Meet Our Leadership Team

Landon Geater graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2011 with his bachelor’s degree in business management.  Shortly after, he joined the Geater team and has since held various Quality, Engineering, and management roles, leading to his current position as Executive Vice President. In 2017, he received a master’s degree in business administration from University of Upper Iowa.

Landon is a believer in continuous improvement and being a lifelong learner. He serves as a member of the Executive Leadership and Senior Leadership Teams at Geater. Landon also sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Upper Iowa. Landon enjoys the outdoors and is an endurance sports enthusiast.

Tyler Sturtz joined the Geater team in 2013 as Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in September 2017. He has over 25 years of progressive financial, operations, and leadership experience.  Tyler is a graduate of The University of Iowa with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Accounting.  He serves as a member of Geater Machining & Manufacturing, Co.’s Advisory Board, Executive Leadership Team, and Senior Leadership Team.

Tyler is married to Katie and they have one son, Avery, and one daughter, Kendall, as well as two dogs, Tuukka and Lulu.  He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing golf and is a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Dan Heller joined Geater in 2011 as the Operations Manager.  He became the Plant Manager and was later promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2018.  Dan serves on the Executive Leadership and Senior Leadership Teams.  Dan has over 25 years of comprehensive manufacturing experience.

Dan is a graduate of Upper Iowa University, with a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Dan’s focus is on improving manufacturing methods and the implementation of lean manufacturing processes throughout Geater.

John Miller has been with Geater since 2007 and currently serves as the Vice President of Engineering and Technology. John has filled various roles from Quality Manager, Process Improvement Manager, and Information Technology Manager throughout his time at Geater.  John brings with him over 20 years of experience in various aerospace manufacturing roles from process engineering to industrial engineer, lean facilitation, supply chain quality, and design quality.  He graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology and earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa. John is a member of the Executive Leadership and Senior Leadership Teams.

Jared Graening joined Geater in 2024 as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Jared is a growth-oriented enterprise leader with progressive experience in the machining, fabrication, and assembly industry. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Jared has served various roles, including Sales Manager, Vice President of Business Development, Vice President of Operations and Sales, and President.

Jared holds degrees from Des Moines Area Community College in Tool & Die Making, the University of Northern Iowa in Industrial Technology, and the University of Iowa, Master of Business Administration (Executive MBA).

Carrie Mattson is the Human Resources Director with over 10 years of experience. Her areas of expertise include management; staff development; and recruiting. Carrie is a member of the Executive Leadership and Senior Leadership Teams.

She is a graduate of Upper Iowa University, with a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Craig began his career with Geater in 2005 as a Sales Engineer. In 2007, he became a Machining Engineer, specializing in designing fixtures and improving processes. In 2015, Craig was named the Design Engineering Manager, serving on the Senior Leadership Team and leading a talented group of Design and Manufacturing Engineers.

Keith A. Downing is the IT Director at Geater and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. He is a technological enthusiast who seeks new and innovative ways to incorporate cutting-edge systems into the company. He has a master’s in cyber security, teaches at the post-secondary level, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in Computer Science. His hobbies include martial arts, traveling, and, of course, technology.