Leland is a mechanical/design engineer with over 50 years of experience in the field of plastic injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding and various other related plastic processes.
After attending the University of Wisconsin for 3 years and majoring in mechanical engineering, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served 2 years as a helicopter crew chief for the 93rd Transportation Corps. After completing his tour of service, Leland went on to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, IL to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering.
Leland’s engineering background includes positions at Minneapolis Honeywell Regulator Co. where he was chief draftsman & manager of the drafting department; Dole Valve Company (currently the Eaton Corporation) as their process development engineer responsible for the design and development of the encapsulated coil project and, eventually joining his father in business and becoming president and owner of Clover Plastics, Inc./Clover Tool & Die Co.
To Leland’s credit, Clover Plastics secured the U.S. Navy contract for the design and manufacturing of the arming device for the Polaris Guided Missile as well as the elapse-time delay relay and 35 mm film holder for NASA and the Apollo Space Program. During his 25 years in business, Leland obtained U.S. patents in the medical field, food packaging, and in-mold decorations. It was also during this time that he became acquainted with Dr. Bud White working to develop and manufacture several orthodontic and medical devices.
Leland went on to accept employment with Master Molded Products, Inc. in Elgin, IL as their R & D engineer where he contributed patents in insert-molding, in-molding of electronic control panels and in-molding of printed material used by the automotive industry (Chrysler Corporation) and several others.
The combination of Leland’s engineering expertise, his relationship with Dr. Bud, and his own personal mobility challenges have all inspired him to design products that virtually eliminate the stress of falling and permits people with physical disabilities to “get up and get moving”.