40 Under 40: Chanlyn Troyer
Design Lead Engineer; Firefly Integrations; With company: 10 Years | In industry: 10 Years
At Firefly Integrations, solving complex technical challenges often starts with asking whether there is a better way to approach them. That mindset has defined Chanlyn Troyer’s career, from teaching himself to code to leading the company’s design efforts and helping shape how Firefly develops technology for its RV manufacturer partners.
Chanlyn advanced through roles in Audio Visual (AV) field support and configuration, embedded programming and embedded R&D management before becoming design lead engineer. Along the way, he helped guide the growth of Firefly’s embedded, R&D and integrations teams.
His nominator says Chanlyn’s leadership is rooted in his approach to building teams. Rather than trying to be the most technically skilled person in the room, he intentionally hires and mentors people who have expertise beyond his own.
That approach has earned him respect across the organization, from field application engineers and developers to company leadership. His nominator says Chanlyn has “deep cross-functional respect” because he empowers team members while creating an environment where they can develop their own capabilities.
His influence also extends to Firefly’s relationships with RV manufacturers. Chanlyn helped shift the company’s OEM workflow from primarily relying on sales documentation to a more collaborative, interactive design-consultation process. That allows Firefly’s team to address system complexity earlier, balance development costs and move projects forward more efficiently.
Chanlyn has also tackled technical challenges by changing how the company approaches software development. He proposed and built Firefly’s first modular embedded libraries, beginning with solar integrations and brightness-slider controls. The standardized approach has reduced custom development time and created a more streamlined foundation for future system integrations.
Over the past three years, his nominator says Chanlyn’s efforts have contributed to an 80% reduction in back-and-forth revision requests from several key customers. By focusing on understanding requirements and getting details right the first time, Firefly’s team can more consistently deliver systems that meet customer expectations without repeated revisions.
Chanlyn has also strengthened technical support for OEM partners by providing more direct guidance through himself and his team. Chanlyn’s nominator says customers have gained a better understanding of their systems while feeling more connected to the people supporting them.
Despite his technical accomplishments, Chanlyn maintains a collaborative approach to leadership. The nominator describes his commitment to “elegance, efficiency and technical precision,” while noting that he credits major engineering milestones to teamwork rather than individual achievement.
Outside of Firefly, he enjoys spending time with his family and children, participating in his church community and pursuing outdoor activities, including golf, snowboarding and hunting.
His career progression reflects technical growth, but his leadership is equally defined by his ability to develop others. By building teams capable of exceeding his own expertise, Chanlyn has helped create a stronger technical foundation for Firefly while contributing to the continued evolution of RV technology.
Chanlyn’s advice for up-and-coming leaders in the RV industry:
Peter Drucker’s “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” comes to mind. Integrity, ownership and accountability create an environment of trust that allows people to thrive. Leadership is having hard conversations and making hard decisions. If you’re not doing either, you’re wasting your time.
What it means to Chanlyn to be a 40 Under 40 honoree:
It really just emphasizes that I’m standing on the shoulders of others. No one accomplishes anything entirely on their own, and there are a lot of people in my life to whom I owe credit.
