Alumnus Logan England (B ’15)
Ferris State alumnus Logan England, of Hudsonville, Michigan, gives new meaning to the word “driven.”
After graduating from Hudsonville High School in spring 2013, he enrolled for that fall in Ferris State University’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Lean Systems, one of the 90 percent of Ferris State bachelor’s or advanced degree programs that require students to complete an internship.
England chose an internship in the Human Resources department at Johnson Controls of Holland, Michigan, which he began after his first year of studies, in summer 2014. In his internship, he proved to be a rising star within the organization, which promptly hired him as a permanent employee of its automotive interiors department at its Holland location.
“The internship I received through Ferris was instrumental in starting me off on the path to my current career. It allowed me to see, first hand, the industry that I was so passionate about, while being mentored and supported by knowledgeable individuals in the field,” said England. “I am certain that I would not be where I am today without that first professional partnership arranged through Ferris’ College of Business.”
Determined to finish what he’d started at Ferris State, England took advantage of its Business Administration program’s online option. While working full time for Johnson Controls, he completed his degree online—on its own, an impressive accomplishment, except that England did it all in only a year and a half. In December 2015, a short two and a half years after he first set foot on the Ferris State campus, England walked in its winter commencement ceremony.
“The accomplishments I felt in completing my degree were both personal and professional. I was proud of myself for setting and sticking to my time line for graduation and proving to myself that I could do it,” said England. “But I also had a sense of professional accomplishment in knowing that I was graduating from an exceptional Business program that provided me with the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in my chosen field.”
He was off to a running start in his career, too. Early in his internship, Johnson Controls had sold controlling shares of its automotive interiors unit into a joint venture with Shanghai-based Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. In his first two years with YFAI, England rose to associate and then management positions within Human Resources. In January 2017, before his third full year, he was named YFAI’s Talent Acquisition Manager for North America.
“Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is an amazing place to work! It offers competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, supportive leaders and challenging projects to work on. But the best part of YFAI is its people,” said England. “I work with extraordinary people who make coming to work each day fun and exciting. The overriding sense of cooperation and cross functional collaboration at YFAI is what draws people to us and keep them here.”
The YFAI mobile exhibit comprises three semi-truck trailers and was set up on the Ferris campus in Lot 20, behind the university’s Ewigleben Sports Complex.
As driven in his work for his company as he had been in his work toward his degree, England now regularly travels worldwide in his role as a recruiter for YFAI. He also serves as an informal recruiter for his alma mater, returning to campus to share his experiences with prospective students.
“My time at Ferris was second to none. I chose Ferris for its Business Division’s reputation of excellence, but I stayed because it provided me with a small town college feel while offering the resources and opportunities of a larger school. The College of Business went out of their way to get to know me, and my goals and aspirations, while working with me to individualize my program every step of the way,” England said. “Professors knew me by name, asked me about my hopes and dreams outside of school, and made me feel like their only student. If students are looking for a school where they are valued as individuals by top-notch faculty and have access to state of the art resources, then Ferris is where they need to be.
On Oct. 5, he made a return visit to Ferris like never before, bringing with him YFAI’s mobile automotive interiors exhibit for students and staff to tour. Normally reserved for large-scale auto shows and industry fairs, the exhibit comprises three semi-truck trailers, requires operation by multiple members of YFAI’s team and includes the ID15, a demonstrator which showcases YFAI’s vision of the autonomous interior of the future.
“I wanted to share the YFAI Mobile Exhibit with Ferris’ campus because I wanted to give back, even on a small scale, for all that Ferris has done for me. I hoped that bringing the exhibit to campus would spark interest in students’ minds and hopefully allow them to see what kinds of new designs and projects are waiting for them to take to the next level upon their own entrance into the work force,” England said.
It’s the kind of connection that Ferris State strives to maintain with its alumni after they enter working life. Active Ferris State alums bring their industry experience back to the university through service on curriculum advisory boards for many of the university’s 190 degree programs. The university’s network of alumni professionals also frequently returns to campus for student career fairs, seeking new recruits from the programs that once helped them excel.
“We ask our graduates to return to campus and become ambassadors for our programs. Logan does that and more,” said Gayle Lopez, professor and chair of the Management Department in Ferris State’s College of Business.
“He is an active member on two program advisory boards, Business Administration and Human Resource Management. He regularly returns to campus to recruit students for internships and other employment opportunities at YFAI. Alumni like Logan are instrumental for the continued growth and success of Ferris State University.”
For England, the visit also was an opportunity to reflect on how much he has accomplished in such a short time, and how Ferris helped him accomplish it.
“When I was offered a role at Johnson Controls, I knew my top priorities needed to be finishing my degree and establishing myself in my position. I developed a long-range goal and timeline for how to get both things done. Then, I sat down with my advisor and mapped out every course needed for graduation,” England said. “I drafted a plan for how my days would be spent, hour-by-hour. It was a lot of work, but, by breaking my large goal down into smaller pieces and working at it each day, I reached graduation without any setbacks.”
That kind of intensive involvement also is a part of England’s advice for students looking to fast-track their own success.
“My advice for FSU students is to get involved from the very start. Find out what interests you. Ask lots of questions. Volunteer for everything you can fit into your schedule and then pursue with a passion those things that spark your interest,” said England. “If you want something bad enough, don’t let anything get in your way of achieving it, and use all the support that Ferris has to offer to help you reach your dreams.”
The ID15 display features state-of-the-art technology and high-end amenities including automated features to support autonomous driving, such as a retractable steering wheel, rotating seats and work surfaces, and a widescreen touch display.
To read a 2015 student profile of Logan England, visit ferris.edu/business/stories/business-administration-student-spotlight-logan-england.
For more information on Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, visit yfai.com.
For more information about internship activities of Ferris State students, ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/ferris-in-news/interns.htm.
To learn how to become involved in the Ferris State University Alumni Association, visit ferris.edu/alumni.