Matt Spilka began his heat treating career as one of Kowalski Heat Treating’s first co-op students in 2013 while earning his Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Cincinnati (UC). Early on, he gained valuable experience on UC’s Baja Team, where he learned how poor quality can adversely affect the entire process. After joining Kowalski Heat Treating full time in 2014 as a quality/production engineer, Matt quickly took ownership of the company’s ISO audits, earning multiple certifications and stepping into the lead auditor role. His attention to detail and commitment to quality helped strengthen Kowalski Heat Treating’s compliance with demanding industry standards.

Since his promotion to quality manager in 2018, Matt has led continuous improvement initiatives while mentoring every new class of co-op students. He is known for his hands-on approach and willingness to tackle challenging jobs head-on. Matt also plays a key role in client training, sharing his expertise to help clients better understand heat treating quality requirements. His leadership and dedication make him a vital part of Kowalski Heat Treating’s ongoing success.

Nominated by: Kowalski Heat Treating