Alexander Joseph Larson 3048 Regatta Lane #2

Mechanical Engineering B.S. Fort Collins, CO, 80525

970-231-4530

Objective:

Desire to enrich experience related to my passion of automobiles, especially that of Japanese marques Lexus/Toyota. Hoping to use knowledge of engineering combined with enthusiasm and the “Toyota Way” In applications either related to engineering or any other fields, such as sales or product representation.

Experience

Technology Coordinator for Natural Sciences (Jim Cox) Assistant

Colorado State University

-Spring 2012-Fall 2012

-Assisted in computer updating and surplus storage

College of Natural Sciences Computer Lab Assistant

Department of Zoology, Colorado State University

-Working under James Cox and Ross Madden

-Fall 2012-Present

-Assisting in technical issues and collaborating with College of Natural Sciences technology coordinators

-Technical support and assistant with IT maintenance and aid to student lab users

-Printing student posters for Life 102 class projects, research presentation posters on large plotters.

Relevant Coursework:

Mech 102: Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving-Learning PTC Mathcad modeling techniques, investigation of Fourier series, ETC

ECE 204: Introduction to Electrical Engineering

Introduction to truth tables and circuit logic, like transformers, nodal analysis, ETC

Mech 231: Engineering Experimentation

-Data Acquisition including BUS feedback loops, National Instruments Lab View block programming (hooking up to strain gauges for physical Data Acquisition collection)

Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

-First experience with being taught MatLAB coding and logic, using basic logic such as “If Statements, while loops, Function scripts with input and output arguments initially defined, Etc”

-Used to model simplified computational fluid mechanics exercises

-Mech 307: Mechatronics and Measurement Systems

-Mechanical vs. Electrical analogies, Fourier Series (Discrete waveform modeling), Laplace Transformation in Differential Equations, Euler’s mathematical method, Data Acquisition, Potentiometers, and coding/programing of 3 16F88 PIC Microprocessors for “3D Pizza Printer” project.

Education

Bachelor’s of Science (BS)-Mechanical Engineering: Courses completed, PLI credits remaining, will complete may 2017.

Colorado State University at Fort Collins

CSU EcoCAR 3 Controls Team Senior Year Practicum

Skills

General knowledge of automotive mechanicals (Internal Combustion Engines, Cam design, fuel systems ,Intake and Exhaust systems, camshafts, basic control systems and computer logic ,ETC)

Strong passion for vehicle design and engineering, and interest in urban planning, biomedical technology and city infrastructure development

Works well in teams/ strong work ethic/strong belief in mutual respect (“Kaizen and Lean” philosophy from Toyota Manufacturing System), “6 Sigma” statistical std. deviation standards.

Skilled at sketching/drawing design concepts and visualizations of proposals in 3 Dimensions

References and Transcript are available upon request

To Toyota Motor Corporation

Official Cover Letter

First off, it is with great gratitude that I give thanks for the exceptional and positive gifts presented to me through the social media community manager of Lexus, Lisa P. I have made great use of both my Lexus F-sport cap and my thermos, which I keep coffee in to help get me through a day at such a large and expansive state university. As I had stated in my first message to Lexus on social media, I’ve always considered Lexus and Toyota as a major source of inspiration, one that had analogies to my own life.

I suppose my story would really start in high school, around 17. My step-father purchased a then new Rav 4 SUV, and I was offered a 1992 Camry as a first car. I’ve always loved cars, so much in fact that it came as no surprise when my relatives in Taiwan got news I decided to study mechanical/automotive knowledge. They always noted my love of cars even as a toddler. As soon as I could talk, I loved toy cars, and regularly pointed out the various Toyota crowns and cressidas serving taxi duties. My uncle had an Avalon which made a big impression on me, since most cars in Taiwan at the time were so compact and economical. By comparison, the Avalon made me feel like I was in a Rolls Royce.

My 1992 Camry had been delivered to my driveway while I was doing math homework. The excitement overwhelmed me. It was hard however, to deny the rough “jalopy” condition of my first ride. Never the less, it taught me to drive, and got me through college. It wasn’t long before I started wanting to know more about a car I didn’t think much of. I certainly liked my car, but I didn’t realize just how much incredible engineering and design went into it. It was at a community college library on a weekend that I stumbled upon David Magee’s book “How Toyota became Number 1”. And of course, that book had revealed just what an astonishing marvel of engineering the generation 3 Camry was. This naturally led my passionate curiosity down the road into more literature, where I spent quite some time in CSU’s massive collection of books in the Morgan Library. I brought such books home. Between school work, I found solace in learning more about my car, and books like “Car: a Drama of the American Workplace” and “Extreme Toyota, Radical Contradictions that drive success at the World’s Greatest Manufacturer” made me very appreciative of my first car. This made me also well versed on the original UCF10 Lexus LS400, and learned how much that automobile influenced the development of my SXV10 Camry. And it didn’t take me long to transform my car into one that attends Cars and Coffees regularly, and is invited regularly to Simply Fresh events in Denver.

I would also like to use this opportunity to use your company as an analogy. While I understand Toyota has always produced great cars, I also understand that Toyota hasn’t become who you are without skepticism, doubt, hardships, and difficulty. But of course, under Kaizen, giving up should be only the last possible resort. I would never claim to have among the most difficult lives. However, I have been through some rough patches. Being underweight as a child, during my teen years I gained immense weight, due to two primary factors. I had been struggling with extreme anxiety issues at school, and my body was trying to catch up for being underweight as a child. I got teased relentlessly at school for gaining such weight. I was also diagnosed with OCD. I understand that normally one would not advise to share such proprietary information with a potential employer. However, I know Toyota and I know Lexus. I know the philosophy of respect for people, and the genuine dedication to bringing humanity into an ever more positive place. If you may regard the time in which your own organization struggled, yet percierviered, and proved successful no matter how many naysayers claimed otherwise, that is the analogy I would like to make. I have had waves in life of highs and lows (my life feels more like alternating current than direct current!), but now I completed college and found great therapy and medication that has made me much,much better. I was a very strong student academically for the first 3-4 years at CSU. One would note a very drastic change in my senior year, which marked a personally dark time for me. You could say, it was my personal 9.1 magnitude earthquake to my personal life. I struggled with depression and loneliness, because although I made a drastic physical transformation for the better (my dad always noted my resemblance to Keanu Reeves since my change), my old memories of the relentless bullying and teasing of

the old me left a big wound inside. And to be honest, when I went through my big physical transformation senior year, I started getting daily female attention. However, due to my issues with past insecurities, I struggled to socialize successfully, leaving me feeling very alone. This was a major contributing factor to why I made the original dubover of Alecia Cara’s “Scars to your beautiful” to a video of VIP/Bippu style Lexuses. Because whether or not people understand my passion for Toyota/Lexus, I know for me it means so much more than the love of cars. It represents not only a passion, but an inspiration as a gleaming beacon of true integrity and Zen philosophies that is a testament to how much financial success can actually come out of genuine integrity and an unwavering commitment to the compassion of people. Isn’t it amazing, what was originally just an automatic loom work with a car that struggled on American highways and overheated on numerous instances, became the car company to upset the European flagships, and prove overnight how capable the Japanese were. It was on lonely nights that a cruise with my friends in the Subaru Club, be it in my GM Impreza or my Camry, helped free the woes of those rough times. And so, in a way, I’ve come to coin a term for my Toyota as a “mechanical therapist”. And in politically turbulent times, The Toyota pillars of respect and philosophies as Genchi Genbutsu remind me to maintain faith for humanity in the most possible optimism I can.

As a proud Eurasian individual, I love the global mindset and respectful humility of Toyota and Lexus. And as explained, while I have struggled in life, if I am given the chance, I do believe I can contribute in a positive manner and use my unwavering passion for your products to help see something I admire so much succeed to the maximum possible potential.

Thank you for any considerations, Kaizen

Alexander Larson

B.S. Mechanical Engineering CSU