Ten Leaders to Know: Geoff Ward [Full Profile]

Company: Agri-Industrial Plastics Company

Title: Director of Engineering & Strategy

Birth CIty: Independence

Current City: Fairfield

How did you get where you are today?

After graduating from the University of Iowa in Mechanical Engineering, I went on to graduate school at Purdue University, where I received a Masters and Ph.D. That experience led me to a position at Allison Engine Company, which then became Rolls-Royce, in Indianapolis, where I worked for 6 years. Through a desire to get back to Iowa and a family connection in Fairfield, I learned about a plastics company that was looking for an engineer. While skeptical about whether my background would be a good fit, I met with Dick Smith, the founder and owner of Agri-Industrial Plastics, and was very impressed and decided to make the move and have never looked back even 22 years later. Through that time, I've had the opportunity to create and build the engineering department, while also serving other roles, all while helping grow the company to be one of the largest non-automotive fuel tank manufacturers in the world.

What excites you the most about the business you work in?

Being a custom manufacturer, everything we do has its own unique aspects and challenges, which constantly provides natural opportunities to improve and grow. We get to do this while serving many of the largest and most well known companies in the world.

What do you see as the next big trend in your industry?

Unfortunately, the biggest trend in the plastics industry right now is the negative publicity pointed toward plastics from multiple directions. However, I believe this will only create more opportunities for those of us in the industry to engineer solutions that will continue to demonstrate why plastics has been and will continue to be the most sustainable option.

What does effective leadership mean to you?

In its simplest form, I've always believed the role of leadership was to provide others with the tools they need and then get out of their way. In the broader spectrum, I've learned that those tools aren't just physical items, but they include things like transfer of knowledge, clear direction, strong core values, and emotional support.

What is your favorite thing about Iowa?

I can't really pinpoint one favorite thing, other than I've traveled around a lot and Iowa is just home. I think Iowans tend to feel like we're all in this together, and it's comforting to be a part of that.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Be patient. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint.

Why are you a member of ABI?

I have been able to meet, learn from, and become friends with countless people across the state that I would have had no other reasonto know if not for our connections through ABI. I was introduced to ABI shortly after starting work at Agri-Industrial Plastics as an organization that works to help our business and educate us on issues, but it has become a lot more than that from a personal level.

Who do you look to for mentorship?

I have always looked for people smarter and more accomplished than me, and then specifically those who have different approaches about how they go about things. I figured out very early that I'm more inclined to learn from someone who challenges my way of thinking rather than someone who is just better at something.