Meet David, a Controls Engineer based out of our Ontario, Canada office. He serves as our automation lead, overseeing the controls engineering requirements for LSI Canada and mentoring others. David is best described as level-headed, knowledgeable, business-minded, and methodical in his troubleshooting approach. Clients appreciate and respect him as much as we do — read our latest Employee Spotlight below!
How long have you been with LSI?
Six years in February 2023
What is your role at LSI?
Controls Engineer
Where did you go to college?
What industries have you been involved in?
Automotive, Food and Beverage, Mining, and Manufacturing
What is your area of expertise?
Automation and controls
What platforms are you familiar with?
Rockwell Automation, Omron, Wonderware, Unitronics
What has been your favorite project at LSI?
The Spring Mill Distillery automation project – we provided the design and build for multiple control panels, including a custom motor control center (MCC) and a panel for connecting instruments in a hazardous location. We worked with our process team to develop the controls and with our office in China to produce drawings for all of the control panels.
What is your proudest moment at LSI?
It’s hard to single one out, but it’s always satisfying when we can solve a customer problem in the field or identify a piece of equipment that is unsafe and make it safe.
What sets LSI apart as an employer?
The level of trust and respect that everyone has for each other within the company. This was very evident during the pandemic when our managers couldn’t be as “hands-on,” but our productivity and client deliveries continued as before.
What sets LSI apart as a system integrator?
How willing everyone is to help each other out when someone has an issue they can’t solve on their own. The level of internal collaboration/assistance is beyond what I have seen at other companies I have worked for, and this makes a big difference for our clients.
What are three ways or words that you would use to describe LSI?
Honest, excellent collaborators, and trustworthy – we do what we say we will.
What is one thing that clients may not know about LSI that you would like to share?
The diversity of our skillset/offering. Far more than programming and integration – we can offer assistance at any stage of a project, from process engineering and developing P&ID drawings/piping isometric drawings to MES systems collecting data/analytics.
Long-term client relationships are a hallmark of LSI. Why is that?
Clients are partners, and success is mutual. We don’t go into a client, complete a project and get out. Instead, we work together to ensure we achieve their goals. Often we help clients define or modify their goals to ensure projects are successful.
How has LSI helped you in your career development?
LSI has provided me with exposure to a variety of projects with new technology.
What advice do you have for prospective LSI candidates?
Programming is less about a specific platform or language and more about having a mindset of problem-solving. Experience with a certain software is not necessarily as important as having the ability to learn and find solutions to problems.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Is this a trick question? (I have a five and seven-year-old) 😛
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Cottage country in “Northern” Ontario.
Your favorite sports team?
Toronto Raptors, and all University of Michigan sports.
Apple iOS or Android?
Android
Any random facts about yourself that you could share with us?
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I moved to Lexington, Kentucky, for a year and then to Toronto at the age of 2. As a result, I’m a proud (yet grumpy) filer of two sets of income tax…