Corporate Information

Engineers Fill Important Area Need

From the Danville Commercial News, 21 July 2002

Article by Caitlin Prendergast / Photo by Matt Huber

DANVILLE-- Engineers, whether computer, mechanical or other, serve an important purpose for many Danville businesses. Chuck Holmes, president of Tridan International Inc. said the six engineers he employs are critical to the operation,  which is producing machinery for the air conditioning and refrigeration industry. "(Tridan's) success is the direct result of their ability to design durable and robust machinery at an acceptable price."  Holmes said.  "Engineers take many components and combine them into a working machine." Holmes looks for engineers who are proficient in computer-aided design work.  It's also important they are creative because the products designed by engineers at Tridan are usually complete machines.

NexLAN Network Experts' President Kevin E. Stroud, left, works with Systems Analyst Jeremy Hiser

NexLAN Network Experts employ engineers of a different sort.

Kevin Stroud, president and chief engineer for NexLAN, has a lot of experience in computer engineering.

Stroud earned his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and his masters in software engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

NexLAN, which Stroud insisted "hides out" in Danville, develops customized software for businesses all over the world.

"We've worked with Chiquita, Del Monte, LaSalle Bank, etc," Stroud said.  "We have a few local clients, but most don't know we're here."

NexLAN specializes in networking desktop and server computers; firewalls and security solutions; corporate antivirus solutions; and group and Internet messaging.

The company prides itself in being the only Microsoft Certified Partner in Vermilion County.  Stroud even has a computer mouse with Bill Gates' autograph on it.

Stroud has nine engineers on staff at NexLAN whose expertise is in either software or networking.

"If a programmer is a carpenter, then a software engineer is more akin to an architect because they design complex business systems," Stroud said.

Network engineers, according to Stroud, must always be aware of the current trends in technology, as it is such a dynamic field.

"Technology is always changing," he said.  "It's not the same as it was two years ago, and it won't be the same two years from now."

When Stroud recruits engineers for his business, he looks for people with a "passion for problem solving" because that is essentially what engineers do.

Although no women are currently employed as engineers at NexLAN, Stroud said there are no barriers in the field.

"Tattoos aren't even a barrier," he said, referring to a nearby illustrated NexLAN engineer who was hard at work in the colorful office, complete with toys and slingshots.

"We like to have fun here," Stroud said, smiling.