FOUNDER TO THE PROFILE
TJ Bender
Continuous Improvement Manager, Oshkosh Aerotech
“I attribute my success to a combination of resilience, curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep evolving. I have had great leaders along my journey that provided mentorship, support, and showed me the tools that it takes to become a great leader myself. Throughout my career, I have learned that success is rarely the result of one breakthrough moment. More often, it comes from consistently showing up, learning from experience, building meaningful relationships, and having the courage to pursue opportunities even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. I have learned to view challenges differently. Every setback, difficult conversation, missed opportunity, or unexpected change has taught me something that ultimately made me better. Rather than allowing obstacles to define the outcome, I try to use them as information. They show me where I need to improve, what I need to change, and sometimes, where I need to take an entirely different approach. Another significant part of my success has been my ability to connect with people. Business is ultimately about people. Whether you're selling an idea, building a partnership, leading a team, or developing a client relationship, trust and authenticity matter. I have always believed that people can tell when you genuinely care about their goals versus when you're simply trying to achieve your own. I attribute my success to staying curious. Industries change, technology changes, consumer expectations change, and the strategies that worked yesterday aren't necessarily the strategies that will work tomorrow. I have tried to remain open to new ideas and continually educate myself rather than becoming too comfortable with what I already know. Most importantly, I believe success is about more than titles, revenue, or professional accomplishments. For me, success means creating opportunities, making a meaningful contribution, helping other people succeed, and continuing to grow along the way. The goal isn't simply to reach a destination; it's to build a career and a life that I'm proud of and that has a positive impact on the people around me.”
About
TJ Bender is a Continuous Improvement professional with a strong background in Manufacturing, Quality Management, and Operational Excellence. Based in Layton, Utah, he currently serves as Continuous Improvement Manager at Oshkosh AeroTech, where he leads a team focused on identifying process waste, closing operational gaps, improving workplace organization, and helping cross-functional teams work more efficiently. His expertise includes Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma, 5S, Lean process improvement, and the practical application of Lean tools across manufacturing operations. TJ began his career with Autoliv, where he spent more than a decade progressing through roles that included Automation Trainer, Quality Engineer Intern, and Customer Quality Manager. As an Automation Trainer, he helped employees safely and effectively build and inspect automotive safety modules while maintaining training programs and supporting daily production operations. He later moved into Quality Engineering and Customer Quality Management, working directly with automotive customers, primarily Toyota, Ford, and Mazda, on quality concerns, production launches, and safety-device management. This experience provided him with a strong foundation in problem-solving, quality control, customer relations, and manufacturing processes. In 2022, TJ joined JBT AeroTech as a Continuous Improvement Engineer, where he focused on implementing Lean Manufacturing and 5S practices throughout the shop floor and across multiple departments. After Oshkosh Corporation acquired JBT AeroTech, he continued advancing within the organization and was promoted to Continuous Improvement Manager in 2025. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Management and Operations from Eagle Gate College and completed Lean Six Sigma certification through Purdue Global. In 2026, his contributions were recognized when he was selected as one of only 12 Oshkosh employees across the organization for a Cheers to Peers OEA Segment Winner Award.
Key Areas Of Focus
- 01. Employee Recognition
- 02. Manufacturing Operations
- 03. Microsoft Office
IN HIS OWN WORDS
The Q and A
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01
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of resilience, curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep evolving. I have had great leaders along my journey that provided mentorship, support, and showed me the tools that it takes to become a great leader myself. Throughout my career, I have learned that success is rarely the result of one breakthrough moment. More often, it comes from consistently showing up, learning from experience, building meaningful relationships, and having the courage to pursue opportunities even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. I have learned to view challenges differently. Every setback, difficult conversation, missed opportunity, or unexpected change has taught me something that ultimately made me better. Rather than allowing obstacles to define the outcome, I try to use them as information. They show me where I need to improve, what I need to change, and sometimes, where I need to take an entirely different approach. Another significant part of my success has been my ability to connect with people. Business is ultimately about people. Whether you're selling an idea, building a partnership, leading a team, or developing a client relationship, trust and authenticity matter. I have always believed that people can tell when you genuinely care about their goals versus when you're simply trying to achieve your own. I attribute my success to staying curious. Industries change, technology changes, consumer expectations change, and the strategies that worked yesterday aren't necessarily the strategies that will work tomorrow. I have tried to remain open to new ideas and continually educate myself rather than becoming too comfortable with what I already know. Most importantly, I believe success is about more than titles, revenue, or professional accomplishments. For me, success means creating opportunities, making a meaningful contribution, helping other people succeed, and continuing to grow along the way. The goal isn't simply to reach a destination; it's to build a career and a life that I'm proud of and that has a positive impact on the people around me.
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02
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be confident in your decisions. It is okay to get things wrong, no one is perfect and mistakes happen. But if you waiver on the edge of your decisions your team, customers, and leaders will notice and that may affect how they respond or react. If you do happen to make a mistake show humility and own your mistakes. It is an opportunity to showcase your ability to adjust and make corrections while learning from your mistakes. Others will notice that you take ownership of your setbacks and that attitude and mindset can be contagious.
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03
What advice would you give to young men entering your industry?
My advice would be to stop waiting for the perfect moment. There is rarely a perfect time to start a business, change careers, pursue an idea, develop a new skill, or take a risk. At some point, you have to be willing to move forward with what you know and learn the rest along the way. I would encourage people to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Growth usually happens outside of our comfort zones. Some of the opportunities that have the greatest potential can initially feel intimidating because they require us to do something we've never done before. That uncertainty doesn't necessarily mean you should walk away; sometimes it means you're about to learn something important. Build relationships before you need them. Your network should not simply be a collection of contacts you can call when you need something. Invest in people, create genuine relationships, offer value, and celebrate other people's successes. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career have come through relationships built over time. I would encourage people to stay curious. Never assume you've learned everything you need to know. Read, ask questions, listen to people who think differently, study your industry, and pay attention to changes happening around you. The ability to adapt is one of the greatest competitive advantages anyone can develop.
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04
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe some of the biggest opportunities today exist at the intersection of technology, human connection, and adaptability. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are creating enormous opportunities for businesses and professionals to work more efficiently, make better decisions, personalize customer experiences, and solve problems that previously required significant amounts of time and resources. But I don't believe technology eliminates the importance of people. If anything, it makes uniquely human skills: creativity, leadership, empathy, communication, critical thinking, and relationship building even more valuable. There is tremendous opportunity for people who are willing to reinvent themselves. Industries are changing quickly, and traditional career paths are becoming less predictable. That creates opportunities for individuals who are willing to learn new skills, embrace technology, explore new industries, and recognize that their experience can often be transferred into areas they may not have originally considered. Entrepreneurship is another major opportunity. Technology has lowered many of the barriers that once prevented individuals from starting businesses or reaching customers. Today, a person with a strong idea, specialized expertise, and the willingness to execute can build an audience, create a brand, develop partnerships, and reach markets that were once accessible only to much larger organizations. I see a major opportunity in personal visibility and thought leadership. In a crowded marketplace, expertise alone isn't always enough. People need to know who you are, what you stand for, what you know, and how you can help. Building a credible personal brand can create opportunities for partnerships, leadership, business development, speaking, media exposure, and collaboration. The people who will thrive in the coming years, will be those who can embrace change without losing sight of the fundamentals: solving real problems, creating value, building trust, continuing to learn, and helping other people succeed.
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05
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are integrity, authenticity, accountability, empathy, perseverance, and continuous growth. Integrity is foundational. I believe your reputation is one of the most valuable assets you can build, and it is built through the decisions you make when nobody is watching. Being honest, keeping your commitments, taking responsibility for your decisions, and treating people fairly are important to me both professionally and personally. Authenticity is equally important. The strongest leaders and professionals understand who they are, what they bring to the table, and where they still have room to grow. I try to approach relationships and business with honesty rather than trying to create an image that isn't genuine. Accountability is another principle I take seriously. I believe in perseverance and continuous growth. There will always be periods when progress feels slower than expected. The ability to remain focused, adapt, and continue moving forward is often what separates temporary setbacks from permanent ones. I want my 3 children: Owen, Ayla, and Emree, to be able to see and recognize those traits. Setbacks are okay, everyone has them, but don’t get stuck on setbacks, learn and grow from them.
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