Project Engineer Tyler Higginbotham’s early interest in manufacturing was ignited from watching the TV series, How’s It Made. There was just something about those giant machines magically cranking out everyday objects that we take for common that intrigued him.
“Watching those shows gave me the desire to be a problem solver,” says Higginbotham, an alum of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst and LCJVS, where he studied what is now called Engineering Design and Technology.
After graduation Higginbotham became a draftsman for three years at a manufacturer in Avon, an opportunity he traces to a LCJVS internship opportunity. From there he became an engineering technician at Thogus Products Company for eight years.
“It was a pleasure and Thogus is still my family,” claims Higginbotham.
In 2024, Higginbotham joined Team Wendy, a strategic business unit of Avon Protection, a European-based company whose history goes back to the early 1900s rubber industry. Team Wendy is a leading supplier of helmets and their components for military, first responders, athletes and personal use.
“Team Wendy is fast paced and a challenge every day. But work would be boring without challenges, wouldn’t it?” asks Higginbotham.
Higginbotham is excited about the “big changes” he has seen in the manufacturing world, especially in Lorain County, the Cleveland area and in Ohio since his high school days. He cites the efforts of communities to bring back or attract new manufacturing opportunities, as well as the commitment of individuals in the manufacturing realm.
“Wherever I work in manufacturing and engineering, I want to carry out my responsibilities and be successful,” says Higginbotham. “I know that what I do doesn’t just affect the company, but the community around it. When you come to work, you have to make sure you are doing your part. And if you do that, it helps the company stay in business.”
