IMSE News 2025

Steve Sukup (‘79 industrial engineering) is the President and CEO of Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield, Iowa, a family-owned industry leader in grain storage, drying, and handling equipment and steel structures.

Under his leadership, Sukup Manufacturing Co. has grown to become the world’s largest grain bin manufacturer, with over 800 employees in more than 1 million square feet of facilities.

A proud IE alum, Steve and the Sukup family have generously supported Iowa State, including recently establishing the Sukup Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory in the new Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building.

After giving a tour of company headquarters — where he greeted every employee by name — Steve answered a few questions about his career, the future of manufacturing, and his spirit of innovation.

Questions inspired by IE student Walter Glockner. Read more about Glockner.

What parts of your Iowa State IE experience have had the greatest impact on your success?

I loved my IE experience, and it’s been critical to Sukup Manufacturing’s growth. Studying engineering gives a person a great foundation in problem-solving and great confidence to take on challenges.

I enjoyed everything from thermodynamics to the senior capstone course, and, of course, the focus on efficiency is vital for a manufacturer. My IE education taught me how to evaluate process flows and decide what improvements would make the biggest difference.

But when I took engineering economy and sales engineering, that’s when the puzzle pieces came together for me. I learned that success takes more than just coming up with good ideas. Does anyone want those ideas or products? Does anyone need them?

My IE courses gave me my first experience in how important it is to listen to customers. Listening to what they’re asking for, yes. But also listening more deeply, for what they need to move forward. If you take care of the needs, that will also take care of the customer’s wants.

What would you say is the greatest accomplishment of your career?

Without question, it’s getting to work with all three of my children and two of my sons-in-law in the family business. The third generation has really helped drive our growth and product development.

Sukup has grown 12 times larger in the last 20 years. And we’ve expanded into new types of ag tech with Sukup Innovation, integrating real-time monitoring and automation into our bins.

Sukup experienced steady sales growth for many decades, and we’ve always had a great work culture, but during my term as CEO, we’ve become the world’s largest grain bin manufacturer and had five of our best years ever.

The success comes from everybody working hard as a team, and I’m excited about what’s next.

Where do you see the field of manufacturing going, and how can Iowa State IE students be ready?

U.S. manufacturing is on the rise, and industrial engineers will be the ones to lead that growth.

There are huge advancements ahead in robotics, 3D printing, and even in new methods of metal forming and roll forming.

But technology alone isn’t enough. Industrial engineers will be the ones to design processes that integrate people and tech — faster, better, and more consistently, so quality is high.

At Iowa State, IE students are getting an excellent technical training and learning to embrace change. And it’s essential to think of change as a good thing. Be ready to get started!

IE taught me to ask good questions—and to “never say never.” Innovation starts when you ask: “Why not give it a try?”

That mindset is key. Trying something new is a start down the road, a start to a solution, a start to the future.

What’s fun about my job is walking the shop floor and asking, “Why don’t we do this? Do you think we can change this?”

Why is it important to you to stay connected to Iowa State and support students with gifts like the one you so generously made to the Sukup Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory?

I loved my time at Iowa State, and every time I step on campus now, I feel energized.

You feel the excitement. You can feel that Iowa State students are the ones who will bring manufacturing into the Industry 4.0 future. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

I grew up on the shop floor, welding, using a torch, and running the punch press. I’ve always enjoyed making things and improving how they’re made.

My hope is students in the Sukup Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory experience that same thrill. They get hands-on experience in new areas of manufacturing, ask a lot of questions, and collaborate to bring new ideas to life.

What advice would you give current IE students interested in product development and entrepreneurship? What’s the best way for them to get on a path to innovating in manufacturing?

Get into the industry where your potential customers are. Learn what’s being offered — and, more importantly, what’s not.

Then you can figure out if your ideas are best built inside an existing company or by starting your own.

Either way, innovation always takes collaboration. Growth always happens with help.

And keep in mind: Great product ideas mean nothing if you can’t deliver, so make sure your manufacturing can keep up with what you promise your customers. If you let people down, you quickly lose opportunities.

Then always keep the innovation element going by focusing on what products are coming next.

Success comes when you combine innovation in product, production, and sales. Iowa State’s IE program gives you the skills to do all three.

Matt Frank named C.G. “Turk” and Joyce A. Therkildsen Department Chair of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Matthew C. Frank has been named the C.G. “Turk” and Joyce A. Therkildsen Department Chair of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at Iowa State University that began July 1.

“Matt has been a dedicated leader, educator, and innovator throughout his more than two decades at Iowa State. His deep understanding of the department and bold vision for its future will ensure the department’s continued excellence in research, teaching, and impact across the field of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering,” says W. Samuel Easterling, the James L. and Katherine S. Melsa Dean of Engineering.

Frank was serving as the associate chair and director of undergraduate education for the department and holds the John B. Slater Professorship of Sustainable Design and Manufacturing. He joined Iowa State in 2003.

His research focuses on advancing rapid manufacturing techniques for custom components, with an emphasis on hybrid manufacturing — integrating additive methods like 3D printing with subtractive methods such as CNC machining. He holds three U.S. patents.

“I am truly honored to serve as department chair and excited to lead our community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students,” says Frank. “Together, we will set a new standard of excellence in industrial engineering — through innovative research, hands-on learning, and strong relationships with our industry partners, alumni, and friends.”

Frank earned a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and a master’s and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

Letter from the former chair

Dear IE alumni and friends,

What a year it’s been! The Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building was completed and dedicated on May 1. Faculty, staff, and graduate students spent the rest of the month moving offices and research labs across Bissell Road. We haven’t completely abandoned the Black Engineering Building, though: the Slater Lab for Advanced Manufacturing and the manufacturing teaching labs, shared with ME, remain on the first floor there.

In addition to these big moments, it’s also been a time of hellos and goodbyes. After almost 37 years, Dr. John Jackman retired at the end of 2024, and I am saying my own farewell with a June 30 retirement. While this time of transition is always bittersweet, departures make room for new arrivals and expanded roles.

We made two new hires and changed two appointments. Dr. Guanzhou Wei (Georgia Tech) and Dr. Esther Jose (University of Buffalo) are joining our faculty this summer. A national search was conducted to select the next chair of the department, and I am pleased to announce that one of our very own, Dr. Matt Frank, was selected. In addition, Prof. Michelle Stallard is expanding her role to full time and taking over responsibility for the capstone design course.

With a new building, chair, and strategic plan, the department is in great shape to continue making strides towards increased teaching and research excellence.

I’ve enjoyed my 26 years in IMSE at Iowa State University and, while I’m ready for this next chapter, I want to say thank you. Thank you for being so generously invested in the bright future of our department – our faculty, staff, and students. You’ve made all the difference. Go, Cyclones!

Dr. Sarah Ryan

2024-25 By the numbers

Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building ribbon cutting

Research Symposium

Big ideas need specific tools – Walter Glockner found them in industrial engineering

With a passion for building and problem-solving, industrial engineering concurrent program student Walter Glockner found his perfect fit in industrial engineering.

It started with IMSE academic advisor Devna Popejoy-Sheriff. Wanting to learn more, Glockner walked up to the open door of her office and asked, “Do you have time to talk right now?”

“Her immediate answer was ‘Yeah, come on in,’” he says, “That was the first green flag.”

“Learning industrial engineers improve processes to help people solidified my decision,” he says.

Undergraduate Research Assistantship provides hands-on experience

Glockner’s first semester as an industrial engineering major landed him in assistant professor Jakob Hamilton’s IE 2480, Introduction to Manufacturing class. “I was really interested in 3D printing and asking lots of questions after class. I had big ideas of things I wanted to do and needed specific tools to get it done.”

“Dr. Hamilton heard me talking with Dr. (Matthew) Frank about building projects and asked if I wanted to get paid to do research in his lab as a URA,” Glockner says. Getting paid to do something he was interested in was a dream come true.

Coming in with programming experience from his start as an electrical engineering major, he was able to program the robotic arm used in the Slater Lab. One thing Hamilton encouraged was not to be afraid to make mistakes.

“Dr. Hamilton always tells me if you haven’t broken something, you’re not trying hard enough,” Glockner says, “He tells me to fail until I come up with a solution. But fail fast.” In fact, from day one Glockner says there has only been encouragement. “I truly believe I am a better engineer because of Dr. Hamilton. He has put me in a position where I can run.”

“I just started my own company, Glockner Automation, and Dr. Hamilton has encouraged me in that aspect, too,” he says.

Department support helps students succeed

Support doesn’t end with just Hamilton. Glockner says everyone in the IMSE department has helped him. “Together they are a powerful team. You can tell they really care if you learn and succeed. Industrial engineering students have real relationships with the professors that are extremely beneficial academically.”

“Every time I’ve run into a roadblock or an issue and I go and talk to one of the professors or academic advisors, they are willing to go above and beyond to make sure my problem gets solved,” Glockner says.

Surrounded by that support, Glockner is now taking his education a step further in the concurrent graduate program.

So, why engineering?

“It doesn’t stop at the problem. It doesn’t stop at profit. The idea of engineering is to continually solve problems. That’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I want to be a part of that.”

Engineering students shape future of origami drone design

Some focus on learning how to fly drones. Iowa State engineering students spent the semester learning how to design them.

A team of IE 4530X, Engineering Problem Solving for Defense students did drone design work this semester in an elective course taught by IMSE associate professor Cameron MacKenzie — specifically on origami drones, a unique new drone design featuring wing folding and shape shifting.

For Jacob Roberts, industrial engineering senior graduating this past semester, this was an exciting opportunity to do some problem solving and work with a team. The team was composed of several engineering undergraduates, representing three different majors and a different mix of skills and abilities.

After studying the aerodynamics of the original origami design and determining it couldn’t fly when tested in Iowa State University’s wind tunnel, students moved the project forward by each designing their own. Four new student prototypes were designed and tested over the course of the semester to determine they had one viable prototype.

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) project sponsor Mike Seper, Regional Engagement Principal, told the team, “I was so impressed. You took a hands-on learning experience and definitely met goals. In fact, you exceeded them.” MacKenzie initiated this elective course at Iowa State as part of the Navy Engineering Analytics Program (NEAP).

Sales Engineering minor bridge to a sales career

Macie VanNurden’s (’22 industrial engineering)first stop in her journey from Wisconsin to Los Angeles was at Iowa State University majoring in industrial engineering witha sales engineering minor.

Being a first-generation college student with a mother who did everything to help VanNurden further her education and life path, VanNurden always felt the motivation to succeed.

“This fuels my drive and determination in all I do,” VanNurden says.

Growing up she dreamed of being a doctor. However, when VanNurden started getting queasy during blood draws, she realized it probably wasn’t the best career path for her.

With encouragement from one of her most influential life mentors, her high school principal, to continue exploring other career options, VanNurden eventually discovered industrial engineering.

“It seemed to be the perfect blend of my love for technical problem solving and fostering meaningful relationships.”

Sales engineering supplements industrial engineering focus

In her first semester on campus, she took IE 1480: Information Engineering taught by distinguished teaching professor Leslie Potter who taught students “IEs solve problems to help others.”

That was it. VanNurden knew industrial engineering was the right fit.

Not long after, she was introduced to Iowa State University’s student organization, Sales Engineering Club, and the sales engineering minor and never looked back.

One way Iowa State’s industrial engineering program really stood out was application of concepts to real-life situations. Going beyond the theory and the “on paper” factors when problem solving aligned much better with real-world practices.

“Numbers, processes and data can get us part of the way, but thinking strategically and creatively with a common goal to ‘improve processes to help others’ takes things to a new level,” says VanNurden.

She also feels Iowa State helped her understand and learn the power of a team. While VanNurden typically likes to work independently, she’s learned the value and benefit of other perspectives and skills when working together.

“I use this in my role every day. There are team members who know more about products, others who know more about processes, and even more people who have years of knowledge that can’t be found online,” says VanNurden.

VanNurden’s Iowa State industrial engineering experience prepared her for a career in sales in these ways, but her experience also included two Eaton Technical Sales internships.

Job in LA feels like a homecoming

In 2022, VanNurden began post-graduation work with Eaton Corporation as a part of their Technical Sales Leadership Development program. This program includes two year-long rotations to build the foundation for a successful career.

Her first year was as a project engineer in Asheville, NC. In this role, she provided post-order technical support for large and major projects to help strengthen her technical and commercial skills.

The second rotation was in Phoenix, AZ (one of five hub cities). VanNurden supported the Los Angeles sales team from Arizona as an inside sales engineer. This role was more pre-sale focused and included quotation and channel partner support.

VanNurden enjoyed having the opportunity to make monthly week-long visits to the Los Angeles area to learn more about the market and customers. Throughout these visits she shadowed Eaton outside sales engineers, attended internal and external meetings and social events.

“I even got to sit in the fourth row of a LA Lakers game!” she says.

In July 2024, VanNurden officially completed the program and rolled off as an outside sales engineer in Los Angeles, a place she’s always wanted to live and with a job that is much more customer-facing and dynamic.

“I have direct ownership of customer relationships and personal brand—it is almost entrepreneurial in that sense. I look forward to further developing my sales style and strategy while continuing to learn and serve in everything I do,” says VanNurden.

While at times hard work seems to go unnoticed or unrewarded, for VanNurden this is one of the first times she feels both professional and personal reward for her efforts.

It also feels like a homecoming after supporting the same team in both her internships and previous roles.

“It is so exciting to have a feeling of ownership in my success.”

Sarah Ryan reflects on her career and Iowa State IE’s growth and impact

Sarah Ryan is a nationally recognized leader in industrial engineering, known for her expertise in stochastic modeling, dynamic optimization, and economic decision-making.

She’s also a respected academic leader at Iowa State, serving the Department of IMSE as department chair and other leadership positions, including major research initiatives on electricity markets, electronic waste recycling, and interdisciplinary data science.

All along the way, Ryan focused on supporting the success of undergraduate and graduate students — the next generation of IEs. She retired on June 30.

As Ryan looks back at her successful career, she shares a few memories of her time in IMSE:

“My first visit to Iowa State was in October 1998, when I was invited to present a research seminar. And I had heard good things about Iowa State’s IE program.

My seminar was on one of those perfect, crisp, and sunny fall days in Ames, and I was impressed by the people I met. So, I was really happy to hear about a faculty position that opened up a few months later.

I stayed at Iowa State for 26 years because the reputation of excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as research, is real.

I appreciate the university’s land-grant commitment to serve the public, and I enjoy the permeating spirit of collaboration and collegiality on campus, and especially the IMSE department.

Probably 20 years ago, when I was teaching one of the required undergraduate courses, a female student came to my office hours for help.

As we talked, I came to understand she wasn’t trying to get an A. She didn’t feel like she needed to be a star.

She was just claiming her right to get average grades and become an engineer, like thousands before and after her. I felt in that moment that women in engineering had arrived in some sense.

My mother earned a degree in chemistry in about 1950 and never got to use it professionally. (Other than one painful year teaching junior high science).

On the evening my mom died, I had returned from being with her, in rotation with my sisters, to attend the graduate commencement ceremony.

That night, I got to place doctoral hoods on women from countries where women have significantly fewer rights than men. I was very proud, and I felt that my mom would be very proud of me in that moment too.

As I think back on my career, I’m really gratified by how far the field of IE and the Department of IMSE have come.

Years ago, I was appointed to at least two committees to explain why the IMSE department should continue to exist, what value we added, and why industrial engineering might be an important discipline.

The experiences made me proud because of the way we worked together during tough times. And those challenges were bookended by the past four years, when we helped to plan and then occupy a beautiful new building made possible by strong leaders before me, incredibly generous alumni, and the persistent hard work of faculty and staff.”

Associate Professor John Jackman retires after 37 years at Iowa State

Jackman joined the IMSE department as an assistant professor in August 1987 from The Pennsylvania State University, where he worked one year post-graduation.

A versatile instructor, Jackman taught courses ranging from IE 101 to the final course in the required manufacturing sequence, as well as graduate courses in discrete-event simulation, e-commerce systems engineering, and requirements engineering. He graduated 14 Ph.D. and 22 master’s students.

Jackman served as the department’s Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) from 1993 to 2008. He also served as a faculty senator for the department from 2007 to 2014, culminating as Chair of the Faculty Senate Resource Policies and Allocations Council.

As a member of the advanced manufacturing group, Jackman played a leading role in research and education for wind energy manufacturing. He served as DOGE for the Wind Energy Science, Engineering, and Policy graduate program and directed a related summer research program for undergraduates.

In 2018, Jackman received an international award from the American Society of Engineering Education – the John L. Imhoff Global Excellence Award for Industrial Engineering Education. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of industrial engineering education and have demonstrated global cooperation and understanding through leadership and other initiatives.

Jackman also held various leadership positions, including technical vice president, within the Institute for Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE). From 2019 to 2023, he was program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education. Jackman received the NSF Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment in 2021.

“These international awards and leadership positions represented his dedication and commitment to our students, department and the industrial engineering profession,” says Sarah Ryan.

Among many other accomplishments, Jackman was an industry consultant and recipient of two patents.

“I enjoyed Dr. Jackman’s Socratic style, and I was honored to work for him as an undergraduate research student in the Spring 1991 semester. Dr. Jackman was always extremely helpful, answering my questions about graduate school, giving advice and writing letters of recommendation. After I joined the IMSE faculty, he guided me in writing my first grant proposal. I will always be grateful to him for sharing his knowledge and experience over the years,” says Leslie Potter, a former undergraduate student now serving as College of Engineering Distinguished Teaching Professor in the department.

Jackman earned a Ph.D. and master’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University (industrial engineering) and bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (chemistry)

In Memoriam: Roger Berger

Emeritus Professor Roger Berger died January 4, 2025 at age 89. He was buried at the ISU Cemetery.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska (1958), a master’s degree from Kansas State University (1962), and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University (1968), all in engineering. Upon graduation in 1958, Roger was commissioned as Ensign in the United States Navy. That same day, June 7, 1958, Roger married the love of his life, Kay Jackson. They were married for 67 years.

Upon completing his Naval service in 1961, in Coronado, California, Roger and Kay moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and then to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Roger went to work at Sandia Corporation as an industrial engineer. His desire to go into education led Roger to teaching industrial engineering courses at the University of New Mexico, University of West Virginia, and Iowa State University, where he was employed as a full professor. In addition to his specialty, quality control, Roger taught courses in engineering, materials handling systems, and human resource management.

He was a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, Pi Tau Sigma and served as faculty advisor for the industrial engineering academic society Alpha Pi Mu.

While at Iowa State, Roger became very involved with the American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), holding many volunteer positions at the local and national level. ASQC recognized him as ASQC Fellow, awarding him the Distinguished Service Medal, and creating the Annual Quality Management Division Award for Outstanding Volunteer, named in his honor. Roger retired in May 2001 from Iowa State University, Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, after 29 years of service.

Department Highlights

2025 Spring Awards Ceremony

New Faculty and Staff