was also responsible in design and redesign of standard model horse, car, and general cargo trailers. Often my projects involved making one-of-a-kind systems into standard modules that could be resold and rebuilt more efficiently for our next customers. Some of my top projects are as follows:

• Slideout Design and Development [More] - I developed several motion systems and structural systems to expand trailers by making a movable room that would 'slide out' of the side of the trailer. These drive mechanisms involved electric gearmotor selection, drivetrain design, hydraulic systems, ball and acme screw design, power calculations, and integration with control systems. Equally important was the design and development of structural systems to minimize weight and cost, increase rigidity and quality, and reduce labor in production.
• Bi-folding hydraulic floors [More] - The bi-folding hydraulic floors were an extension of the slideout room project, designing and producing a flooring system that automatically unfolded and deployed itself in the newly expanded trailer room.
• Internal Lift Design [More]- Especially in specialized semi-trailers, there was great demand for internal elevators to lift cars, work platforms, and general cargo. I developed several different internal lifts of varying sizes and lift capacities using ballscrew drives, hydraulic systems, and acme screw systems. My most recent work included a servo motor controlled lift with digital feedback for automatic leveling.
  
• 5hp Liftgate Design - Featherlite had a standard 3 horsepower liftgate to lift lightweight race cars up to the upper deck for storage. I had the opportunity to design a 5hp system that was aimed at lifting heavy vehicles, like SUVs and service trucks. The design challenge here was to make the more robust system while minimizing added weight, and while keeping the system in the same space as the 3hp system.
• Design Guidelines Development - When I began at Featherlite, there was very little in the way of design standards. Being a fast growing company, the designs were usually done quickly and few records were maintained from project to project. From the time I began, I collected design information, standardized the information, and created a website available to all the engineers and drafters to unify the design practices throughout the company.
• Television Lift Design [More]- This was a high profile project, designing twin 30 foot high motorized telescoping towers for the new Nextel Cup Nascar sponsorship. The towers design had a very short development time line, and I reused as many existing sub-assembles as possible to create towers that would lift billboard sized televisions and withstand the wind load that they would experience.
• Vending Door Design - I designed a hydraulic linkage system to lift the sides of semi-trailers up horizontally, like wings, to become a rigid awning known as a 'vending door.' Also, smaller doors were equipped with pneumatic springs to assist a person in manually opening and closing them for the same purpose.
• Composite Floor & Structure Development - I worked with a small team of engineers to introduce honeycomb composite panel designs into the product line. Previously the company had only worked with traditional steel, aluminum, and wood construction, but we began to implement these lightweight, high strength composites to maximize performance while simultaneously minimizing weight.
• Steel & Aluminum frame design - One core responsibility of mine was to oversee the frame construction design for specialty trailers. We began to categorize the trailers into three types: center beam, perimeter frame, and unibody. I worked primarily on the development of the center beam and perimeter frame construction.
• Weight prediction, axle placement, code compliance - Another responsibility was to calculate weight distribution and properly size the axles, load limits, and ensure code compliance with regard to Department of Transportation requirements.
• Light Box Linkage Design - I designed many four bar linkages to accomplish different tasks in our motion systems designs, but the smallest was the Light Box. In this design, I used AutoDesk Inventor to make a complete 3D model of an aluminum housing that contained a 500W light, an electric actuator connected to the linkage, limit switches, and power transfer circuitry to automatically open the box and deploy the light from high on the side of a trailer, then to turn off the light and retract it into the weather-protecting box.
• Awnings - A common design challenge was to recreate aluminum framed awnings to withstand wind and rain loads, lighting and power requirements, and to provide temporary shelters between trailers.
• Single board computer control system - As the functionality, and thus the complexity, of our motion systems increased over time, we began an initiative to change from simple relay control logic to a single board computer input/output controller. I worked with an electrical engineer to develop these controls and integrate them into our systems.
• Testing - I worked with a team to develop an engineering test lab, then began to use the test lab to simulate conditions to test various products. I worked closely with our hydraulic component vendor to design a power unit that would be flexible enough to deliver slow, light flow rates for light testing, and yet adapt to our heaviest testing scenarios in excess of 20 tons. In this process I worked to select and setup a data acquisition system for reading and storing data on pressure transducers, load sensors, strain gauges, etc.

Otis Elevator Co., Bloomington, IN (Dec 1996 - Jan 2000) [Link]
Sales Engineer, International Business

• Traction Program - I developed a relational database software to handle elevator code compliance, component characteristics, loading and system design. The Traction Program is a tool used to help Sales Engineers and Drafters perform calculations vital to the design of an elevator system.
• Technical ToolPack - The Technical ToolPack is literally a toolbox of software modules that replaces all of the spreadsheets and hand-worksheets previously used to design an elevator system. Its functions include analyzing an elevator system in regard to domestic and international codes, determining clearances and loading for specific design conditions, storing all data in a central file for access throughout the sales and design process.
• System Design (Sales Engineering) - I designed elevator systems, maximizing each component to produce the least expensive solution to meet all the requirements. Each design is unique due to differing local code requirements, the load capacity of the building, and the architect's design ideas for elevators and the building itself.
• Code Interpretation - I was responsible for reading, relating, and applying the safety codes for international and domestic elevator and building requirements.
• Auditing - I Audited the manufacturing drawings that were submitted by the Otis sales offices in China, Europe, and South America. This required me to complete all of Sales Engineering design calculations, as well as thoroughly read and correct the drawings before they were sent for manufacture.
• Stress Analysis - One of my responsibilities was to perform stress analysis of structural steel members and mechanical assemblies. This included analysis of structural steel members, the connecting bolts, plates, bearings, and assemblies.
• Traction Drive Systems - I determined friction/traction relationships for wire rope drive systems. The elevator industry uses hydraulics, and wire rope electric drive systems. My responsibilities included determining tension ratios, available traction, and brake torque for direct current and variable frequency drive machines.
• Training and Supervision - I was responsible for training drafters and other Sales Engineers on new software, design, and code issues. I would oversee the calculations, drawing designs, and code compliance of work performed by new equipment drafters and sales engineers.
• Design Review - I also worked with the field sales force, internationally and domestically, to meet consultant specifications, customer desires, and architect designs. A portion of my responsibility included up-front review of design feasibility.

Great Dane Trailers, Inc., Brazil, IN (May - Oct, 1996) [Link]
Engineering Internship

• Established a standard method for performing time studies in the corporation
• Wrote a computer data entry system that stores, collaborates, and executes statistical analysis on data
• Performed time studies in the Terre Haute and Brazil manufacturing plants
• Documented and designed jigs used to build the upper coupler assembly
• Reduced the company's cost of scrap aluminum