Industrial automation
10 controls engineering experts
These ten professionals have led controls and automation engineering inside manufacturing companies, as controls engineering managers and directors. A reader can learn how controls engineering leaders build and run their teams in manufacturing plants.
Professionals to explore
01—10Al Carter
LinkedInExperience: Controls Engineering Manager · Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds
Controls Engineering Manager at Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds since 2017. Former Senior Controls Engineer (2009–2017) and Controls Engineer (2005–2009) at Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, and Engineering Technician at Micron (2000–2005). The profile lists Allen Bradley devices, ControlNet and DeviceNet among the person's specialties.
CheeFatt Che
LinkedInExperience: Electrical Control Engineering Manager · Huhtamaki
Electrical Control Engineering Manager at Huhtamaki since 2023. Former Electrical Control Technician at The Campbell's Company (2018–2023) and at Snyder's-Lance, Inc. (2012–2018). The profile describes electrical control systems and programming for PLC, HMI and SCADA, including designing and programming PLCs and touch screens (HMI).
Dallas Nitschke
LinkedInExperience: Director of Automation & Controls · CJ Schwan's
Director of Automation & Controls at CJ Schwan's since 2025, and former Sr. Manager of Automation at CJ Schwan's (2023–2025). Former Sr. Automation Engineer at 3M (2021–2023), Senior Automation Engineer at Hubbell Power Systems (2019–2021) and Senior Weld Manufacturing Engineer at CNH (2017–2019).
Gary Downey
LinkedInExperience: Corporate Controls Engineering Manager · Daisy Brand
Corporate Controls Engineering Manager at Daisy Brand since 2021. Former Manager, Power, Control & Information System Engineering at Procter & Gamble (2008–2016), Manager, Process Control & Automation at Specialty Minerals Inc. (2005–2008) and Manager, Electrical & Control Engineering at The Hershey Company (1990–2005). The profile describes providing strategic direction, corporate oversight and management of industrial process controls and automation systems.
Jenny Kirubakaran
LinkedInExperience: Controls Engineering Manager · Michael Foods
Controls Engineering Manager at Michael Foods since 2023, and former Senior Project Engineer - Controls at Michael Foods (2011–2023). Former Controls Engineer at Egan Company (2008–2011), Project Engineer at Automation Systems Engineering (2006–2008) and Controls Engineer at Landscape Structures (2000–2006).
Kris Rollings
LinkedInExperience: Controls Engineering Manager · Kent Quality Foods
Controls Engineering Manager at Kent Quality Foods since 2024, and Controls Engineer at Kent Quality Foods since 2022. Former Controls Engineer at Hearthside Food Solutions (2014–2022), Electrician at Evergreen Packaging (2013–2014) and Controls Technician at Omni Oxide (2011–2013).
Matt Reemsnyder
LinkedInExperience: Electrical Controls Engineering Unit Manager · Metallus Inc.
Former Electrical Controls Engineering Unit Manager at Metallus Inc. (2023–2025) and at TimkenSteel Corporation (2021–2023), and Unit Manager Process Control at TimkenSteel Corporation (2016–2019). Process Control Unit Manager at Metallus Inc. (2025–2026) and Senior Manager - Process Control at Metallus Inc. since 2026; the profile describes these roles as automation and controls engineering management.
Paul Mantilla
LinkedInExperience: Automation and Control Engineering Manager · Kohler Co.
Automation and Control Engineering Manager at Kohler Co. since 2024. Former Electrical Engineering Superintendent at Mueller Water Products (2019–2024), Automation Engineer at Vesuvius USA (2014–2019) and Automation Specialist at Costa Farms (2013–2014).
Rod Hackney
LinkedInExperience: Corporate Director of Controls and Automation Engineering · Darling Ingredients
Corporate Director of Controls and Automation Engineering at Darling Ingredients since 2022. Former Corporate Controls Automation Manager (2021–2022) and Corporate Sr. Electrical Engineer (2013–2021) at Darling Ingredients. The profile headline describes digital manufacturing expertise.
Subrata Mukhopadhyay
LinkedInExperience: Director of MFG Automation & Controls · Kovalus Separation Solutions
Director of MFG Automation & Controls at Kovalus Separation Solutions since 2023, and former Controls Manager (2022–2023) and Automation Project Manager (2021–2022) at Kovalus Separation Solutions. Former Director of Automation at Barrette Outdoor Living (2018–2020) and Sr. Engineering Team Member at Edgewell Personal Care (2020–2021).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to yours, since running controls for one plant differs from setting corporate controls standards across many sites. Also match the process type, because continuous process industries such as steel or food processing raise different controls problems from discrete assembly lines.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What controls standards do you set for PLC code, HMIs and panels so plants can support each other's lines?
- 02How do you decide what controls work to keep in-house and what to hand to an integrator?
- 03How do you plan controls upgrades on old lines without long production outages?
Reaching controls engineering experts
How can I contact one of these controls engineering experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, Huhtamaki and CJ Schwan's, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach controls engineering experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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