Meet Bill Neville, a Project Manager based out of the Murray, KY, office. Bill joined LSI in 2022 and has become a significant contributor. His dedication and hard work have consistently earned him the respect and appreciation of our clients, and we are proud to have him on our team. The three words we use to describe Bill are trustworthy, focused, and dedicated. Read our latest Employee Spotlight interview below.
How long have you been with LSI?
I began my career with LSI on March 14, 2022 – so almost 2 years.
Describe your current role and experience at LSI.
Over the past two years, my role has transitioned from a controls engineer who assisted with project management to a full-time project manager who occasionally performs controls programming. Currently I am working as a project manager in the LSI-Murray office, managing multiple projects, and furthering my education in controls programming.
Where did you go to college?
During my educational career, I attended Paducah Technical College, where I received an associate degree in applied science for Electronic Engineering in 2003. I spent many years in the workforce applying my trade, troubleshooting, and fixing various electronics, including televisions, computers, and multi-function copy machines. In 2011, I was offered an athletic scholarship to play hockey, so I decided to take my training in a different direction. While competing as a varsity-level college athlete, I also attended full-time classes at Bethel University and continued my working life as an electronic engineer. I graduated in May 2015 from Bethel University with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
What industries have you been involved in?
I have been involved in several projects spanning many different industries, including automotive, food and beverage, specialty chemical, and steel manufacturing.
Tell us about a project success story that you are proud of.
One of the first major projects I had the privilege of working on was in an automotive manufacturing facility. I was asked to integrate four Cognex cameras, complete with infrared light bars and filtered lenses. These items were mounted on four Fanuc robots and designed to take pictures at more than 120 inspection points across a truck frame and produce pass/fail information. The data is then sent back to the Allen-Bradley PLC for determining defects in the frame manufacturing process. The inspection process had a maximum cycle time of 50 seconds, and we were able to complete the task in less than the allowable time. Initially, the cycle time increased incrementally; however, we were able to identify a faulty firmware edition and correct the problem quickly. I am pleased to say that our process is still in place today, and we were invited back to modify the programming to suit changes in the 2024 model year edition of the frame.
What do you think is unique about LSI?
LSI is a wonderful place to make a career. The opportunities are exceptional – we get to work in every manufacturing industry, helping to create safer, more efficient workplaces across the country and the world. I have learned so much in my short time here and have been warmly welcomed. I’ve also been invited not only to learn new skills but also to be mentored as these new skills are utilized. I cannot say enough about the leadership, especially locally, for the opportunity to learn and grow in this exciting company.
How have you grown professionally since joining LSI?
I came to LSI with a core knowledge in IT and Excel VBA scripting. Most of my career has been customer service-based, either directly as an electronics repairman or indirectly as an office IT manager, sending and receiving financial data for hospitals nationwide. Since joining LSI, I have pursued knowledge in vision-based systems as well as Rockwell and Siemens controls programming. I have had the opportunity to be mentored into the role of Project Manager and am now directly managing multiple projects across multiple industries, including a multi-year, multi-phase Siemens DCS conversion at a chemical manufacturing facility.
What advice do you have for aspiring engineers?
My advice for anyone looking to become an engineer with LSI is to go for it. Take the opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s brightest and most skilled people.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anyone who spends any time around me and my family will know that we are Disney people. We visit at least once a year, and it has become our go-to family vacation spot for each of the past 6 years. We have been blessed to be able to bring family members with us on our trips, including trips with my father, and this past year, we were able to bring our extended family (13 in total) on a fabulous trip. We have made so many wonderful family memories, and hopefully, many more to come.
Do you have any hobbies or random facts about yourself that you could share with us?
I am a golfer, and I enjoy hockey (though I do not play anymore). My kids keep me active; they are involved in taekwondo, both of my girls study ballet and tap and jazz dance, and I coach my kids’ soccer teams both in spring and fall leagues. I also enjoy gaming, both around a table with friends and playing video games.