Mark Gauthier, President
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Michigan Tech
As a child, Mark with his dad in their basement building boats, furniture, and of course, air logic circuits. This instilled in him a curiosity for the relationship between cause and effect that later translated to a passion for automation and manufacturing. Mark’s parents founded Donald Engineering and he strives to carry on the family business tradition. His passion for this industry includes working with local schools and universities to spread the knowledge of fluid power and automation. He’s also worked with Michigan Tech to develop scholarships for local students in order to provide them with the opportunity to grow and explore the world of engineering. Away from work, Mark is a boat fanatic. Getting the itch from his father, Mark has rebuilt, reconstructed, updated, and even built a number of boats over the years. He says working on boats is almost as fun and satisfying as running them. Mark, his wife, and their dog Mike enjoy running down the lake when weather and projects are under control.
Zak DeVries, Sales & Marketing Manager
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Calvin College
Inspired by his childhood days of tinkering alongside his grandpa, Zak developed a fascination for understanding how things work, a curiosity that has fueled his passion for engineering and the world of automation. Zak graduated from Calvin College with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, complemented by a minor in Business, reflecting interests in both the technical and commercial realms. Zak's professional journey spans over nine years in the automation industry, where he has engaged in diverse roles from robotic machine design to deep learning vision systems, with a specific focus on sales and sales management in the recent six years. As Sales and Marketing Manager at Donald Engineering, Zak is excited to drive sales with the sales teams, collaborate with vendors, and grow Donald Engineering's presence through marketing.
Outside of work, Zak cherishes spending time with family, and embracing adventures with his wife and two daughters, whether it's biking, boating, or simply making a point to get outside!
Doug Haveman, Technical Sales Representative
Since he was young, Doug has always had a curiosity for how things are built and operate. Combined with his experience in sales and project management, Doug enjoys working with customers’ to provide value-added solutions for their individual challenges. His knowledge goes well beyond our line-card offerings, leading to many successful projects.
Doug’s hands-on approach means he isn’t afraid to get dirty! He has experience with assemblies, plumbing, repairing valves, cylinders, and pumps. His customers’ appreciate his eye for detail and exceptional service standards.
Outside of work, Doug enjoys spending time with his family, playing and teaching sports to his kids, and deer hunting with his wife.
John Dippel, Inside Customer Service Lead
B.A. Business
Michigan State University
With over three decades of experience here at Donald Engineering in purchasing, sales, technical help, expediting, inventory control, and shipping and receiving, John takes pride in his work and gets satisfaction from ensuring that our customers’ jobs are completed efficiently and effectively. His goal is to provide a great experience in both process and outcome for our customers. Away from the office, John and his wife enjoy working around their hobby farm, tending to their 10 acres and caring for their dog, cat, and 2 horses. He dreams of one day adding a few holes of golf to his property.
Richard Carlson, Inside Sales and Customer Support Lead
B.A. Marketing
Lake Superior State University
As a proven knowledge leader in fluid power and interconnect technologies, Rich has been serving the motion control industry for over 40 years. In his role at Donald Engineering, he wears many hats, working in inside sales, providing technical assistance, and acting as a project coordinator. Richard’s history in the business and wealth of experience enables him to provide unmatched service and positive outcomes for our customers.
Bryan Swiftney, Purchasing and Inventory Control
Bryan joined the Donald Engineering team after spending over three decades in the Automotive manufacturing industry. Bryan’s work experience has included purchasing, inventory control, storeroom management, shipping, receiving, and customer service. Focusing on having the right parts, at the right time, to meet a customer’s needs, has been Bryan’s main goal over his years of experience. Having all our inventory organized, labeled, and accounted for is critical to supporting our customer’s needs. Working with our supply base to guarantee accurate, on time delivery, is a main focus for all the products Donald Engineering sells.
Outside of work Bryan enjoys spending time with his wife, son, daughter, and grandson. Bryan hobbies are golfing, bowling, muscle cars, and attending college football games.
Tyler Bosch, Inside Sales
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Ferris State University
Tyler joins the next generation of Donald Engineering’s Inside Sales department. Tyler grew up locally along the lakeshore and is familiar with the local growing industries in West Michigan. Tyler recently completed his bachelor's degree of Mechanical Engineering from Ferris State University. He has experience in construction and agriculture retail, and plastics. He is a self-taught automotive and small engine repair tech and enjoys working on auto projects in his free time. If given the chance and time, he also enjoys hunting in the fall and camping in the warm months. Fun Fact: Tyler has had dinner with a Third-world leader – if you get the chance, you’ll have to ask him about the details.
Sonja Buczek, Marketing Specialist
M.S. Integrated Marketing Communications
Eastern Michigan University
B.A. Communication Studies with a focus on Advertising & Public Relations
Grand Valley State University
Sonja comes to Donald Engineering with 9+ years of marketing experience specializing in digital and social media marketing. As a Marketing Specialist at Donald Engineering, her focus is to provide marketing expertise that promotes company products, services, and build brand recognition. Outside of work, Sonja enjoys shopping, gardening, going on adventures with her husband and two young boys, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
Cameron Geerling, Automation Application Engineer
Cameron’s background includes robot and PLC programming, followed by production and engineering of military vehicles. Needless to say, he’s well-versed in complex machinery — both civilian and military.
At home, Cameron keeps busy with projects ranging from working on his boat to programming his Christmas lights to music. His wife and two kids seem to enjoy the spectacle, and when they aren’t marveling at synchronized light shows, they’re outdoors or on the water, where Cameron likely has a few more projects underway.
Jim Kortman, Vice President Technical Sales
B.A. Political Science & Economics/Calvin College,
M.A. Management/Aquinas College
FS Tech (TÜV Rheinland, # 2331/ 19, Machinery)
Jim’s background in audio and recording, automotive, and construction accompanies his curiosity for how things work as well as his ability to retain seemingly unrelated pieces of information, of which he’s collected many after twenty-five years in the industry. Solving puzzles, helping others, educating customers to be self-sufficient, and seeing things run and perform better than industry standards motivates Jim in his work here at Donald Engineering, as well as seeing our customers excel when utilizing our niche products to get their application performing beyond their expectations. Jim and his wife enjoy time spent with his four kids and their spouses. He’s passionate about nonprofit work and serving people with dignity and considers himself privileged to serve in various non-profit volunteer and leadership positions.
Travis Winter, Electrical Engineer
B.S. Electrical Engineering
University of North Dakota
Travis holds an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of North Dakota and is the powerhouse behind our electrical engineering innovations. Travis started at Donald Engineering after serving in the United States Air Force for over eight years. He is passionate about all aspects of engineering and brings unmatched expertise to the Donald Engineering team.
Bryan Haveman, Technical Sales Representative
B.A. in Marketing
Western Michigan University
Bryan came to Donald Engineering with experience in project management, sales, and estimating. Here at Donald Engineering, he works with customers to provide individualized solutions for their particular challenges using products, vendors, tools, and processes strategically to achieve their desired results. He assists customers with challenges related to new project conceptualization, design, and implementation and also provides consultation and support for existing products and processes. It is Bryan’s goal to learn as much as he can about our customers' needs in order to provide the most effective solutions for them, whether that involves collaborating with vendors to expedite products needed for urgent repairs, selecting stock products that save them time, providing direct technical assistance, or customizing a solution to an urgent or unique problem using our available tools. After hours you can often find Bryan playing softball or coaching some of his three kids' sports teams.
Don Tullius, Technical Sales Representative
B.S. Electrical Engineering Technology
Lawrence Technological University
Don has always enjoyed mechanical challenges, learning how things work, and how to make them work better. He came to Donald Engineering with over two decades of experience in the fluid power industry that included extensive experience in distribution, supplying customers with multiple product lines and technical applications. Don provides technical sales engineering service and support to customers in southeastern Michigan, working with them to create unique solutions for their technical problems. The variety of challenges and applications that our products and expertise address helps our customers succeed and perform efficiently and effectively.
Tim Plowman, Controller
B.S. Accounting
Hope College
After working elsewhere as a controller, accountant, and financial analyst, Tim joined the team here at Donald Engineering as the controller. He oversees all the accounting functions including financials, payroll, banking, and employee benefits. Tim supports the team here by providing accurate and timely reports and ensuring compliance and financial insurance regulations, allowing us to focus on providing effective solutions for our customers’ needs.
Tom Hulst, Technical Sales Representative
B.A. Business Administration
Western Michigan University
Coming from a family of engineers, Tom grew up learning how equipment operated and was repaired by helping to maintain family recreational toys, building pole barns, deck, and the like. Tom is a Fluid Power Society certified Pneumatic Specialist with over 30 years of experience in fluid power and automation sales, service, and design. Here at Donald, he provides technical sales support for customers from Eastern Grand Rapids to the Lansing area. Tom enjoys using the wide variety of products and applications we feature to engineer solutions for complex problems that meet our customers’ needs and exceed their expectations. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time boating and traveling with his wife and two children.
Tyler Longstreet, Mechanical Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Michigan Technical University
Tyler comes to DE as a recent Michigan Tech graduate. Having graduated cum laude from MTU’s College of Engineering Mechanical Engineering program, he is the perfect addition to our Applications Team. Tyler has previously held positions in manufacturing and production with experience in the automotive and construction industries. He is a hands-on type and likes to learn as much as he can about any project that he encounters. While at MTU, Tyler was able to be a member of the Mushing Club, the only collegiate mushing club in the country and a sport that consisted of a great amount of work, dedication, and community. Tyler appreciates and enjoys the outdoors, and while not working and caring for dogs, also enjoys fishing.
Zack Buter, Shipping/Value-Add Assembly

Biology & Natural Resource Management
Grand Valley State University
Zak has been with Donald Engineering ever since he started working part-time here in college. He is continuing learning more about the fluid power industry and enjoys figuring out how to put things together and fix what is broken. When he's not at work Zack can be found pursuing his outdoors passions including hiking, cycling, hunting, and fishing.
Jodi Vanderlaan, Accounting Coordinator
B.S. Elementary Education, minor in Math & English
Calvin College
Jodi comes to Donald Engineering with 18 years of experience as an office manager and administrator. With a degree in Elementary Education from Calvin College and minor in Math and English, she has seamlessly transitioned into office leadership roles. Outside of work, Jodi is an avid traveler, having visited most of the 50 states and taken several cruises. She loves spending time with family at Green Lake and enjoys spontaneous adventures with friends.
Nathan Clements, Engineering Technician
Nathan is a certified marine technician with 10 years of experience in both mechanical and electrical systems. Before joining Donald Engineering, he served as the lead technician at his previous company and brings a wealth of expertise from the marine industry.
Originally from Texas, he moved to Michigan in 2021 with his wife. Outside of work, Nathan enjoys disc golfing, watching movies, and has an interesting past—he began his marine career as a commercial diver on inland lakes.
Conor Keenan, Outside Sales Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Grand Valley State University
Meet Conor, a talented addition to the Donald Engineering team with a background in manufacturing, product design, engineering consulting, and sales.
A lifelong tinkerer, Conor’s fascination with theoretical physics and mechanics began in third grade, eventually leading to projects like building treehouses and go-karts (not exactly OSHA-approved!). His passion for podcasting and standup comedy has honed his communication skills and creativity, even leading to a memorable interview with the mayor of Grand Rapids.
Outside of work, you might find Conor refining his low-bar barbell squat, mountain biking, or reading thought-provoking books that add depth to any dinner conversation. His unique mix of technical expertise, humor, and curiosity makes him an invaluable asset to our team.