Both geography and chance played a part in Lander Nordal’s entry into the pumps industry. Nordal, 29, completed internships in both the material handling and avionics sectors while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Oregon Tech. Upon graduating and discovering there were no full-time openings available in either of those sectors, he broadened his job search and eventually discovered an opportunity with Franklin Electric—conveniently located just a block away from where he was living at the time.
“What initially drew me in was the fast-paced environment and the wide range of engineering concepts involved,” he said. “Since then, I’ve continued to learn and grow as part of a team that values collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.”
When asked what advice he would give to newcomers or students considering a career in this industry, Nordal said, “Get involved and focus on your relationships. There is an abundance of knowledgeable people in the industry, with some really great experience, so find a mentor to learn from who both challenges and supports you. The more you put yourself out there, the faster you develop as a professional.”
Outside of work, Nordal enjoys “running, walking my dog and otherwise exploring.” He also boasts a lifelong fascination with geology, having spent many childhood family vacations in Oregon digging for jasper or sunstones—and even a few summers in college prospecting for gold. While his prospecting days are behind him now, he definitely seems to have struck gold in terms of his career choice. “I have developed an appreciation for the critical role pumps and the infrastructure surrounding them play in everyday life,” he said. “People take them for granted until they break, and then they need a solution fast. Being part of a dynamic, fast-paced industry that has such a direct and significant positive impact on the world gets me excited every day.”
What has you most excited about the future of this industry?
I see numerous challenges ahead in the industry. For example, we are learning about the dangers of forever chemicals and finding that we need to limit human exposure. Because of their versatility, we will be challenged to eliminate these materials from products and find ways to limit their presence in the food and water we consume. I am excited to see what solutions the industry develops to overcome these challenges!
For more on our 10 to Watch finalists, visit pumpsandsystems.com/tags/10-watch.
