From Corridor Business Journal, October 10, 2023. Click here to view the full article.
Each year, the Corridor Business Journal shines a spotlight on young professionals who have made a meaningful impact on the region early in their careers.
This year, we are proud to introduce you to the 19th class of Forty Under 40 honorees. In this post, you’ll find three of the executive leaders being honored.
Carl Kirpes
President | KT Pacer
Age: 33
Family: Wife, Nicole Kirpes
Residence: Marion, Iowa
Hometown: Cumming, Iowa
Education: Bachelor of Science in Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science in Systems Engineering
Doctorate in Industrial Engineering, Iowa State University
MBA, University of Iowa
Best advice you ever received? Write down the advice and observations of the leaders I admired, as well as write down observations of the leaders whom I did not aspire to be like. As I developed as a leader, I could reference that information to become the type of leader I desired to be.
What do you consider your “big break” in your career, so far? Early in my career at GENESYS Systems Integrator, the VP of operations retired. The CEO, CFO, and president saw that I had been largely serving as the interim VP of ops for the prior six months and felt I’d be the best fit for the role. That opportunity was a springboard for my career in leading people and organizations.
What’s the biggest issue facing the Corridor, and why? The biggest issue facing the Corridor is marketing/awareness of how great the Corridor is as a place to live and work. We have great outdoor activities, including hiking and biking trails; waterways that are fantastic for kayaking/tubing; affordable housing/cost of living; and great places to work.
What are your passions outside of the workplace? Spending time with my wife Nicole and our dog outdoors (hiking, biking, kayaking), serving on boards, working out, playing board games and reading and listening to business books.
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace? I’d recommend that people evaluate each individual on their own merits regardless of their personal experiences that may have created a generational bias/stereotype.