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2011 Leader Under 40: Grady Knight, 23

Project Engineer, Star SU

By Plant Engineering Staff September 12, 2011

Grady Knight, 23

Project Engineer, Star SU

Years at Star SU: Less than 1

Nominator: Grainger

Education: AAS Industrial Manufacturing Technology, Elgin Community College; BS Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Northern Illinois University

About Grady: “After receiving a Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship, my technical education began at Elgin Community College, where I studied to become a tool and die maker. If it were not for Grainger’s scholarship I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore the opportunities that lie within the industrial trades. Manufacturing systems ended up fascinating me, so I decided that I would continue my education before beginning a career in the machine tool industry, which brought me to Northern Illinois University. Since graduating, I have pursued industrial, mechanical, and project management disciplines in engineering to prepare for my career. At Star SU, I’m currently a project engineer responsible for designing gear manufacturing cells for automotive transmissions, as well as managing the projects from inception to installation.”

Why a career in manufacturing? “I enjoy the challenge of competing in a global marketplace, and I know the technological and human capital in American manufacturing will lead us to a stronger economy. Investing in American manufacturing by creating jobs in plants that otherwise would have been shuttered is both challenging and rewarding for me.”

Return to the complete list of the 2011 Leaders Under 40.