Senior Project Engineer Neal Stoffel recently retired from Kondex after 46 years of service. Stoffel joined Kondex in 1975 as a machine operator on a disc grinder machine. His career grew to include several machine operator roles, as well as technical services, manufacturing engineering, sales/marketing, and most recently product engineering. This path was guided by his drive for continued education. Stoffel began taking night classes early in his career to obtain an electrical journeyman license, and later an associate degree in electromechanical technology followed by a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Throughout the years, Stoffel assisted Kondex in writing numerous patent applications, and is named on 15 published patents. This expertise combined with his engineering savvy provided the Company with a competitive advantage on several product lines. For more than two decades, Neal was actively involved with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). He became a trusted advisor in engineering advisory roles and guiding agricultural product standards.
“Neal’s contributions to the agricultural equipment industry over nearly a half century can hardly be overstated. His many patents and extensive industry standards work have changed the industry for the better in so many ways,” said Kondex President Keith Johnson. “His impact on Kondex is even more significant. So much of who we are today is the result of Neal’s work. The processes he helped develop and products he helped bring to market are all mainstays of our business today. On top of all that, Neal is just a fantastic individual. We wish him the best in his retirement.”