Leadership Spotlight: Kyle Hankinson

Kyle Hankinson is the President of KCH Engineered Systems. For nearly 40 years, KCH has been a technology leader in the design and manufacture of industrial ventilation systems and wet process lines for various markets within the surface finishing industry.

Kyle is a second-generation owner at KCH, which was started by his father, Ken Hankinson in 1979. Kyle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from North Carolina State University, along with Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot Ratings in Helicopters and Airplanes with the FAA. He is a Certified Electroplater-Finisher (CEF), and is very active within the Surface Finishing industry. Kyle has served on the NASF Board of Directors and SUR/FIN® Steering Committee for several years now. Kyle also represents the surface finishing industry on the American Society of Safety Engineers, Z9 Committee for Industrial Ventilation Standards. While on the NASF board, Kyle has focused much of his efforts toward growing the NASF organization and SUR/FIN® Tradeshow through expanding its reach into areas such as the Southeastern US. He also believes “If you build it, they will come” strongly supporting continued development and growth of the AESF Foundation’s training program.

Kyle served in the US Army for nearly 10 years as an Aviator and Pilot in Command of the AH-64D Helicopter, and is currently in an inactive status with the Ready Reserve. He often talks of how critical our industry is to the people and machines that perform the very dangerous missions of the United States Military.