Leon Grossman, Senior Project Engineer
What do you like best about working at DMC?
At DMC you are consistently engaged and interested due to variety of projects we work on. I also appreciate that employees are empowered to make whatever they need happen in order to do our jobs, as opposed to getting stuck in layers of clearance or paperwork.
You joined DMC in 1998. What drew you to DMC back then and what has changed?
I was drawn to DMC because it was a small group of people “against the world” doing really interesting work. It was exciting to apply new technologies in a rapidly growing company where everyone was involved in all stages of the process. DMC is definitely more established than it was back in 1998, and accordingly we are taking on larger projects for larger companies.
What has been your favorite project at DMC?
Definitely a distributed test software system for a national laboratory. It automatically processes test results, allowing engineers to focus on utilizing the results rather than crunch numbers. The software tests alternative powertrain vehicles including hydroelectric, fuel cell, electric, and hybrid. I enjoyed the scope and ambition this project and developing its full concept rather than just a short term segment.
You grew up in Oklahoma. Can you describe what it is like?
Flat and orange. The dirt in Oklahoma is red, so the iron settles in the grass making it look orange when it isn’t green.
Do you have any favorite spots in Chicago?
My favorite spot which I rarely get to visit is Oak Street Beach. It has a great view of the city and is less crowded than other beach locations.
Do you have any engineering hobbies?
I like to do quirky embedded things. My current geeky project involves a game called Mindflex. You wear a helmet device and an EEG reads brainwaves. Someone has already hacked it, but I want to do something different…stay tuned.
What else do you like to do outside of work?
Aside from buying Apple products, I am an amateur photographer. I am self-taught and my specialty is people and performance. I really enjoy capturing a moment and telling its story.
Where do you like to photograph?
City church in Gary, IN is an incredible location to shoot. It is a huge burnt out structure, which is kind of sad, but it’s very visual.
When I was home in Oklahoma recently, my grandpa mentioned a view he really likes from a train platform outside of the city. I climbed up there in the cold and captured the shot for him. If you notice, the train tracks in the image make the story – crop them out and it loses something.
No one can ever afford to stop learning.
Also, whether inside or outside of the business realm, every interaction with another person is a form of sales and marketing.