Research and Development Center

JOHN QUARTON
Research and Development Center Oversight Manager

Hometown:
Litchfield, IL

Alma Mater:
Illinois State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(Electrical Engineering)

Nicknames:
I had a number of nicknames in school …Q-bert, Q-pon, Q-tip. To my team in Technology Research & Innovation, I’m just “Q.” A former boss was a big James Bond fan, so he gave me the nickname in honor of “Q” — the technology/gadget guy in the films.

Most vivid college memory:
Meeting the woman who I’ve now been married to almost 25 years and many other great friends that I’m still in contact with — most of whom I met during my freshman year at Illinois State University. We’ve all been in each others’ weddings and some of us serve as godparents for each others’ children.

Favorite class in college:
My favorite class in college was an optics class I took at UIUC where we got to make holograms. I thought that was really cool.

Least favorite class in college:
My least favorite class would have to be an operations research class in linear programming. I enjoyed the material, but the volume of homework the professor gave was incredible. I spent many late nights completing homework sets for that class.

College activities/jobs:
I was heavily involved in Sigma Phi Epsilon at both Illinois State University and the University of Illinois. I served as brotherhood development chairman at both universities. My claim to fame was that I coordinated the first boxing tournament involving fraternities at UIUC called “Fite Nite” that grew to be the largest philanthropic event on campus in just a couple of years. I also had summer jobs/internships while in college with Nestle, National Steel and General Electric.

Advice I’d like to give to college students:
Work hard and play hard. Take advantage of the freedom to explore everything your college experience has to offer. Never lose the desire to learn.

Hobbies:
With four sons, I don’t have much time for personal hobbies. I enjoy golf when I get a chance to play and I’m a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Fighting Illini.

Favorite Restaurant in C-U:
Papa Dels has been a favorite of mine since I attended school at UIUC.

Favorite Music:
Rock and jazz

Favorite Movies:
I get kidded by my friends because I’m about 20 years behind in watching movies. My favorite classic movie is It’s a Wonderful Life.

Favorite TV Shows:
Big Bang Theory

Favorite Quote:
"People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel."
-Unknown

Hero/Role Model:
My mother

Career:
When I graduated from the University of Illinois, I became a systems engineer with General Electric in what was then their Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Department in Syracuse, N.Y. Upon the birth of our first son, my wife and I decided we wanted to raise our family near the rest of our families in Illinois.

I joined the State Farm Systems Department in 1988 and served as a programmer/analyst, project manager, and manager in a wide variety of areas. In 2006, I was asked to focus the majority of my time toward expanding our department’s presence at the Research & Development Center. I assumed oversight responsibilities for the Center on a full-time basis in August 2009.

What I like most about my work at the Research and Development Center:
I really enjoy talking to students about State Farm as an employer and listening to their ideas for improving the company’s products and services. I also value the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people from all areas of State Farm and the University of Illinois given my oversight role.

My future vision for the Research and Development Center:
Internships at the RDC will be among the most highly sought after internships on campus and among students from top universities throughout the country with whom State Farm partners on R&D projects. Also, I expect it will be commonplace in a few years for faculty members and students to be jointly involved in R&D projects of mutual interest and benefit to State Farm and the University of Illinois.

Outside of work, I think I’m really good at:
My wife and I are very proud of the four boys we’re raising, so I’d like to think we’re doing a decent job at parenting.