Lance Price

Controls Engineer | Systems Architect | Hands-On Builder & Problem Solver

linkedin.com/in/priceautomation

I am an electrical engineer by trade and an relentless builder by nature, combining deep analytical controls architecture with a lifelong habit of getting my hands dirty. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and grounded in the heavy industries of Northeast Indiana, my background spans high-speed discrete manufacturing, commercial glass, continuous chemical processing, and refinery infrastructure. I don't just design the logic on a screen; I bridge the gap between high-level software, complex mechanical machinery, and physical plant operations.

The Philosophy: Leadership from the Trenches

True leadership is a shared burden, never an abstract title. I’ve seen many managers claim they wouldn't ask someone to do what they wouldn't do themselves, yet remain parked behind a desk. My standard is different: I never ask my team to do something I haven't already tackled with my own two hands. If it's something new to me, we do it together.

Whether directing engineering and maintenance crews through 24/7 continuous operations, diagnosing a steam methane reformer upset at 3:00 AM, or putting on FR gear and a harness to scale a fractionation column to reinstall level transmitters, I believe in working right alongside my colleagues.

My career has centered on:

24/7 Operational Uptime: Leading multidisciplinary maintenance and engineering teams through the intense demands of round-the-clock manufacturing and process refining.

Field-First Troubleshooting: Personally crawling curing ovens, walking crane bridge rails to realign cable tracks, and troubleshooting field instrumentation to bridge the divide between PLC platforms (Rockwell PlantPAx, Studio 5000) and plant-floor reality.

Pragmatic Reliability: Cutting through complexity with safe, budget-conscious solutions that protect assets and keep critical production moving forward.

Diverse Projects & Mechanical Pursuits

My drive to engineer, build, and optimize extends far beyond industrial control rooms:

Manufacturing & Automation Upgrades: From integrating $6M capital installations and automated Hegla overhead crane systems in glass facilities to authoring custom controls for complex thermal and chemical reactions, I thrive on modernizing legacy machinery.

Heavy Iron & Earthmoving: As a Class A CDL holder, I put serious machinery to work as a hobby on my personal site. I operate my own 36,000-lb and 51,000-lb Gradall wheeled excavators alongside my heavy dump truck, I've engineered open-loop geothermal systems, developed private water features, and transformed home acreage into a functional personal retreat.

Specialized Vehicle Rebuilding: Another hobby gone heavy, I restore and re-engineer tactical and utility platforms—including multiple military HMMWV variants (M998 through up-armored M1151A1s) and Polaris Military RZRs—integrating modern PLCs, custom wiring harnesses, and custom thermal management. It’s also an enduring family workshop effort, where all four of my children learn basic and advance mechanical know-how via hands-on experiences stripping and rebuilding components together with me.

Product Design & Prototyping: Bringing ideas from sketch to market reality, including patent-pending athletic mouthguard systems and specialized aquatic therapy equipment, driven by the mindset that if the ideal tool doesn't exist, you get to build something really cool yourself.

The Daily Routine

Whether training bodyweight calisthenics at 4:30 AM with my oldest son, developing automation equipment for new ventures, or behind the bench coaching youth hockey across 6U through 14U divisions at Trine University, discipline and engagement carry across everything I do. I believe in steady progress, lifting up the people around me, and consistently getting the job done. Afterall, it's always a pleasure to serve good people.