JMP’s Laurens VanPagee and Ken McLaughlin selected among Top 40 under 40
Control Engineering 40 Under 40 is a contest designed to identify and give recognition to young engineers who have made significant contributions toward the control engineering profession. Entrants came from end-users, automation and control vendors, system integrators and automation consultants across North America.
JMP is proud to have two employees named in this year’s Top 40. Laurens VanPagee is Director of Operations and Ken McLaughlin is Director of Automation at JMP. Both received awards for their achievements and contributions to the automation industry.
VanPagee’s career progressed within JMP from Controls Engineer to his current position where he’s responsible for managing the company’s technical operations across North America. His involvement in operational excellence initiatives has changed the way JMP operates. He has taken project management, technical training and quality certifications to new levels. He championed JMP’s Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) certification process and became a member of the CSIA Best Practice Committee. In addition, his efforts helped JMP achieve Control Engineering's Control System Integrator of the Year Award in 2009.
Laurens is an avid race car driver and partner in his wife’s grape tomato growing operation. He recently attended his children’s school where “I walked their classes through a real-world example that took a very manual process and completely automated it. They loved it! It was also great to set the stage for some of them to consider a career in engineering,” he said.
McLaughlin started his career at JMP ten years ago and has advanced to lead the Automation Systems Group that helps companies improve their competitiveness by applying off-the-shelf automation technology in innovative ways. “In other words, I help companies see the potential of automation and guide them in their automation maturity” says McLaughlin. Last year McLaughlin’s team received Packaging Digest’s Packaging System Integrator of the Year Award for designing a flexible material handling solution branded the AutoFlex LoaderTM.
One of his passions is educating and sharing information with others. He does this through his blog (robotshift.com) that covers automation concepts; how to apply technology, the costs of robotics and the risks of using robots. “I strongly believe that through openness and sharing I can create value for companies that have been afraid to invest in automation,” he said. McLaughlin appreciated the impact mentoring had on him so he enrolled in a mentoring program at WIL Employment Connections, a local non-profit that assists immigrant professionals in understanding Canadian culture and networking to find employment. He has been paired with a new Canadian who is an engineer by trade and meets with him a few times a month.
For more information go to www.controleng.com, www.jmpeng.com or click on
http://www.controleng.com/industry-news/top-stories/single-article/leaders-under-40-control-engineering-class-of-2010/5757d3a67f.html,
Contact Paul Wilson, VP Sales & Marketing - JMP Engineering Inc
Phone: 519.652.2741 x226 email: pwilson@jmpeng.com
About JMP Engineering
JMP delivers world class automation, control and information solutions that enhance manufacturing and production performance. Every time. All the time.
