Grainger College of Engineering, All Events

SE 290 - Brian Truesdale

Mar 5, 2026   11:00 am  
1310 DCL
Sponsor
The Department of Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering
Contact
Julie Murphy
E-Mail
jdg5@illinois.edu
Views
34
Originating Calendar
ISE Seminar Calendar

Brian Truesdale is a highly accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience leveraging technology and innovation to drive business success across diverse markets, products, and business models. His expertise spans healthcare, life sciences, industrial solutions, food service, telecommunications, electronics, automotive, and industrial equipment. Throughout his career, Brian has demonstrated a talent for revitalizing stagnant or declining businesses by fostering a culture of innovation, underpinned by a simplification mindset leveraging systems to achieve outcomes. Brian holds over 20 patents with 6 businesses across multiple industries and technologies.

Currently, Brian serves as President and CEO of Elevate Healthcare, a Madison Industries company acquired in February 2024. Elevate Healthcare is a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and servicing simulation and video debriefing systems that empower nurses and doctors to perform confidently and competently in critical moments that matter. Prior to his role with Elevate Healthcare, Brian led the Membrane Technologies business within Madison’s Filtration Group, building a new business from four smaller businesses to leverage technology capabilities to drive growth.

Previously, he held the role of Group Executive of Fluid and Metering Technologies at IDEX Corporation, overseeing a $1.2 billion segment made up of 18 standalone P&Ls. While at IDEX, he curated a strong acquisition pipeline that led to 4 acquisitions in his first two years. Brian also spearheaded a corporate-wide pandemic task force to safeguard employees, ensure business continuity, and develop a digitalization strategy that enabled remote value selling.

Brian's leadership experience with Marmon, a Berkshire Hathaway industrial company, involved building their $300 million foodservice platform—doubling its value within that time. He successfully integrated three acquisitions in Europe between 2018 and 2019, broadening both the geographic and market reach of the business. Additionally, he spent one year at Lismore Advisors, a boutique strategy consulting firm, where he cultivated a $1 million pipeline of client engagements, driving growth strategies for industrial clients across rail, energy, and food service sectors. His engagements also included pro-bono work with Chicago Youth Centers, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting underprivileged youth in Chicago's South Side.

During his 19-year tenure at ITW, Brian made history as the company's youngest-ever general manager, assuming leadership of his first operating division at just 28 years old. He played a pivotal role in launching ITW’s first China-based startup in 2000 and spearheaded the company’s first technology startup following an acquisition in 2006.

A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brian earned a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering (Systems) in 1994. In 2018, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He actively contributes to his alma mater as a board member of the Alumni Advisory Board for the Grainger College of Engineering, advising on curriculum enhancements to better align with industry needs.

Brian has a strong commitment to board leadership and nonprofit engagement. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement – Lake County Region (2009-2012) and the IDEX Foundation and continues to engage in governance and strategy roles. At IDEX, he collaborated with the Board of Directors as Group Executive, and at Chicago Scenic Studios, an entertainment environment company, he led a strategic committee to explore potential acquisitions and growth opportunities. Brian currently serves on the Executive Committee – Corporate Roundtable for the Society of Simulation in Healthcare.

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