Meet Eddie Gordon, Crown Electrokinetic’s Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Growing up riding dirt bikes in Agoura Hills before urban sprawl took over the area’s open spaces, Southern California native Eddie Gordon had a penchant for vehicle mechanics, technology, and the outdoors. After 10-plus years working in the performance automotive industry and living the dream as a ski bum and motocross aficionado, Eddie realized his professional track had hit a plateau. Leaving a lucrative and established automotive career, he pivoted directions and sought out a degree in industrial engineering. This career decision ushered him into leadership roles within the renewable energy sector, where he excelled at leading manufacturing teams and operations. With years of professional success under his belt, Eddie knew he could afford to be choosy about whatever role he took on next.

What drove your decision to completely change your career path and return to school as a non-traditional student?

I was in Vail, Colorado working at a performance shop, living the ski bum dream, and making great money. At that point in my career, I was an ASE certified master technician and almost 28 years old. But as I got deeper into the aftermarket industry, I hit a wall. All the major players wanted me to have this thing called an “engineering degree.” I just thought that there was something bigger out there for me. That’s when I decided to pull the plug.

I sold a street bike and a performance truck that I had been working on for somewhere around 10 years to go back to school and get an engineering degree. It wasn’t easy. I was a return student, and it was a huge career change. I hadn’t picked up a book since high school. I moved back to California and lived at home working on cars in my mom’s garage. It took me five years, but I graduated in 2004 with an industrial engineering degree. It was blood, sweat, and tears going full-time through summer semesters. But I went for it, and I went for it hard.

How did you get involved in the renewable energy industry?

I was in automotive service and repair, I grew up riding dirt bikes and working in different performance shops, and I became a master mechanic. That had always been my plan as a young man. I went back to school thinking maybe I would have an upper hand in the aftermarket industry if I could take my blue-collar skill set and mesh that with a white-collar engineering job. Ironically, I ended up working for Tesla but not on cars. I’ve worked in the renewable sector for years now. I started at OMCO Solar and later ended up at Maxwell Technologies, which was bought by Tesla. That’s how I became a Tesla employee—I managed their lithium-ion battery facility. I was fortunate to work for Tesla for as many years as I did. They’re a world-class operation.

What do you consider to be one of your biggest professional assets?

I’ve been a fix-it guy in a manufacturing environment for years now. When I worked at Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, my plant manager saw some potential in me that I didn’t know was there. He gave me the manufacturing engineering team to manage—this was three years into my professional career. That’s when I learned that I had the ability to lead a team, and I gravitated toward that. The rest of my professional career built upon that moment. I was great at managing people in a technical environment. That became a valuable skill.

How do you feel about climate change, and how does it factor into your daily life?

Climate change is a serious concern. At home, we try to teach sustainability in our day-to-day actions. From reducing vehicle emissions to treading lightly while riding my dirt bike, I’ve always been environmentally conscious. We’re big recyclers, we’re cautious about our water and electricity use, and we own a hybrid car. We know sustainability is critical. I really believe that we need to be progressive with technology and industry but not at the cost of damaging the planet.