A Real Piece of Work

Beyond Engineering: Building a Career in Leadership with Jeff Reynolds

By Matt Rebro,

Matt Blaylock

Published October 5, 2026 at 4:00 AM CDT

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In this episode of A Real Piece of Work, John Deere leader Jeff Reynolds reflects on a 33-year career that began in engineering and evolved into leadership roles spanning manufacturing, strategy, marketing, technology, and global business. Jeff shares what led him to step beyond engineering, lessons learned from leading teams around the world, and what he wishes he had known at the beginning of his career. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and giving back through his involvement with Junior Achievement and the University of Iowa.

A Real Piece of Work

Matt Rebro

As a Vice President with Russell, a construction and development firm based in Davenport, IA, Matt Rebro brings 20+ years of industry experience and relationships to the team. He is a key contributing member to Russell’s Business Development outreach efforts. Matt’s focus is to help grow the Russell brand with targeted individuals and firms and to support his Russell team members to ensure existing client relationships are maximized to their fullest potential. As a native eastern-Iowan, Matt has demonstrated a commitment to supporting communities over the last two decades via personal and firm support of organizations such as Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Iowa Association of Business & Industry and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Workforce Coalition.

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Matt Blaylock

Matt Blaylock is the co-host of A Real Piece of Work and founder of Cold Penny Marketing, a marketing agency focused on connecting brands with charitable causes and building brand loyalty.

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