Doug Haveman, Technical Sales Representative
Since he was young, Doug has always had a curiosity for how things are built and operate. As a child, he would take toys apart to see what was inside; some made it back together, others did not. His long-running history of figuring out how things work combined with experience in mechanical equipment repair, construction, plumbing, electrical, and customer service, all benefit our customers here at Donald Engineering. Combined with his experience in sales and project management, Doug enjoys working with customers to provide solutions for their individual challenges. He also has experience with assemblies and repairing valves, cylinders, and pumps. Outside of work, Doug enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He loves playing guitar as well as teaching and playing just about any sport that his kids show interested in learning.
John Dippel, Inside Customer Service Lead
B.A. Business
Michigan State University
With over two 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.
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.
Michael DeMeester, Technical Sales Representative
B.S. Business & Finance
Grand Valley State University
Michael’s 27+ plus years of product and sales experience in assembly-automation, pneumatics, electric, and hydraulic provide him with the skills and expertise diversity to provide the best products, service, and support for our customers. Michael currently serves customers from Petoskey to Northern Grand Rapids where he currently calls home. He places a priority on building relationships and helping others, and having fun every day while doing so.
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.
Tyler Bosch, Inside Sales
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 is currently on track to complete 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.
Zack Buter, Shipping/Value-Add Assembly
Biology & Natural Resource Management
Grand Valley State University
Zack has been with Donald Engineering ever since he started working part-time here in college. He is continuing to learn 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.
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 8+ years of marketing experience specializing in digital and social media marketing. As a Marketing Specialist at Donald Engineering, she will provide marketing expertise that promotes company products, services, and build brand recognition. Outside of work Sonja enjoys shopping, going on adventures with her husband and two young boys, watching movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
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.
Jim Kortman, Sales Manager
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 on the board at Love Your Neighbor.
Rachel Bredeweg, Accounting Administrator
B.A. in Communication
Hope College
Rachel comes to Donald Engineering as a recent college graduate and has general office experience in a variety of different industries, from libraries to the Chamber of Commerce. Rachel’s love of organization, details, and note-taking work well with her role at DE which primarily deals with Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. When she is not at work, she enjoys getting coffee from local coffee shops, searching for fun new music, and spending time trying out new restaurants & exploring new places with friends
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 financials, payroll, 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.
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 one of our two electrical applications engineers. He recently moved back to West Michigan after serving his country in the United States Air Force for over eight years. He is passionate about all aspects of engineering and plans to obtain a Mechanical Engineering degree from his alma mater within the next couple of years.
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.
