A Well-Oiled Machine
Say the word "technician" and
immediately some people conjure up an unfavorable image of someone with a dirty
uniform working in a decrepit building with junk cars and rusted parts
everywhere. The stereotype is strong, and the industry is aware. While we know
it’s not reality, the image is not one that leads parents to prefer it as a
solid career choice for their children. It’s also not an image that young
students see as leading them on a lucrative or rewarding career path,
therefore, it leaves our field with a systemic gap of needing qualified
technicians and no one wanting to explore those opportunities.
I wanted to bring
awareness to future technicians of what it’s really like to have a career as a
technician with a reputable company and sought out to do something to address
this image obstacle head-on.
I first reached out to
the local BOCES in Mexico, NY, where I met with Carol Taormina, work base
learning coordinator, with the idea of introducing students to the everyday
life of a technician. Together, we coordinated the ability for students to be
exposed to the field, up close and personal.
After a successful
conversation with BOCES, I then contacted several other local businesses in the
area to see if they might also be interested in helping to form a collaborative
alliance. Just as I suspected, many other companies were feeling the same, and
so my list of like-minded business partners quickly began to grow.
Dave Holzwarth, Tracey
Road Equipment, Inc.; Ray Gale, Gypsum Express, Ltd.; and Brad Stone, N.E.
Controls, were "all in" on addressing the challenge with me. After
coming together in a few brainstorming sessions, we were able to plan a two-day
event that enabled about 50 students to see for themselves.
On March 26, the heavy
equipment and CDL technicians visited Tracey Road Equipment, which is the local
Freightliner and Western Star dealer. The students then visited Gypsum Express,
a leading trucking company with more than 650 tractors.
The next day, the
industrial and electrical technicians visited PENN Power Group, where Kurt
Schultz, rental sales manager, provided a presentation to show them the ins and
outs of a generator and how it functions. They were given a tour of the
facility and were able to see each department, asking questions along the way.
The students then went on to visit N.E. Controls, which designs and
manufactures top quality controls panels and systems.
Each facility offered
students the opportunity to see, firsthand, what a workday in the field would
be like. They were able to meet with other managers and take part in
discussions on what it takes to work there as well as what each company has to
offer.
I look forward to
continuing with these events, and am hopeful it helps spark the initiative in
these young students because they are the future for all businesses.
With the shortage of
technicians and the standard stereotypical image, I and my business partners
feel it is extremely important to reach out to the younger generation and not
just tell them, but show them, what a career as a technician is like. Along
with the most recent advancements in technology to help assist with daily
activities, top-notch hands-on training shows students that they can have a
successful career as a technician with an education that extends far beyond a
college lecture hall.
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