Meet Jimmy Neeld, Genesee’s New Quality Specialist!
Genesee is excited to welcome Jimmy Neeld to the team as our new Quality Specialist! With a background in engineering, production, and manufacturing quality, Jimmy brings years of hands-on experience and a natural curiosity about how things work.
Originally from New Waterford, Ohio, Jimmy moved to Kentucky in 2011. He and his wife, Brooke, now live just outside of Russellville, where they are raising their three children, Keaton, Lachlan, and Willow.
Outside of work, Jimmy spends his time with his family, coaches his kids’ sports, and builds custom vehicles. At Genesee, he’s looking forward to putting his experience to work while learning something new every day.
His Manufacturing Background
Before joining Genesee, Jimmy worked as a Senior Engineering Technician at Parker LORD. As the lead technician over the company’s injection presses, he was responsible for troubleshooting issues, building prototypes, approving parts and overseeing injection molding tooling.
His experience also included working with companies such as Harley-Davidson, John Deere, CAT, Mercury Marine, and Volvo.
That hands-on background shaped Jimmy’s interest in manufacturing quality. He enjoys understanding how different methods work and how those processes connect to the measurements & dimensions needed to produce a quality part.
His philosophy is simple: Quality is incredibly important, and more important than quantity.
For him, that means looking beyond the finished part and understanding the process behind it. Helping to make parts he would personally install on something he owns.
A New Role in Quality at Genesee
Jimmy had been interested in returning to the quality field for some time. When the Quality Specialist position became available at Genesee, the opportunity came at just the right time.
He was also drawn to the chance to join a smaller company where he could get to know his coworkers and develop strong working relationships.
“Being able to get to know everyone I work with, build trust, and have a great working relationship is very important to me.”
As a Quality Specialist, Jimmy will work with Genesee’s VL-800 3d Scan CMM and IM-8000 Automated Optical Comparator. His responsibilities will include creating programs, performing annual PPAPs, completing part layouts, and conducting rechecks when needed.
Learning the Tools and Processes
Since joining Genesee, Jimmy has been busy getting familiar with the equipment and processes he’ll use in his new role.
He has been completing Keyence training, learning the VL-800 3D Scan CMM, and working alongside his coworkers. He has also been shadowing Vicky and learning the quality department’s processes from his manager, Ashley.
One of his biggest goals is becoming proficient with the VL-800 software. He plans to continue that training through Keyence certifications, time with the local Keyence representative, working with Ashley, and plenty of hands-on practice with current part prints.
“I enjoy learning as much as possible. My daily goal is to try to learn something new every day, take notes and retain as much information as I can.”
That commitment to learning will be important as Jimmy takes on new responsibilities and looks for ways to support the broader Genesee team.
Experience That Spans Engineering, Production, and Quality
Jimmy’s experience across several areas of manufacturing gives him a broad perspective when it comes to solving problems.
His background in engineering and production allows him to look at quality issues from more than one angle. He wants to understand what is happening, why it is happening, and what needs to be done to correct it.
He also credits his work ethic as one of the biggest strengths he brings to the role.
“I’m a very competitive person that wants to perform to my max potential daily.”
In his first year at Genesee, Jimmy hopes to combine that drive with continued technical training and strong relationships throughout the company. Most importantly, he wants his teammates to know they can count on him when things are running smoothly and when an issue needs attention.
A Passion for Custom Vehicles
Jimmy’s interest in mechanical work doesn’t stop when he leaves Genesee.
He has been customizing vehicles since he was 15 years old. His father, a body and paint professional who started working in the industry at 14, helped spark that passion.
Today, Jimmy and his father share their automotive expertise through Do Work Customs, a custom shop they operate out of Jimmy’s home shop. Their work includes air-ride suspensions, custom sheet-metal work, and body and paint projects.
Their work has even earned national attention. Jimmy has been featured six times in nationwide automotive magazines, including Mini Truckin Magazine, Street Trucks Magazine, and Mini Trucks Online Magazine.
His automotive features include magazine covers and other national features, with another Mini Truckin Magazine feature planned for 2027.
Family, Sports, and Everything in Between
When he’s not working on vehicles, Jimmy enjoys spending time with Brooke and their three children.
He coaches T-ball and gets involved in whatever sports his kids are interested in. His love of sports extends beyond the coaching field, too.
Jimmy’s favorite teams include the Philadelphia Eagles, Ohio State football, and Kentucky basketball. He became a Kentucky basketball fan in 1995 after a family trip to Mammoth Cave ended with him finding a UK hat he had to have.
He also has a unique connection to one of his favorite athletes. Growing up about an hour from Akron, Ohio, Jimmy watched LeBron James play more than a dozen times throughout his high school career. He watched LeBron play from his freshman year through senior year and even saw him play football.
His other favorite athletes include Barry Bonds, Randall Cunningham, and Alonzo Mourning.
Away from sports, Jimmy’s interests are just as varied. His favorite movie is Interstellar, his favorite music artist is Yelawolf, and he’ll take pizza or pasta any day.
Thanks to his kids, he’s also a fan of anything WWE.
And if you ever find yourself chatting with Jimmy, there’s plenty to talk about. His favorite conversation topics include his wife and kids, sports, custom vehicles, astronomy, and conspiracy theories.
Looking Ahead at Genesee
As Jimmy settles into his new role, his goals are focused on learning, building trust, and becoming a dependable part of the Genesee team.
For Jimmy, teamwork means having the trust and chemistry to get the job done safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards.
He’s also keeping a few simple words of advice in mind as he starts this new chapter:
Be patient, learn as much as I can, and enjoy it!
That mindset will guide Jimmy as he continues learning Genesee’s processes, developing his technical skills, and building relationships with his new teammates.
When asked what he wants his teammates, customers, and the Genesee community to know, Jimmy kept it simple:
I will always give my teammates, customers, and Genesee community 100%, and I’m always here to help!
We’re so glad to have Jimmy on the Genesee team and look forward to see all he brings to our quality department!
Welcome to Genesee, Jimmy!