Meet Heath Lahr

posted On Friday, August 1, 2025 in Blog

Q&As with Heath Lahr

As electromechanical technician, what does your typical day look like?

As an electromechanical technician, my day starts with a team meeting where our manager, Matt, reviews any pressing maintenance issues and we share any concerns or observations from the previous day. From there, I focus on a mix of electrical and mechanical responsibilities.

A major part of my role involves performing preventative, planned, and predictive maintenance on our equipment. I also help maintain our building facilities—handling repairs/maintenance to lighting, HVAC systems, and of course, our heat treat equipment. It’s a dynamic role that not only supports production but also contributes to minimizing downtime and maintaining fast turnaround times for our customers.

Aside from being in maintenance, you are also a safety champion. What tasks are you responsible for in this role?

I conduct monthly safety walk-throughs at our corporate location in Waterloo, Iowa. These inspections follow a detailed checklist covering fire extinguishers, emergency exits, electrical safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), chemical storage, emergency response systems and more.

In addition to the monthly walk-throughs, I lead our annual safety drills, including tornado, fire, and gas/spill response exercises. These help ensure our employees remain prepared and up to date on safety protocols.

Every June, we also host a company-wide safety event designed to engage all team members and reinforce our commitment to workplace safety.

You’ve been employed at AHT since 2021. How did you learn about AHT and what has kept you here?

Maintenance Manager Matt Thilges reached out to me about the open position in the Maintenance Department. I was already familiar with Matt as well as another AHT maintenance team member, Travis, prior to joining AHT, which made the transition into my new role seamless. From day one, I’ve experienced a supportive, family-oriented work environment where everyone—regardless of department—is willing to lend a hand. It’s truly a great place to work.

During the summer months, AHT will host a series of events for their employees such as grill-outs, the annual safety event and eventually our annual cornhole tournament. Tell us which event(s) are your favorite and why?

The cornhole tournament is a favorite of mine. This is one of my favorite hobbies whether it is playing here at AHT or outside of work at a local tournament. I feel our events help with boosting employee morale and getting to know co-workers that you may not interact with as much.

Family is very important at AHT. Tell us about your family.

Nicole and I have been married for ten years. We have 3 daughters: Hayden (7), Harper (3) and Hannah (1).

What is one thing people may not know about Heath Lahr?

I really enjoy experimenting with new foods, from smoking meats to trying new recipes in the kitchen. I like to change things up and find ways to improve each dish. Sometimes it turns out great—other times, not so much—but I always enjoy the process.

What is one thing people may not know about Advanced Heat Treat Corp.?

AHT is a very family-focused company. They are great about letting you take time away from work to be with your family whenever you need it.

What is an accomplishment – professional or personal – that you are proud of?

Being a dad, always striving to be better. Nicole and I have been raising three great young girls.

One of AHT’s core values is ‘passion.’ What are you passionate about?

I enjoy fixing things whether it is one of my kids' toys, something on a vehicle or anything around the house. I am always willing to expand my knowledge so I can help others.

What kind of tasks does the maintenance team perform to ensure our customers are getting great heat treat results and/or fast turnaround?

We perform monthly preventative maintenance on all of our equipment to ensure optimal performance and reliability. This proactive approach helps minimize vessel downtime and allows us to identify and address potential issues early. Maintaining consistent uptime is key to delivering the fast turnaround times our customers expect.

Now a list of quick questions ….

Schooling/Professional Development? Bachelor of Arts in Technology Management from the University of Northern Iowa, AAS in Maintenance Electrician from Iowa Central
Any Pets? 2 dogs (Thor & Roscoe)
Hobbies? Golfing, fishing with my kids & the occasional car show
Anything You Collect? I used to collect sports cards in the past and still have the collection today
Favorite Movie: Gone in 60 Seconds
First Concert: Brooks & Dunn
Favorite Food: BBQ
A Food You Avoid: Sweet Potatoes & Squash
First Job: I worked for a truss manufacturer
Favorite Sport: Football
Favorite Team: Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Vikings
Best Vacation/Roadtrip: Colorado