Al Iseppon, 67, co-opped working with heat exchangers while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology. Directly out of school, he started in the pump industry working with Buffalo Pumps as a product engineer. From there, he moved to Pentair (Sta-Rite/Wicor) taking on roles as a product engineer and project engineer before moving into his current role as an engineering manager.
When asked what kind of training has helped him the most over his career, Iseppon said, “Working directly with the people building and using the pumps. You get a better understanding of what happens in the real world. You learn most when things aren’t going quite right, when things don’t go together or the pump is not working in the system.”
Outside of college and hands-on work, he also said “participating in the Hydraulic Institute exposed me to more than my small company did.” His involvement with the Hydraulic Institute (HI) has not gone unnoticed either, as Iseppon was the recipient of HI’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement award for his contributions to HI and the pump industry for the past 35 years.
Iseppon noted several things that have changed over the course of his career saying, “When I started, desktop computers were just getting into the workplace. We were still using mainframes with stacks of punch cards to do most calculations. Everyone had a set of French curves for plotting pump curves and vane shapes. Now you can do most of what we did then on your phone. Almost nothing is done by hand or on paper. The analysis tools have become more detailed and accurate. Communication is almost instantaneous. [And] regulations have become a much more important part of the design of pumps. Efficiency of not only the pumps but the efficiency of design and operation of the system as well.”
For what young engineers and operators need to learn to be prepared to take on roles as others retire, Iseppon said, “They still need to understand how pumps are used. The big variable is how they are used and considering all the variables that have to be addressed to keep them working properly. They also have to understand how they are manufactured. We can still design components that cannot be manufactured, or more importantly, cannot be manufactured efficiently. [Also] take the time to communicate and be open to other perspectives. Sometimes it can be the key to understanding the problem you are trying to solve or help when designing a new pump that will be successful.”
What career advice did you learn from, and what career advice can you offer?
- Never assume you've seen it all. Continue to look for something better. Not so much a new job, but better ways and better tools to do your job.
- Don't be afraid to try. Even if it fails, you learn something that will make your next decision better.
- Don't avoid new technology but be cautious with it until you understand it. Then use is as a tool to help you make better decisions.
What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges that the industry is facing?
Technology replacing experience. Preprogrammed software replacing mentors. It is still important to understand the principles to avoid costly mistakes.
What has been the best part about your job?
Learning. Learning through the eyes and experiences of others. Getting new perspectives on a problem can be eye opening and helps you develop a better solution.
What's been the hardest part about your job?
People and their emotions. Give me a pump and system any day.
Outside of the industry, what do you enjoy doing?
I have always enjoyed working with kids. First as a swim coach and now as a 4H leader and instructor. It is rewarding to watch a kid grow and develop into a young adult.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The world is always changing. Hang on and enjoy the ride.
