Great companies aren’t just built on great products — they’re built on great people. At iAutomation, we’ve spent over a decade proving that through one of our most important long-term investments: developing early-career talent into the future leaders of our industry.
Since 2012, iAutomation has hired 18 early-career engineers and recent graduates into Applications Engineering, Sales Engineering, and Systems Engineering roles, building a consistent pipeline of talent that grows into the future leadership of our company. That commitment now has a name, a structure, and a home under CAS Academy: the Automation Foundations Program.
From the Bullpen to CAS Academy
The program’s roots go back further than you might think. It began as a hands-on training initiative under 3SG (Strategic Sales Support Group), where new hires learned the business from the ground up. It later evolved into what many at iAutomation still fondly call the “Bullpen” — a stage where new engineers job-shadowed experienced team members and attended supplier trainings to build real-world skills.
Today, under the leadership and direction of Ryan Norris, that legacy has evolved into the Automation Foundations Program: a structured training program under the CAS Academy designed for recent college graduates looking to jumpstart their careers in industrial automation.
Meet the Current Class
Right now, three recent graduates are moving through the program, each headed toward a different corner of the country and a different role within iAutomation.
Mahmoud “Mo” Alhaj Ahmad
Associate Sales Engineer, future base: Wisconsin
- Earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
- Tri-lingual, fluent in Arabic, English, and Spanish.
- Enjoys family time, meeting new people, exploring new places, and a great cup of coffee.
Matt Szatkowski
Associate Sales Engineer, future base: Tampa, FL
- Received his BS in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Sales Engineering, from the University of Florida.
- Enjoys family time, networking, and travel — recently returned from three weeks abroad.
- Looking forward to exploring what New England has to offer during his time in the program.
Bryan Ngnaguepa
Product Specialist, Electric Automation, future base: Maryland
- Earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; expecting his MS later this year.
- Bilingual in French and English, with basic Spanish.
- Enjoys family time, road trips with friends, meeting people, and game nights.
The Proof Is in the Alumni
Programs are only as good as the careers they launch. Take a look at where some of our past Foundations participants have landed:
| Name | Current Title | Start Date |
| Mike Sherman | Applications Engineering Manager | 05/2012 |
| Jason Taylor | Applications Engineering Manager | 06/2013 |
| Ryan Norris | Sales Operations Manager | 10/2013 |
| Jack Henke | Staff Engineer, Applications Engineering | 07/2018 |
| Daniel Castillo-Idrobo | Associate Systems Engineer | 07/2025 |
| Brandon Quijada | Associate Sales Engineer | 07/2025 |
Notably, Ryan Norris — who now leads the very program that launched his own career — is a quality example of the growth path this program creates.
Building Our Bench, One Graduate at a Time
The Automation Foundations Program isn’t just an onboarding process, it’s a long-term investment in the future of iAutomation. Every class of graduates who comes through strengthens our bench of Applications, Sales, and Systems Engineers. They keep our company rooted in the same hands-on, people-first culture that built it.
Stay tuned as Mo, Matt, and Bryan continue through the program and keep an eye out for where they land next!
For more information on the Automation Foundations Program, reach out today!
