Electro-Mechanical Technology grad Jacob Winkel is front and center when it comes to ensuring quality standards in industry.

At 22, Jacob Winkel is already using the skills he gained as a student at Fox Valley Technical College in his new career as an engineering lab technician for Ripon-based Alliance Laundry Systems. “We’re a worldwide industry leader in high-quality laundry products such as washers and dryers,” he says. “I work with engineers to test new parts and products.”

While attending FVTC, the Elkhart Lake native learned how to read schematics, wire and test electrical and electronic circuits, design and program electronic and computer controls, and calibrate instruments. As president of the student-run Electronics Club, he also gained strong leadership and teamwork skills.

Winkel’s position requires him to make sure parts like lint screens, belt drives, and dryer doors meet industry standards. “I test for efficiency and power consumption,” he explains. “For example, I designed a piece of equipment to test the force required to open a new dryer door. With a new lint trap, my job was to test and measure air flow to see if there was any blockage.” 

Winkel first heard about his job at a career fair sponsored by FVTC. “Alliance Laundry was one of the companies represented at the event,” he says. “I was hired before I even graduated. In fact, the company let me work part time until I finished the program, and then I was hired full time.”