LinkedIn Spotlights: Tucker Trotter

Tucker Trotter , CEO, Dimensional Innovations

Experience Matters. Maya Angelou is famously quoted for reminding us that of all the things people remember, they remember how we made them feel. Tucker Trotter and his crackerjack team at Dimensional Innovations have unlocked countless ways to engineer experiences--how we feel--with the work they do.?

Tucker and I connected several years ago through a mutual friend. I instantly wanted to know more about the creative work done by his team. The first time I stepped into his workshop (a 110,000 square foot fabrication and office space) I was mesmerized. The word "fun" immediately sprang to mind. The creatives on the team look like they're playing all day long, but they're turning out amazing solutions to real challenges that are changing lives around the world.?

The mindfulness toward form and function requires deep thinking, creativity and vision, human-centered design, and a lot of fun. This is what Tucker and the team at Dimensional Innovations do for so many.

Get to know more about Tucker in the Q&A below.?

Welcome to the Spotlight? Tucker Trotter !

MG: Where do you work and what do you do?

TT: I work at Dimensional Innovations and serve as CEO. Dimensional Innovations, or DI, is an experience design, build and technology firm whose focus is creating immersive and engaging experiences for our client partners and their audiences.

Our President, Tom Collins, runs the day-to-day operations, which allows me to focus on our future and ensure we are headed in the correct direction. As the company’s visionary, I'm always seeking a balance of staying focused on what we do well while simultaneously looking at opportunities to strengthen our team and business.?

MG: How long have you been doing that kind of work??

TT: For my entire career—over 26 years.??

MG: What drew you to that line of work?

TT: Back in my college days at University of Kansas (KU), I managed a bar and got a sense for running a business and "making the call"—I loved it! Shortly after, I invented a product that I brought to market and ultimately ended up selling the business. From these two experiences, I was totally hooked on the balance of business, design and creating things that people use and love.?

MG: What has been your most significant professional achievement?

TT: An organization's people are its lifeblood and nothing else is even close. DI is an incredibly unique place because we serve numerous, distinct business segments, so each individual gets to work on diverse and exciting projects. High performing cultures have to be built intentionally and you’re never really done because you can always find areas to improve.?Because of this, the talent we’ve attracted to our team and the culture we've built at DI is remarkable, making it one of my most significant achievements.

MG: What do you see as the biggest change in your organization/industry in the next 1-3 years?

TT: Whether it’s transit shelters for public transportation systems, museums, halls of fame, stadiums, pediatric hospitals or corporate headquarters, memorable experiences matter more now than ever before. We’re all consuming experiences and deciding to spend our money on memories instead of “stuff”. We’re very conscientious of that at DI, so we have to stay up on the latest technology and trends to make sure that everything we put out into the world is worthy of telling others about.?

MG: What is the biggest initiative you’re working on right now??

TT: There are numerous initiatives we’re working on that we can’t talk about publicly quite yet, but a central focus is integrating immersive experiences into our community. We’ve almost completed the?Amelia Earhart Hangar Museumin Atchison, Kansas, and it’s going to be an incredible tribute to Amelia and the countless individuals she’s inspired. We also worked with numerous local partners to bring the Kansas City Current's new training facility?to life and are eager to work with the team on their new stadium downtown. We’re also finding new and innovative ways to utilize our LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) machine—it's one of the largest 3D-printers in North America. The greatest example of how we utilized this technology was the?Al Davis Memorial Torch?that we created for the Las Vegas Raiders. The sky is the limit when it comes to additive manufacturing and lots of our clients are eager to integrate it into their space. There are lots of exciting things happening at DI!

MG: What are ways that you give back to your community, organization, industry, etc.???

TT: At DI, we started a foundation where we give a percentage of our profit back to the community. Our employees can also contribute, which is then matched to help bolster the organizations and functions that make a lasting impact.

Last year, we also were founding partners of the?Parade of Hearts, a public art experience that raised funds and awareness for the industries most impacted by the pandemic. We know that COVID-19 and the political climate of 2020 was a tumultuous and uncertain time for many people. The Parade of Hearts was designed to unify and help pull the community back together and, after everything was said and done, the exhibition raised over 2.6 million dollars for our region.?

MG: What advice do you have for building your network and staying connected?

TT: First, always do what you say. Nothing builds credibility and reliability better than sticking to your word. Second, while first impressions are important, you’re always being interviewed. Everything communicates emotion and intent, so consistently bring your A-game.

MG: Are you reading any good books right now (or following a blog, podcast, or Twitter feed)??

TT:?Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0, by Jim Collins, anything he writes is amazing. Also,?The Power of Regret, by?Daniel Pink, again, amazing. Both of them back their content and ideology with research and science.?

MG: If someone wanted to get started in your field, what should they focus on??

TT: I'm biased, but I believe a degree in Industrial Design offers a really well-rounded approach to getting in this field.?

MG: If you could wave a magic wand, what’s one thing you would change and why??

TT: I wish people would see how division and hate is a waste of energy. I love to find ways to unite people and celebrate what we have in common instead of dwelling on the petty things that make us different.?

MG: Outside of family and work, what are you really passionate about??

TT: Experiences. I obsess about them and I want to make sure we create amazing ones. At DI, our purpose is to?Liberate People from Mediocre Experiences?and, lucky for us, the world is full of mediocrity. For better or worse, my work, family and passions all blend together, so I consider myself extremely fortunate.?

MG: If you could take a dream trip anywhere, where would you go??

TT: Anywhere outdoors, in nature and next to water. I love Standing Bear’s quote, "Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.”

MG: Do you have a favorite quote or pearls of wisdom that have inspired you?

TT: Someone once wrote this in a card to me and, while I’m uncertain of its origin, I love it: "Surround yourself with the dreamers and doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even if you don't see it yourself."?

MG: What’s the best way for people to get in touch with you?

TT: LinkedIn is the best way to get in touch with me. Also, make sure to follow us on?LinkedIn?and all major social platforms to keep up with what we’re working on.

About LinkedIn Spotlights

Over the years, I have worked alongside and connected with incredible people doing incredible things all over the world. Entrepreneurs, government and corporate leaders, as well as innovators from the non-profit and academia worlds. With a large and growing network on LinkedIn, I realized that I already know all of the people with whom I'm connected, but they may not know each other. So I created?Spotlights?as a vehicle to help me shine a light on amazing people and the work they do and introduce them to the rest of my network.?