Before completing his engineering degree at the South Dakota State University, Jay spent one year training with some of the top engineers in the Midwest at a Bobcat Ingersoll-Rand facility in Bismarck, North Dakota. Working with and leading a team of professionals to implement factory improvements, this is where Jay learned of another passion, project management. While at Bobcat, in only one year, Jay and his team successfully integrated over 30 material handling robots into the operation, where this new equipment aided in the expansion and increased capacity of the facility to increase throughput and service new demand.
In addition to his B.S. in manufacturing engineering, Jay earned an M.B.A from the Vucurevich School of Business. He brings to Trinity 10-plus years’ expert-level experience in building custom homes and renovations, and 10-plus years in manufacturing engineering and management for medical and industrial corporations.
Just before graduating from South Dakota State University, Jay accepted an Engineering position with Graco, Inc., a fluid handling equipment manufacturer based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. While working with Graco for 5 years, Jay had the opportunity to work with an extremely talented group of engineers, financial managers, and business leaders. The highlights of this opportunity include working on the manufacturing side to develop processes for new equipment releases, and also working with an acquisition team to purchase, relocate and retool an entire precision manufacturing operation.
Jay is a devoted husband and father who enjoys family time, great music, and spending time outdoors fishing and camping, as well as playing baseball and soccer with his children. He also has fun doing metalworking and carpentry in his spare time.
Jay Schoenfelder
Vice President
Jay Schoenfelder manages new construction projects and renovations for Trinity, as well as financial operations, client management, marketing, and business development. He has been with Trinity since 2019. Jay utilizes his problem-solving skills and knowledge of lean manufacturing principles to manage custom building projects. He believes in effective communication, leadership, integrity, and leveraging relationships and synergies to over-deliver and out-perform.
Jay credits his passion for building and eye for detail to his father, uncles, and grandfathers. Surrounded by meticulous builders, carpenters, and mechanics, Jay’s childhood was blanketed with exposure to precise custom carpentry, framing, metal working, electrical, and plumbing installations. He even participated in transmission and engine rebuilding, mechanical inventions, and equipment enhancements.
