About Rich Connelly
A lifetime of engineering excellence, business leadership and community dedication
"My career was built on keeping critical systems running. That same focus drives how I approach service today."
Experience & Expertise
Rich Connelly is a retired engineer with decades of experience leading complex manufacturing and infrastructure systems where reliability, safety, and long-term performance were essential. His career required disciplined decision-making, thoughtful planning, and a constant focus on keeping critical systems running.
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Now living in Albert Lea, Rich brings both familiarity with Minnesota communities and a valuable fresh perspective. He applies his engineering and business experience to local challenges with a clear focus on what matters most: reliability, responsible oversight, and long-term performance. As a candidate for District 9, Rich is committed to steady leadership and keeping the lights on.
Professional Background
A track record of leadership, innovation and results.
Manufacturing Engineer II / Engineering Team Manager
Harley Davidson | Kansas City, MO
Supported manufacturing operations to improve quality, efficiency, and cost performance across production systems. Worked closely with engineering, quality, and production teams to develop manufacturing controls, cost-reduction initiatives, and workflow improvements while supporting safety and on-time delivery.
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​Led engineering and maintenance teams supporting the F-150 Paint Department, managing production scheduling, staffing, equipment maintenance, and procurement. Oversaw safety, quality, cost, delivery, and environmental initiatives while managing 12 direct and 61 indirect reports and leading capital and process-improvement projects.
Manufacturing Engineer Team Manager / IT Supervisor / Engineer
Ford Motor Company | Kansas City, MO
Managed IT operations supporting an 8,000-employee manufacturing facility, including production-critical systems, infrastructure reliability, and disaster recovery planning. Led teams responsible for data center operations, manufacturing systems integration, and IT support for new vehicle launches.
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Implemented the Ford Production System and ISO 9000 / ISO 14001 standards to improve quality and environmental compliance. Managed quality operating systems, supervised statistical process control programs, and supported plant-wide process improvement initiatives.
Team Leader / Operations Engineer
Quaker Oats Company | St. Joseph, MO
Directed operations and maintenance of high-speed food production lines to meet daily production schedules. Led production teams and continuous improvement efforts focused on safety, efficiency, and quality.
Operations Plan Manager
Hillyard Industries | St. Joseph, MO
Directed operations for a $50+ million specialty chemical manufacturing facility, overseeing production, engineering, maintenance, distribution, and compliance. Supervised more than 70 employees and served as the primary contact for OSHA and EPA regulatory requirements.
Core Values
Reliability
Doing the work the right way so essential systems perform consistently—today and over the long term. Decisions are made with a focus on preparedness, maintenance, and minimizing risk.
Long-Term Thinking
Looking beyond immediate fixes to understand impacts years down the road. Prioritizing durability, sustainability, and smart planning.
Accountability
Taking responsibility for outcomes, asking hard questions, and standing behind decisions. Every choice should be thoughtful, informed, and defensible.
Stewardship
Treating infrastructure, resources, and finances with care and respect. Making decisions as if the systems being overseen were his own responsibility.
Practical Problem Solving
Approaching challenges with logic, experience, and discipline rather than shortcuts or assumptions. Focused on solutions that work in the real world.
Service
Giving time and expertise back to the community. Using experience not for personal gain, but to support dependable systems that people rely on every day.