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Arrival and Attendance
Special Guest
Ryan Dincher
-Email about joining — rdincher@iastate.edu
-Phi Sigma Pi
-New Fraternity
-Would be a ‘founding father”
Exec. Team Announcements
Secretary
-Get your t-shirt size to me if you haven’t already.
-Let me know if you are interested in a sweatshirt
-Let me know if you are interested in buttons
Treasurer
-None
Communications
-Get your bio in for the website
Events
-Movie Night! à 6:30pm TOMORROW NIGHT at Carver to see TED
-Finalizing dates for concessions
Outreach
-Thanks for the help at middle school day, the kids loved it
Tutoring
-Thanks for the help last week
-Sign up for a time next week
-You can come if you didn’t sign up.
President
-Get in contact if you didn’t get a reading packet from the meeting
-Meeting at 5:00pm next week
VP of Comm.
-FLiE reunion
-RSVP, send email to Joe
-Next Friday at Pizza Pit
Vermeer Presentation
Rob Franx- Systems engineer
Preetam Bora- Design Engineer
First inventions of Vermeer
-Mechanical Wagon, Model 12 Plow-R ditcher, Stump Cutter, Round Hay Baler
4P’s of philosophy
-People, Profit, Principles, Product
-All are equally important.
Locations
-Corporate headquarters in Pella, Iowa
-Offices in Singapore, Brazil, and Netherlands
-Partners with Wildcat, Welger, and Vermeer in Beijing, China
-Roughly 3000 global employees, most in Pella
-Strong global dealer network
Four sections
Forage/Ag
-Hay and forest equipment
-Balers, rakes, cutters
Environmental
-Compost turners, grinders, brush chippers, stump cutters/grinders
Underground
-Horizontal direction drills, utility products, mini skid steers, Boring systems
-Laying lines, sewers
Special Excavation
-Track trenchers, terrain leveler,
-Surface mining is a new phenomenon
Rob’s Positives at Vermeer
–Family owned company
-Hands on job
-Product level design—see the whole product, you know all about the product
-People are fantastic there!
-Opportunities— you have the chance to move up in the company and do what you want to do
-Diverse product offering
Preetam’s Positives at Vermeer
-Creativity
-Hands on experience
-How it works and what it does
-Extremely personable culture—helpful people
-Helps if you are fresh out of college
-Learn new skills once you are at the company
-Move through the company in your field
Questions
What types of engineering majors are at Vermeer?
-Ag, mechanical, aerospace, software, materials, welding, computer, electrical
Do you need a Masters?
-No, it is valued but not necessary.
-Once you are in its about what you can do, not the credits you have
Should you stay at ISU and get a masters or go out in the workforce first?
-Could be don’t either way
-If you wait there may be a lack of motivation
-It may have to do with your future plans; getting married, job offer, etc.
Does Vermeer have Internships?
-Internships and summer job programs
-40 possible positions may be available
– go to VermeerJobs.com à http://www.vermeer.com/vcom/Jobs/
-You will get approx. 2-3 projects during the time there; design, design review, present, parts to floor, parts are welded, test the product
Do you have internships around the world or just in Pella?
-Mostly Pella, 99% of engineers are at Pella
What does a typical day look like for you?
-Preetam—in prototype phase you would be at the computer a lot, then with an actual part you can have the part tested. It all depends on the phase you are in. gathering data.
-Rob – 50%desk, 50%field. Working back and forth. See the project through, give expertise on product
What skills do you (Vermeer) find useful?
-Ability to work in a Team!!—finding your strength in that group
-Leadership**** absolutely valued. How you move up
-Hands on skills are good
-Willingness to try, get dirty
-Creativity
How big is market, money wise?
-800-900 milionl—good year!
What was helpful in college to get to Vermeer?
-Rob—Marching band!!! Using the harness from band on drumline!
-Preetam—Mechanics courses, endless learning process. Find out
What did you learn from internship?
-Rob– What type of company I wanted to work for. What parts of engineering interested me.
-Preetam—communication skills to go from one major to the another
Final Thoughts
Rob—Don’t underestimate the people who are out on the shop floor. They know a lot about the products, possibly more than you do.