Meet the VistaTek team that strives to Outperform Expectations
Our team of professionals has extensive experience in rapid tooling, model making and prototyping, including experience in the latest RP technologies.
Jennifer Sutherland | Director of Operations | Co-Owner
Jennifer received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University. Jennifer is actively involved with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, St. Paul Chapter 172. Jennifer was named “Young Engineer of the Year” by The Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 2006. She lives in Roseville and enjoys the short drive to work. She's married with a daughter and plays competitive golf and dominos. She is the daughter of Jim and Lorinda Mishek.
Dan Mishek | Managing Director | Co-Owner
Dan has been with Vista Technologies since 1998. He graduated from Mount Mercy College (’97) in Iowa with a double major in Marketing and Public Relations. Dan has been published in several national publications and has had the pleasure of speaking at national conventions on the topics of Additive Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Tooling. Dan is also a board member for the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) and board member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE Section 22). He is married with four children and enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing and collecting autographs/sports memorabilia.
Allen Mishek | Director of Additive Manufacturing | Co-Owner
In November 2008, Allen came on board at VistaTek with four years of online marketing and print design experience. Allen attended The University of Arizona and earned a degree in Economics and a Business minor. He is an active member of the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association (MIMA). He thrives to bring a user-friendly, educating experience to our customers through the web and in conversation. Al and his family live in Shakopee. He likes to golf, fish and attempts to balance his loyalty of the Minnesota Vikings and his fantasy football team.
Jesse McConaughey | Technical Tooling Manager
Jesse brings to VistaTek 15+ years of injection molding experience with the decade in project/program engineering working with prototype tooling to multi-cavity high volume molding. Jesse previously worked with VistaTek for 10 plus years both as a vendor and a customer. Jesse lives Somerset WI and unfortunately is an avid Packer Fan. He is married with 2 children and enjoy fishing, hunting and spending time at the cabin.
Jason Lilla | Prototype & Tooling Specialist
Jason joined our team in February 2000. He graduated from St. Mary's University, in Winona, Minnesota, where he majored in Sales Marketing. Over the years, Jason has assisted many Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Tooling projects for medical companies to Aero Space companies. Jason resides in West Lakeland with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys attending his kid’s activities and playing golf on his time off. One of Jason’s great accomplishments was completing his first Marathon (Grandma’s) in Duluth, Minnesota in 2007.
Patrick Crosby | Project Manager
Patrick joined VistaTek's team in May 2005. He graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Design Technology. Patrick started off in the Additive Manufacturing division and then moved up to be RP Supervisor. He now works closely with customers managing their tooling and injection molding projects. He grew up in Anoka, Minnesota. He enjoys spending time with family, the outdoors and long distance running; some of his accomplishments include finishing the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Twin Cities Marathon.
Jim & Lorinda Mishek | Founders | Chairman and Vice Chairman
Lorinda and Jim started Vista Technologies, LLC in the fall of 1996. They have had a terrific time watching the company grow from four employees and zero customers to the success it is today. One of their goals for the company was to provide career opportunities to employees in a small business atmosphere.
Jim received his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA in Business Administration from The University of St. Thomas. He began his career at Honeywell Corporate Research Center. He then worked as a metallurgical engineer for Babcock & Wilcox and as a process engineer at Minneapolis Electric Steel. In 1979, took a sales position at Wilson Tool International, a punch and die tool manufacturer, and became president of the company just four years later. Before founding Vista Technologies in 1996, Jim served briefly as president and CEO of Despatch Industries, an industrial heating equipment company.
Lorinda, the majority owner of VistaTek, is a graduate from the school of design at the University of Minnesota. She has lead the way in proficiencies in the finishing and inspection departments. Lorinda has also finished the three-year Family Enterprise Forum through the University of St. Thomas.
Jim and Lorinda retired in May of 2010 from day-to-day operations, but will stay on the board as advisors.
