Irvine Ondrey Engineering

[Dar]

I discovered IOE while looking for placement year options and they seem like a company to keep your eye on, if you're interested in the control side of things too!

They're run by Brian Ondrey, the same guy that worked for Consign and did an interview with CF a little while ago, and his wife Anne Irvine.

They're the company responsible for Lightning Run's controls, and they've recently been announced as the controls provider to RMC as well as Skyline Attractions!
Here's Brian programming a Strike-U-Up for Skyline:

They're very open and "enthusiast friendly" and answer a lot of questions on their FB page, so I recommend giving them a like: http://www.facebook.com/IrvineOndreyEngineering

 

[Antinos]

Irvine Ondrey Engineering is also responsible for the control systems for Gold Striker and Lightning Run. They've also done the car ride at Kennywood, whose name escapes me at the moment.

Brian had wanted to start a company for a number of years, but he had always been daunted by the amount of work needed to start one himself. He figured it would require at least a year or two to do so. The guys from GCI contacted him a few years back and asked him if he could get his company up and running in a few months. As already mentioned, they're now the control systems supplier for GCI and Rocky Mountain Coasters as well as Morgan and they've also had interest from numerous other manufacturers and parks.

IOE is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is currently Brian and Anne. They are in the process of hiring a third member to join their team - an electrical engineer from out west somewhere.

I was fortunate enough to talk to them at this past year's FREDxGCII. They both have incredible stories to share about their past and their involvement in the amusement industry. They have tons of insider info to share and they are also very open to questions inquiries. As Dar said, keep an eye on them because they're sure to explode in activity in the next few years. If anybody on the site is interested in or currently studying electrical or computer engineering, they will be offering internship positions in the future and will surely be hiring more in the future.

 

[Dar]

Yeah, I've contacted them about the possibility of interning with them next year! Even if I can't, they're still a company I'd want to keep in contact with because they seem to have their heads screwed on the right way in terms of enthusiast interaction and just plain good business.