NEWS

06.25.2025

Neapco Notables | Adam Meyer, Product Development Engineer

Neapco Notables | Adam Meyer, Product Development Engineer

At Neapco, we recognize that true strength comes from the talent and passion of our people. By cultivating an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive, we empower our team to drive innovation and achieve excellence every day.

In this edition of Neapco Notables, we spotlight Adam Meyer, Product Development Engineer, who recently earned  a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering atKettering University. Having been with Neapco as a co-op for four years, Adam is excited to further his passion for learning supporting both engineering design and manufacturing processes in his new full-time role.

Adam recently shared his experiences at Neapco, what drew him to the company, and the valuable lessons he has learned as a member of the Neapco team.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to Neapco.

I am originally from Warren, Michigan, and earned my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University this year with minors in both Business Innovation and Computational & Applied Mathematics.

My background combines technical expertise, leadership, and a strong passion for innovation. My undergraduate thesis, for example, was on interconnecting bar material strength correlation and case depth calculator development and was completed within four of my seven total co-op rotations with Neapco as a Product Development Engineering Co-op over four years.

I joined the Neapco team in Fall 2021 when I applied for an internship during my first semester at Kettering and what initially drew me to the company was how, unlike other companies, I had the chance to work on real engineering projects while still in school as a student. Neapco provided me with meaningful responsibilities from day one and I look forward to transitioning into a full-time role on the Core Engineering team.

What has your experience working at Neapco been like so far?

Neapco’s collaborative environment and investment in co-op development made it clear that I would have the opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow from the outset. The ability to take ownership of impactful projects really sealed the deal for me.

There is also a strong culture of mentorship. From my first rotation, I was connected with experienced engineers who were willing to share their knowledge, challenge my thinking, and support my development—which is invaluable when you are just starting out in your career.

What is the most important lesson or key takeaways you have learned while working at Neapco?

One of the most valuable experiences I have had at Neapco is the hands-on exposure that I have received in both engineering design and manufacturing processes. I have worked closely with the testing lab, metallurgy team, as well as product development engineers, so I have learned more about how to bridge the gap between theoretical design and real-world applications. The takeaway or lesson is that it has reinforced the importance of designing not just for function but also for long-term durability.

I have also learned the value of cross-functional teamwork during my time at Neapco. Whether I’m working with manufacturing, testing, or quality, I’ve seen strong communication across the board and have seen how having shared goals helps to drive successful outcomes. I’ve also learned the importance of asking the right questions which often leads to better solutions.

Another key takeaway is that the best engineers aren’t just technically strong – they are also great communicators who can articulate their ideas, present data, and engage with other teams. This has shown me different ways I can further develop my own communication skills as I move into a full-time role with the company.

What do you enjoy most about working at Neapco?

I enjoy the level of responsibility and trust that I have been given at Neapco, even as a co-op and at a young age. I’ve been able to manage projects, collaborate with experienced engineers and the executive team, and make tangible contributions to the development of new products. I also appreciate the opportunity to receive feedback and encouragement directly from leadership, which has been both motivating and impactful for my development.

I also love working on meaningful projects—like my research on material strength, which helped optimize product design based on actual performance. The work that I did on that during the co-op for my thesis improved quoting accuracy, enhances efficiency, and instead of relying on and quoting for a customer if they need a certain torque or calculation, for example, we can ensure that the products meet performance specs, which makes the work even more rewarding.

Are there any upcoming projects you are excited about? If so, what is your role in
them?

I’m especially excited to continue the work from my undergraduate thesis and apply it to different Neapco products. The material characterization and strength correlation work I’ve done has strong potential to optimize design validation efforts across our product lines. I look forward to continuing this work with the Core Engineering team and exploring how it can add value on a larger scale.

Are you involved in any industry or community organizations and are you involved in any of Neapco’s internal programs or initiatives?

I am very involved in student leadership and professional organizations at Kettering University. I serve as President of Tau Beta Pi, a national engineering honor society, as well as Kettering’s A Section Chapter of DECA — which focuses on preparing emerging leaders and business professionals. I also founded and lead the school’s NCCGA PGA Golf Team and serve as Chair of Membership for Pi Tau Sigma, a mechanical engineering honor society.

I am also a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon, a mathematics honor society, ASME, and the Order of Engineer, which highlights professionalism and ethics in engineering.

These different leadership roles have really helped to build my confidence, strengthen my leadership capabilities, and time management, and have given me a more well-rounded and broader perspective on engineering’s role in business, innovation, and society, which I hope will prepare me to take on future roles with internal programs and initiatives at Neapco.

How do you stay busy outside of the office?

My favorite thing to do outside of work is golf with friends. I started playing about a year and a half ago and immediately fell in love with the sport. What I love most is the challenge of trying to improve my game and the experience of exploring new courses. So far, I’ve played at 29 different courses across the country, and I’m constantly looking to grow that number. I also enjoy competing in collegiate golf tournaments and Neapco has a yearly golf outing that I love going to as well. Beyond golf, I like working on personal engineering projects, staying active, and spending time with family and friends.

Interested in joining the Neapco team? Click here to take a look at our open positions.