10 J.R. Simplot engineering leaders
James W. Englar, Senior Director Technical Services, JR Simplot Company, heads this list of J.R. Simplot engineering leaders, who also include directors of capital engineering, potato project engineering, engineering capital projects and engineering and optimization. A reader can learn how engineering leaders work at J.R. Simplot from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Adam Wadsworth
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering Capital Projects · Simplot Company
Adam Wadsworth has been Director of Engineering Capital Projects at Simplot Company since August 2026, based in Pocatello, Idaho, and was Project Engineer there from 2019 to 2026. Adam Wadsworth was Project Engineer at STRATA inc. from 2018 to 2019 and Department Manager at Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI) from 2012 to 2018.
Ben Hawkes
LinkedInExperience: Director Global Potato Project Engineering · Simplot Company
Ben Hawkes has been Director Global Potato Project Engineering at Simplot Company since August 2025, based in Boise, Idaho, and was Associate Director of Engineering there from 2019 to 2025. Ben Hawkes was Engineering Project Manager at Boise Cascade Company from 2014 to 2019 and Project Manager, Engineering at Lamb Weston from 2004 to 2014.
Darsen Gaughan
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Simplot
Darsen Gaughan was Director of Engineering at SIMPLOT from December 2019 to May 2026 and Engineering Manager at SIMPLOT DON PLANT from 2017 to 2019, based in Pocatello, Idaho. Darsen Gaughan has been Project Engineering Manager at Amentum since June 2026 and was Project Manager at Agrium from 2012 to 2017.
James Samuelson
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering & Optimization · Simplot Company
James Samuelson holds Director of Engineering & Optimization at Simplot Company, a current row with no start date shown, based in Boise, Idaho. The profile headline reads Director of Engineering & Optimization at J.R. Simplot Company, and the profile lists that role as its only work row, with 33 connections and 42 followers.
James W. Englar
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Technical Services, JR Simplot Company · JR Simplot Company
James W. Englar has been Senior Director Technical Services, JR Simplot Company since October 2021, based in Nampa, Idaho, and the profile headline reads Senior Director Global Engineering Simplot Global Food Division. At Simplot Company, James W. Englar was also Sr. Director Process Development and Engineering from 2015 to 2020 and Director, Global Manufacturing Excellence from 2020 to 2021.
Kent Anderson
LinkedInExperience: Director of Capital Engineering · Simplot Company
Kent Anderson has been Director of Capital Engineering at Simplot Company since September 2021, based in Nampa, Idaho. At Simplot Company, Kent Anderson was also Director of Technical Engineering from 2015 to 2021, Project Engineering Manager from 2001 to 2015, Senior Project Engineer from 1998 to 2001 and Plant Project Engineer from 1995 to 1998.
Kevin Jennette
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering Project Management · Simplot Company
Kevin Jennette was Director of Engineering Project Management at Simplot Company from February 2022 to February 2026 and Associate Director of Technical Engineering there from 2019 to 2026, based in the United States. Kevin Jennette lists a Director of Process Engineering row at Chobani from 2016 to 2026 and a Semi Retired row since February 2026.
Lyle Schook
LinkedInExperience: Retired - Senior Director Engineering · Simplot Company
Lyle Schook was Senior Director Engineering at Simplot Company from January 2014 to October 2021, a row the profile labels Retired, based in Battle Creek, Michigan. Lyle Schook was Vice President - Engineering at Conagra Brands from 2007 to 2012, Senior Director / Director Engineering at Kellogg Company from 2001 to 2007 and Director - Global Engineering Services there from 1997 to 2001.
Tal Elseth
LinkedInExperience: Director of Advanced Engineering · Simplot Company
Tal Elseth was Director of Advanced Engineering at Simplot Company from August 2018 to August 2023, and has been Sr Director Operations there since August 2023, based in Heuvelland, Flemish Region, Belgium. At Simplot Company, Tal Elseth was also Unit Director from 2014 to 2018 and Director of Operations Improvement from 2011 to 2014.
Theo Warner
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Simplot Company
Theo Warner has been Director of Engineering at Simplot Company since December 2024, based in Pocatello, Idaho, and also lists a Senior Engineering Manager row there since March 2022. At Simplot Company, Theo Warner was also Process Engineering Manager from 2019 to 2022 and Process Engineer from 2011 to 2018.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own area, such as capital projects, process engineering or plant engineering, is closest to the decision you are making. Check whether the person's Simplot engineering role is current or past before relying on it for how the company runs engineering today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you decide which capital or plant engineering projects get funded first?
- 02How do you get a process change adopted by the people who run it day to day?
- 03How do you work with plant operations when a project affects a running line?
Reaching J.R. Simplot engineering leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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