After nearly four decades of engineering innovation, mentorship, and thoughtful design, we celebrate Senior Mechanical Engineer Bob Stanchus as he begins a well deserved retirement.
Bob’s career began with a childhood fascination for drawing, building forts, and imagining how things could be made better. That curiosity led him to Alfred State, then to Kodak, where he contributed to groundbreaking programs including the Advanced Photographic System. Although APS was ultimately overtaken by the rise of digital photography, the experience shaped Bob’s philosophy of engineering.
“We had to take risks and design with redundancies to make things fail safe. It wasn’t just about designing something on a computer. It was about rethinking how we approached challenges, from concept to production.”
At Circle Optics, Bob became instrumental in transforming ambitious ideas into reality. As the lead mechanical engineer behind the Hydra panoramic imaging system, he solved one of our most demanding engineering challenges: accurately nesting and aligning eleven cameras so they functioned as one coherent optical system. It is engineering that most people will never see, but without it, breakthrough technology simply does not exist.
Beyond the products he designed, Bob helped shape the way we think.
During one of Circle Optics’ earliest branding conversations, Bob shared a simple observation that became part of our cultural DNA:
“I need to know the forest, the trees, and the branches on the trees.“
Those words perfectly captured the balance between vision and precision. They became one of the inspirations behind our behavioral framework of Innovation, Know How, and Synergy, reminding us that meaningful innovation requires understanding both the big picture and every detail that supports it.
Those words perfectly captured the balance between vision and precision. They became one of the inspirations behind our behavioral framework of Innovation, Know How, and Synergy, reminding us that meaningful innovation requires understanding both the big picture and every detail that supports it.
Bob also reminded us that engineering is ultimately an act of service.
“When you design with the intent to serve, everything works better. It’s not just about handing off your work. It’s about ensuring it truly supports the next person in the process.”
That servant leadership has influenced everyone fortunate enough to work beside him.
His advice to the next generation reflects the same wisdom that defined his career:
• Know when to break the pencil. Perfection is never finished. Great engineering continues to evolve.
• Ask better questions. The quality of your design depends on the quality of your curiosity.
• Learn from those around you. Some of life’s greatest classrooms are found sitting beside people who have mastered their craft.
Chief Operating Officer Ian Gauger recognizes Bob’s contribution, “Bob has been a significant part of the team for the past six years. We are sad to see him go but appreciate that he chose to spend the last leg of his career with Circle Optics.”
As Bob begins this next chapter, we are grateful not only for the products he helped create, but for the culture he helped build. His legacy lives on in every engineer he mentored, every design he refined, every challenge he approached with humility, and every reminder that innovation begins with understanding both the forest and the branches.
Thank you, Bob, for your remarkable career, your generosity, and your lasting contribution to Circle Optics.
Congratulations on your retirement. We wish you every happiness in the adventures ahead.
Listen to Bob’s Podcast Episode anywhere you get your podcasts
