2013 Leader Under 40: Carl Nothnagel, 32

Director of Operations, MBX Systems, Libertyville, Ill.

By Plant Engineering September 19, 2013

Carl Nothnagel, 32
Director of Operations
MBX Systems, Libertyville, Ill. 

Years at MBX Systems: 12 

Education
Some college

Carl’s contributions
“I have had the pleasure of working with Carl for the past 10 years as he worked his way up through MBX from a warehouse associate to his current position as director of operations,” said Jill Bellak, president and chief operating officer. “During his tenure, Carl has fearlessly spearheaded many initiatives and has positively impacted nearly every department. Most notably, Carl led a team that designed and built a ‘supercell’ in manufacturing that allows technicians to configure 40 systems with a single keystroke. Carl is a strong leader, a compassionate mentor, and an inspiration throughout the entire MBX team.”

Why a career in manufacturing?
“Positively impacting the lives of others is my passion. When I was younger, I struggled to find out how to do this within my talent umbrella. I was able to learn more career choices and work in many different fields. Throughout all of that, the piece that has always sparked more passion is being able to make a positive influence on people or a process. In manufacturing, I have the ability to do both. I love that what we build is affecting not only the people building it, but also the customers and ultimate end users of the product.”