So Similar It's Scary: How Halloween Helped a Daughter and Her Dad Discover the Same Passion for Automation

Some kids want to be astronauts, doctors, firefighters or movie stars when they grow up. Others just want to automate decorations and create incredible Halloween displays like their dad. At least that was the goal for Jackie LaFleur, Van Meter’s Smart Manufacturing Business Manager, when she was growing up. Well—her dad did not actually automate Halloween props for a living. Tim LaFleur worked for Rockwell Automation most of his career. Now, Jackie is following in his footsteps in the automation industry. Oh, and she still has the neighborhood's best Halloween display.

Learning to be like Dad

Halloween props sparked LaFleur’s interest in automation, but that was only the beginning. She was programming PLCs in high school and earned a computer science degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Following her dad’s career path, she started in the automation industry at Werner Electric (now Van Meter). She is now in a leadership role and applies lessons she learned from her dad when leading her team and supporting customers. How can we use data to help our customers solve problems? How can we best collaborate as a team? What does it look like to create a long lasting partnership?

LaFleur and her dad are both passionate about technology, manufacturing and helping customers. “We always talk about ways to improve, how we can help customers improve and the latest and greatest in technology,” said LaFleur.

Before her Dad retired, they even got to work together at their respective companies. “My dad has great technical and commercial aptitude and was a valued resource we could go to for help when he was at Rockwell,” she said. They would see each other at meetings and discuss focus areas on weekends. Although he exited the industry, he remains a mentor of hers.

Changes in Automation

Between growing up with her dad and her own career, LaFleur has seen a lot of changes in the industry—most notably the shift from Industry 3.0 to Industry 4.0. “Industry 3.0 was about automating processes to reduce human error and gain efficiency by increasing up-time and being more effective and consistent,” said LaFleur. “In the last 5-7 years, Industry 4.0 is more focused on the next step past automation. How can we gather meaningful information and use it to improve operations in every role? How can we use technology like augmented reality, robotics and digitization to take a business from good to great?”

Passing the Torch

A few years ago, LaFleur and her husband, Caleb, bought her childhood home. They live there with their daughters, Sidney (4) and Brooke (2). The Halloween display has stayed put. Whether the theme is Ghostbusters, The Addams Family or The Haunted Mansion (among others), she is running the show now—with help from her dad (and mom) of course.

LaFleur is passing the torch to her daughters in other ways. She is a former college gymnast and enjoys attending gymnastics meets with her daughters, who already love it. Will they also discover the same passion for automation? Only time will tell.

If you have questions for Jackie or want to know more about how her team can help you succeed, please call 1-800-247-1410 or contact us.