Title: 1) Owner; 2) Retired Engineer
Company: 1) Pecan Pro LLC; 2) Kent Sporting Goods Company Inc.
Location: Baxley, Georgia, United States
Ralph Edward Steger, MA, Owner at Pecan Pro LLC and Retired Engineer at Kent Sporting Goods Company Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Manufacturing and Production.
Mr. Steger, an expert in manufacturing and production, has owned Pecan Pro LLC since 2021. Launching his company with his wife, who serves as the operations manager, he is responsible for nearly all aspects of the business. A company developed out of a hobby, Mr. Steger, who owns 40 acres of densely planted pecan trees, had built a dedicated machine for cracking and shelling his pecans for his own use. Eventually, he began selling his pecans in bulk and ultimately brought his machine to the market. Mr. Steger’s commercial equipment, which is lauded for its performance, has become well-received.
Beyond his pecan business, Mr. Steger spent decades in the engineering sector, retiring from Kent Sporting Goods Company Inc. in New London, Ohio, in 2016 as a senior product development engineer. Throughout his tenure, he garnered success with several other organizations, including Mustang Survival in Canada, as a product development engineer. This role saw Mr. Steger engaging in numerous designs for such products as inflatable and foam-filled personal flotation devices (PFDs) for individuals of all ages, dry suit patterns and construction alternatives, adult universal and XXXL mesh top PFDs, a type V universal swift water rescue vest and more.
Mr. Steger previously worked for the IMANNA Laboratory in Florida as the director of PFD research and testing, The Coleman Company as the director of engineering, and Stearns Inc. as the director of product development. His career history in engineering dates back to 1967, when he first joined Continental Illinois Bank and Trust Company as a quality assurance supervisor.
Highly educated, Mr. Steger holds an associate degree in electronic engineering from DeVry Institute of Technology since 1969, a Bachelor of Science in electronic engineering technology from Ohio Technical College since 1973, and a master’s degree in management and supervision from Central Michigan University in 1975. His education has been pivotal to his success in engineering and business management.
Recognized for his inventions, Mr. Steger secured numerous U.S. patents during his tenure at Mustang Survival, including an inflatable life jacket, trampoline pad assembly and inflatable flotation device. He has also been recognized for his contributions as a U.S. expert on the ISO TC-188/SC 1 committee for the development of PFD standards for buoyancy aids, lifejackets and immersion suits.
Mr. Steger was the founder of the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturer’s Association. He has also served as a presenter at the International Conference on Drowning in Amsterdam and the International Boating and Water Safety Summit. Active in a civic capacity, Mr. Steger has been a member of Rotary International, where he served as the president of his local chapter between 1997 and 1998. He was notably recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation in 1998 for his generous contributions. Additionally, Mr. Steger is an active parishioner of the Sandhill Creek Baptist Church.
In preparation for the future, Mr. Steger intends to continue expanding Pecan Pro LLC. His goals include further expanding exports with his commercial equipment, and he is presently collaborating with several individuals and national representatives to achieve this goal. Furthermore, Mr. Steger is working to develop a more effective succession plan for the business. Hoping to leave a legacy for his extended family, including his children and grandchildren, his vision includes having them take over once he retires.
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