About Our Foundations™ Presenters

Jerad Heitzler

Jerad Heitzler

As program manager and lead instructor for Martin Engineering’s FOUNDATIONS™ Training Workshops, Jerad Heitzler is a leader in helping the industry learn how to make the handling of bulk materials cleaner, safer, and more productive. 

Jerad started with Martin Engineering as a Customer Development Representative in 2006. He soon realized his love for presentations and for teaching about conveyor systems, and so in 2010 took over management and development of the company’s FOUNDATIONS™ Workshop program. Under his leadership the program has expanded to offer several levels of conveyor improvement workshops around the world.

Todd Swinderman

Todd Swinderman

In his FOUNDATIONS™ Training Presentations, Todd Swinderman offers a world of experience in control of fugitive material and improved conveyor design. His interest has been the improvement of conveyors—and hence improving the operating company’s performance—through the elimination of dust, carryback, and spillage. Swinderman’s vision and leadership have focused on developing innovative solutions for bulk-materials handling and expanding Martin Engineering’s presence and capabilities around the world.

Born and raised in Kewanee, Illinois, Todd joined Martin Engineering in 1979, and over his 32+ year active career served as Product Engineer, General Manager, and President and CEO.

In his FOUNDATIONS™ Workshops, Todd’s mission is to improve bulk materials handling safety by promoting creative designs and enlightening managers to the relationships between safety, cleanliness and productivity. His practical experience in both design and management provide unmatched actionable content for attendees in his FOUNDATIONS™ Seminars.

For an expanded biography, click here.

Robbie Walton

Robbie Walton

Passionate to ensure that his message about plant efficiency and safety leaves a lasting impression, South Africa’s Robbie Walton has been instructing Martin Engineering’s FOUNDATIONS™ Training Workshop since 2014. Robbie has more than ten years’ experience in improving conditions and equipment performance in process plants and underground mines. Before becoming a FOUNDATIONS™ Trainer, he served Martin Engineering South Africa as a sales representative and service manager.

Robbie notes he has been fortunate enough to contribute positively through workshops to many plants in Africa, improving worker safety and morale and reducing operating costs while greatly improving plant efficiency and availability. His presentations bring information and understanding that helps conveyor-users make their operations cleaner, safer, and more productive.

Gildas Robert

Gildas Robert

As an engineer with an MBA, Gildas Robert brings the perspectives of both an engineer and a business executive to the training of managers and staff in the importance of efficiency in bulk material handling, and the ways to achieve that efficiency. 
 
With 10 years of experience in the bulk material handling industries. Gildas is focused on offering effective training that helps conveyor systems and operators keep their plants cleaner, safer, and more productive.
 
Gildas joined Martin Engineering in 2007 as Sales Manager for Martin SARL, the company’s business unit in France. He has been serving as a FOUNDATIONS™ Training instructor since 2010.