Engineering Manager, IW
Neil Dewitt brings more than two decades of engineering and management experience to his role as Engineering Manager at MPW. Since joining the company in 2012 after a career in the automotive industry, he has led with a hands-on approach, guiding design, personnel, and standards for new construction across the Industrial Water division.
“I came to MPW looking for a new challenge, and I’ve found that every single day,” Dewitt said. “There’s always a new problem to solve.”
In his role, Dewitt oversees equipment design, quality control, and documentation while offering technical support to both internal and external customers. He thrives in the ever-changing nature of the work. Priorities shift, timelines accelerate, and Dewitt and his team stay active to meet those demands. He said constant adaptation is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
Dewitt is energized by the people he works with, crediting his team’s intelligence and dedication as a major driver of success. “It’s not about you as a manager, it’s about the team—supporting their success and keeping them challenged,” Dewitt said. “We’re always trying to improve, not just the product but how we operate. That’s what makes this work worth doing.”
Under Dewitt’s leadership, the engineering group has introduced many innovations. One of the latest is the new Hybrid Clarifier, an original design set to launch in late summer. Dewitt is also proud of improvements made to MPW’s chemical systems, which are best in class double containment and isolation features to enhance safety and reliability for our technicians.
Many projects start with limited direction, and it’s the team’s job to define the problem, test ideas, and refine them into practical, effective solutions. This mindset was especially critical during recent high-profile projects like the Lightstone Gavin mobilization, where multiple teams came together on tight timelines to deliver complex, large-scale services.
That success led to an even faster turnaround on the Lightstone Gavin Air Heater Wash treatment project and opened the door to additional opportunities. “Sometimes you don’t have all the answers at the start,” Dewitt said. “But you gather the right people in the room, and you figure it out.”
For Dewitt, success is measured not just by outcomes but by how the work gets done. He values collaboration, responsiveness, and a commitment to continuous improvement—principles he encourages others to adopt as they grow into leadership roles. His advice to aspiring managers is simple: lead with purpose, act with urgency, and put your team first.
Away from the office, Dewitt enjoys time with his wife of 12 years and their three daughters, ages 10, 6, and 4. Much of his free time is spent shuttling the kids to sports and activities. “We tried camping, but that didn’t work out. Now we have a pontoon boat, we’ll see how that goes!” he said.