10 Kohler engineering leaders
Joel Smith, Vice President - Engineering, heads this set of Kohler engineering leaders, which also includes senior directors for sanitaryware, faucets and kitchens and global manufacturing engineering, plus directors for showering, electronics and wellness products. A reader can learn how engineering leaders work at Kohler from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Evan Yee
LinkedInExperience: Director - Engineering, NA Faucets · Kohler Co.
Evan Yee has been Director - Engineering, NA Faucets at Kohler Co. since January 2026, based in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, and the profile cites product launches in the consumer goods industry. Evan Yee was Engineering Manager - Valving and Systems at Kohler Co. from 2024 to 2026, Engineering Manager - Performance Showering from 2020 to 2024 and Staff Engineer from 2018 to 2020.
Gavin John
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Manufacturing Engineering · Kohler Co.
Gavin John has been Director Of Manufacturing Engineering at Kohler Co. since June 2015, based in Sheboygan Falls Town, Wisconsin. Gavin John was Mgr. Mfg Engineering at Kohler Co. from 2005 to 2015, Manufacturing Engineer there from 1987 to 2005 and Operations Manager - Protective Coatings Div at A. O. Smith Corporation from 1976 to 1987.
Jake Frye
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director - Faucets & Kitchens · Kohler Co.
Jake Frye has been Sr. Director - Faucets & Kitchens at Kohler Co. since October 2025 and also lists Director - Engineering, NA Faucets there since November 2023, based in the United States. Jake Frye was Sr. Manager - Engineering at Kohler Co. from 2020 to 2023, Engineering Manager - Kitchen Faucets from 2019 to 2020 and Staff Engineer from 2016 to 2019.
Jeff Schumacher
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering - Bathing, Showering and Styling Space · Kohler Co.
Jeff Schumacher has been Director of Engineering - Bathing, Showering and Styling Space at Kohler Co. since September 2024, based in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Jeff Schumacher was Director of Engineering at Flambeau, Inc. from 2023 to 2024, Director of Engineering and Program Management at Bemis Manufacturing Company from 2019 to 2023 and NPD Engineering Manager, Bathroom Collections at Kohler Co. from 2007 to 2019.
Joel Smith
LinkedInExperience: Vice President - Engineering · Kohler Co.
Joel Smith has been Vice President - Engineering at Kohler Co. since November 2024, based in Kohler, Wisconsin. Joel Smith was Vice President - Product Engineering at Kohler Co. from 2023 to 2024, Sr. Director - Faucets & Kitchens Engineering from 2020 to 2023, Director - New Product Engineering, Global Faucets from 1998 to 2020 and Nuclear Engineer at US Navy from 1993 to 1998.
Lowell Lampen
LinkedInExperience: Director-Engineering, Wellness Products · Kohler Co.
Lowell Lampen has been Director-Engineering, Wellness Products at Kohler Co. since January 2024, based in Greater Milwaukee. Lowell Lampen was Director - Engineering, Sanitary Products KNBA / Strategic Technology Partnership Leader at Kohler Co. from 2008 to 2024, Product Development Engineering Manager at Ford Motor Company from 2005 to 2008 and Chief Engineer - Ford Business Unit at Magna International from 1999 to 2005.
Marwan Estiban
LinkedInExperience: Director - Engineering, Electronics and Smart Tech, Global Kitchen and Bath Group · Kohler Co.
Marwan Estiban has been Director - Engineering, Electronics and Smart Tech, Global Kitchen and Bath Group at Kohler Co. since November 2020, based in Kohler, Wisconsin. Marwan Estiban was Director Of Engineering at Kohler Co. from 2017 to 2020, Manager there from 2013 to 2017 and Corporate Electronics Engineering Manager at AprilAire from 2000 to 2013.
Raquel Reif
LinkedInExperience: Director Engineering Services · Kohler Co.
Raquel Reif has been Director Engineering Services at Kohler Co. since January 2025, based in the Sheboygan Metropolitan Area. Raquel Reif was Associate Director Engineering Operational Excellence, Kitchen & Bath Group at Kohler Co. from 2022 to 2025, Operations Business Development Manager Sprig from 2021 to 2022 and Portfolio Manager Kitchen & Bath Group NPD & Innovation from 2020 to 2021.
Ryan Leichty
LinkedInExperience: Sr Director of Engineering · Kohler Co.
Ryan Leichty has been Sr Director of Engineering at Kohler Co. since October 2023 and also lists Director of Engineering there since November 2020, based in the United States, and the profile headline places the role in sanitaryware. Ryan Leichty was Marketing Manager - Performance Showering at Kohler Co. from 2018 to 2020 and Engineering Manager - Retail from 2015 to 2018.
Ryan McDaniel
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director Global Manufacturing Engineering · Kohler Co.
Ryan McDaniel has been Sr. Director Global Manufacturing Engineering at Kohler Co. since August 2025, based in the United States. Ryan McDaniel was Director Program Management Office at Nissan Motor Corporation from 2024 to 2025, Director of Aftersales SCM at Nissan Motor Corporation from 2022 to 2025 and Director, Total Delivered Cost there from 2020 to 2021.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope, such as a product category, electronics and smart products, manufacturing engineering or engineering services, to the decision you face. Check when each role started to judge how recent the person's view is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you decide which new faucet, shower or toilet designs move from development into production?
- 02What did you change first when you took on your engineering role, and why?
- 03How do you balance new product launches against plant process improvements competing for the same engineers?
Reaching Kohler engineering leaders
How can I contact one of these Kohler engineering leaders?
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 1 company: Kohler Co., based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Kohler engineering leaders?
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Can an AI agent ask one of these Kohler engineering leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
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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