Leallen Ehlers: Championing Talent and Teamwork

Q&A with Leallen Ehlers

What’s your educational and professional experience? 

I’m a 1983 graduate of the Electronic Engineering Technology program. I have 35 years of manufacturing experience, working for General Electric, DuPont, and Eaton Aerospace. Over the years, I’ve held positions as Automation Technician, ME, Quality Manager, Customer Service Manager, Operations Superintendent, and Director of Operations.

Can you share a lesson you’ve learned through your work? 

Accountability is important. Holding yourself accountable for your best performance—and supporting others to be accountable for theirs—creates a strong team and work environment.

“Mediocre people hate high achievers, and high achievers hate mediocre people.” 
—Nick Saban, Alabama Head Football Coach

What’s your favorite part of working on the Business Solutions team? 

Meeting and listening with industrial partners on their individual situation and needs. Then sharing with them programs and classes we can partner on to construct training that will upskill their employees and support their business. No one understands their situation better than they do.

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” 
—Stephen R. Covey

If there was one thing you could share with your customers, what would that be? 

Technical resources are becoming an increasingly strong need for industry. Getting ahead of that curve is critical to the success of their business. Hiring these skills may not be as easy as one might expect, but growing your talent organically and internally does a few huge things for your organization:

• Provides you with the talent to operate efficiently.

• Promoting and growing your inside talent lets team members know there’s an opportunity to improve and better themselves.

• Supporting the team’s upskill brings loyalty to the business. You support them to grow—they’ll be more willing to stay and grow with you.

What’s your philosophy about professional development? Why do you feel it’s important? 

It’s about giving back. Helping students and employees in industry see how professional development will benefit them. I like to explain that this is a journey, and by investing in themselves with knowledge and technical expertise, they become very flexible and a strong asset for industry.

This opens many windows of opportunity, as long as they take the initiative to be good employees and keep going with their journey.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I have a small farm that I like to spend time “putzing” around. I enjoy time on the Mississippi River with the family, especially with the granddaughters.

I’ve been the voice of the Riverhawks (formerly Trojans) football team as the PA announcer for over 20 years. I’ve also been the lighting director for the Easton Valley (Preston) drama department for the past 25 years.
I have four grown and successful children who make me incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished in their careers. But the true joys of my life these days are my five granddaughters. Nothing lights up my world more than seeing them running toward me for a big hug

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