Tyler Kindle’s professional hockey career demanded passion, commitment, and teamwork. Those skills are serving him well in his engineering role.
It’s common to find engineering professionals passionate about their craft. However, the story becomes even more compelling when that passion pairs with an equally fiery dedication to a sport. For Tyler L. Kindle, PE, Chief Project Manager at Jones & Henry Engineers in Kalamazoo, Michigan, his journey intertwines the love of engineering with a lifelong passion for hockey.
Early Beginnings
Tyler was born and raised in Portage, Michigan, a suburb outside Kalamazoo. He began playing hockey at age five and has been involved in the sport in some organized capacity ever since. Tyler played for Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association and the West Michigan Warriors, honing his skills and deepening his love for the game. After graduating high school, Tyler played three years of Junior “A” hockey in Bozeman, Montana, prior to attending Wayne State University, where he majored in engineering and joined the hockey team.
At that time, Wayne State was an NCAA Division 2 school, and hockey was the only D1 sport. Midway through his junior year, the athletic department discovered that his engineering coursework failed to satisfy NCAA eligibility requirements. They recommended switching to political science to ensure he would remain eligible to play the sport he loved. The unexpected turn led Tyler to graduate with a Bachelor of Public Affairs degree while providing an essential lesson in adaptability.
After graduating, Tyler went on to play professional hockey. Over his nine-year career, he played for teams in the Allsvenksan in Sweden, the ECHL, the Central Hockey League, and the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.
Since leaving the pro hockey circuit, Tyler has kept involved in the sport by coaching at the high school and club levels.
A Career in Engineering
As he prepared for the eventual end of his professional hockey career, Tyler revisited his interest in engineering.
“I had always been interested in engineering, especially civil engineering,” says Tyler, recalling his original major at Wayne State. “It’s the foundation and backbone of society’s infrastructure.”
Tyler lived in Denver then, so he began taking engineering classes at the University of Colorado during the off-seasons. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science with a major in Civil Engineering in 2013 and began his engineering career at Kingscott Associates in Kalamazoo.
In 2018, Tyler joined Jones & Henry Engineers. Today, in the newly created position of Chief Project Manager in the Kalamazoo office, he brings the same determination and strategic thinking to his engineering projects that he developed on the ice. His unique background in engineering and hockey enables him to manage complex projects effectively while fostering a sense of cooperation within his engineering team.
Tyler enjoys the size and scale of the projects Jones & Henry tackles. One of his favorites so far was a tertiary treatment process upgrade for the City of Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant. The construction of the new facility also allowed Jones & Henry to protect against the emerging microplastic issue at the plant and prevent plastics from entering the Kalamazoo River.
Next Generations
One year, while living in Denver after his hockey career, Tyler traveled to Kalamazoo to spend Christmas with his family. On the return flight, he sat beside Beth, another Kalamazoo native, who was also residing in Denver. He would eventually marry her.
The Kindles have two sons, ages 7 and 4, and a two-year-old daughter. The family enjoys snow and water skiing and being on the lake. Their oldest son started playing hockey three years ago, and the four-year-old just learned to skate.
Tyler recommends engineering to anyone looking for a career path.
“It’s a lot of work but a gratifying profession,” he says. “There is a sense of satisfaction and pride in seeing a project completed.”
Tyler also urges current and future engineers to consider working at Jones & Henry, which fosters a learning culture.
“We are very good at passing knowledge along and training young engineers who want to grow and improve.”
Tyler’s story balances his dual passions—engineering and hockey. Both require commitment, hard work, and a strong collaborative spirit. As he reflects on his journey, it’s clear that the skills he gained from hockey have positively influenced his career in engineering.
”There is a sense of satisfaction and pride in seeing a project completed.
Tyler L. Kindle, PEChief Project Manager, Kalamazoo Office
Jones & Henry has experience in all facets of civil site design.
We can assist you with negotiating permits, undertaking public participation programs, responding to community concerns, and more.
