Management Team
President - Doug Leaser
Founded Minnesota Waterjet, Inc. in 2003. He started his career in the aviation industry while serving in the U.S. Navy as a flight engineer / aircraft mechanic onboard the P-3C Orion. After serving in the Navy, he became a qualified airframe and powerplants (A&P) mechanic, but at the time the airline industry was in a downturn. He decided to enroll in a machine trades program and in 1994 he began working in the waterjet cutting industry. In 2003, Doug started Minnesota Waterjet, Inc. with the help of Jeff Bromander. Doug ran the office, Jeff set up equipment and together both ran the shop floor. Today, their shop floor duties have been limited, but both continue the hard work ethic that started the company. Doug has a wife, Jenny, who also helps in the office, and three children (Mike, Marissa, and Sarah) and enjoys fishing, hunting, golf and spending time with his family.
Sales Manager- Marj Velishek
Marj attended Normandale College and the University of Minnesota majoring in Education. While working for a Minneapolis based property management company, she was instrumental in the growth of the company, making it one of the largest property management companies in the Midwest. She has worked in the waterjet industry for over 12 years, learning this technology from production to estimating to sales. Her passion has been and continues to be, Relentless Customer Service. She is a member of the Minnesota Defense Alliance, Minnesota Women in Metals, Women of Today and she has earned her Six Sigma Green Belt.
Dan Thunhorst - Quality Manager
Dan joined Minnesota Waterjet in 2009 as the Quality Manager. Dan earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University. He has over 15 years of manufacturing experience working for a combination of international corporations and private businesses as a Manufacturing Engineer, Engineering Manager, and Production Manager. He adds a diverse set of experiences in quality, fabrication, assembly and machining to the staff of Minnesota Waterjet.
