Kyle Riegel Age: 25
United Equipment Accessories Waverly, IA
UNDER THIRTY K
yle Riegel is an engineer today because, years ago, he was able to witness three pre- vious generations of engineers in his family solve problems.
His father worked for Maytag; his grandfather for John Deere and Griffin Wheel; and his great-grandfa- ther, although a blacksmith by trade, was effectively an engineer by necessity. “I’ve always enjoyed
problem solving, and while watching my relatives make a living solving problems I knew that this was the career for me,” he says. “It’s awesome that’s what I get to do for a career.” Kyle is a research and design engineer at United Equipment Accessories in Waverly, IA, a worldwide supplier of custom components for motion applications.
“I’ve always enjoyed problem solving, and while watching my relatives make a living solving problems I knew that this was the career for me.”
Mark Hanawalt, UEA president, says Kyle brings enthusiasm and confidence to his work every day. He also has a different way of thinking about engineering problems that may be the result of his liberal arts background—he has an electromechanical engineering and applied mathematics degree— instead of having a diploma from an engineering school. “The best part of his intelligence is, he has al-
lowed us to pull out of more conventional thinking,” says Hanawalt. “He’s more broad-minded and that’s been a shift in our engineering thinking. “It’s actually quite refreshing.”
For one R&D project, improving a slip ring for wind turbines, Kyle worked with a supplier to develop a new grade of carbon graphite that lasts twice as long as the material previously used to make the part. He takes great personal pride in his work. “It’s great when I get to drive through the state and think our product is in those turbines,” says Kyle about Iowa, where almost 30% of electricity is produced by wind. Kyle’s also proud of his work on a team that de- signed a new, replaceable shifter part for airport tugs. It’s made of plastic instead of hardened steel, so it slides rather than grinds, he says. As a result, a part that costs less than $10 can be replaced, instead of requiring a $300 assembly. “It’s just a neat problem and the kind every engineer wants to be a part of,” he says.
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Kyle loves doing design work in a smaller company like UEA that enables him to see the results of his work throughout the entire manufacturing processes, but he’d eventually like to be in management, like Hanawalt. For that, he recently completed his master’s in business administration. He’s also acutely aware of the need for mentors to work with students and inspire in them a love of engi- neering and other STEM fields.
So Kyle and his fiancée, Julie, a supply management professional, coach a FIRST Lego League robotics team for students from grades four through eight. Kyle also serves on the engineering board of the Waverly Shell Rock High School, providing real-world feedback to help shape its curriculum. He mentors students there, as well as would-be engineers from Iowa State University and Wartburg College. “It’s really just a great time working with the stu- dents,” says Kyle.
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