The bleachers were bouncing with the weight of the crowd, Call Me Maybe blared from the speaker system, and the men's volleyball team was playing for the 2012 national championship. And that was only sophomore year for George Langheld '14.
The 6-foot-5-inch Mokena, Ill., native came to St. Ambrose for volleyball; stayed for the Industrial Engineering program; and left with a job-ready and waiting-at Deere & Company.
Langheld had little knowledge of Deere when he first came to the Quad Cities to attend St. Ambrose. "But being in the engineering program and working with students who were employed there, I quickly began to learn about the company," he said. "I decided that I wanted to work for Deere following a tour of its Cylinder Division with (Asst. Professor of Engineering) Dr. Prosise."
During sophomore year, Langheld secured a part-time student manufacturing engineer position with John Deere Seeding Group, and spent the remainder of his college years working part-time during the school year, and full-time each summer.
The Monday after commencement, Langheld started his post-baccalaureate engineering career in the Cylinder Division, overseeing the scheduling and planning of the production of hydraulic cylinders in two of the modules.
"This includes calculating the output of cylinders we are capable of, and the time it takes to produce the required amount of cylinders-and staffing accordingly," Langheld said. "I am also responsible for ordering and supplying these modules with the proper parts that go into the cylinders so that production is never halted, as well as facilitating any troubles that may occur."
He credits his success to the SAU engineering faculty, for instilling the knowledge, skills and tools he needed in order to distinguish himself in his career. He also credits former head volleyball coach, Bill Gleeson, with giving him the flexibility to play, work and study.
"Right now I am happy what I am doing, and can see myself staying with Deere for a long time," Langheld said. "At the same time, I have spent the past four years worrying about my future so for now, I am just going to see what happens and have fun as I go."
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