ROBRADY New Hires | ROBRADY design

We are pleased to announce the addition of J. Colin Leonard, Mike Etzel, and Matthew Vergin to the team. The threesome joins the Sarasota-based design studio, filling positions ranging from director to designer.

As director of manufacturing operations, J. Colin Leonard brings 15 years experience working at the Crane Co. in divisions ranging from Aerospace, Engineered Materials, Controls, Fluid Handling, and Merchandising Systems divisions. A Six Sigma Lean Black Belt (LBB) and professional member of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), Leonard has a degree in business management as well as a graduate degree in global sustainability focusing on water resources. Considering his post a “dream job,” Leonard says, “There is no other place in Sarasota, maybe Florida, and even the Southeast, that blends Product Design, Capital, and Lean Manufacturing like ROBRADY design.”

Joining Leonard at the studio is Mechanical Designer Mike Etzel. A veteran in the engineering field since 1999, Etzel has spent a majority of that time with leading manufacturing companies. For him, ROBRADY’s multitude of products, quality and attention to detail were the draw. “I was looking forward to working on a variety of projects that would challenge me personally and allow me to use my knowledge of design and experience with LEAN manufacturing to create intuitive designs that exceed client expectations.”

Rounding out the creative cadre is Industrial Designer Matthew Vergin. A graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Vergin has worked as a freelance designer for more than 5 years and is excited by the opportunity to work at ROBRADY. “The event that sold me was sitting in on a brainstorming session while visiting the studio. I was excited to see everyone’s passion for experimentation and an open-minded attitude.” As an industrial designer at the studio, Vergin will be responsible for brainstorming and developing beautiful product experiences which may range from giving an existing product an updated aesthetic to working with the team to conceptualize and develop entirely new product programs.