Austin M. - 2011 Graduate of Pekin Community High School

“The Discover Manufacturing Expo really opened my eyes to the manufacturing world.”

Up until his senior year at Pekin Community High School, Austin hadn’t really thought about the manufacturing industry. He had always had his eye on, or at least assumed that he’d fall into, the construction industry instead. Through a welding class at Pekin High, Austin attended the “Discover Manufacturing Expo” put on by the Economic Development Council along with local businesses including Excel Foundry & Machine, Premier Fabrication, Matcor, and ATS, among others. While he thought the keynote speakers and hands-on demos in the booths were really cool, above all else, Austin appreciated the fact that his eyes were opened to the manufacturing world. He had no idea that so much thought and work went into each finished piece and product, and knew he wanted to take part. At the encouragement of a teacher at Pekin High, Austin applied for an entry-level machinist position at Excel Foundry & Machine and was subsequently hired on to begin an intensive training course along with shadowing veteran Excel machinists. Austin even worked out a plan to work part-time after school at Excel until he graduated and could take on full-time work. His short-term goals include finally moving out of the house and grabbing his own plot of land, and then buying a motorcycle. Along with growing his machining career, Austin has dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer with Excel, and sees an incredibly bright future for himself there.

Haley A. - 2009 Graduate of Faith Baptist Christian School

“I never thought Manufacturing would offer so many positions within the office environment.”

Haley always knew she wanted to do some type of office work, but she had no idea she could find a job she liked in manufacturing. After gaining some experience in the office environment with a major insurance company, Haley was referred to Excel Foundry & Machine, where she currently works as an Invoice Clerk. Haley uses all types of office software including Microsoft Office, inventory programs, and she also scans and processes documentation. She's currently very happy with her new position, and previously had no idea that her type of job could be so enjoyable within the manufacturing industry. Haley has short term goals of learning as much as she can while going after more responsibilities, but in the long term, would like to save for a house and raise a family. "Having no experience doesn't necessarily put you at a disadvantage thanks to all the opportunities for training," Haley says. "It is possible to get a great job without a degree." Haley sees a long and bright future in manufacturing at Excel and even sees her being happy there until she retires.

Kole S. - 2011 Graduate of Roanoke-Benson High School

“Manufacturing has been a great learning experience for me. I learn new things all the time.”

Kole currently works as a Production Welder at Premier Fabrication in Congerville. He started welding at a very young age - his father is a welder and Kole was around welding all the time at home. That's when he knew he wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps and become a welder himself. After learning the basics from his dad, Kole knew he'd be successful. Kole loves welding so much because "you get to use your hands," he says. "It's a great learning experience. Sometimes there's some travel required and you get to meet interesting people." In addition to honing his welding skills at Premier, Kole also learned blueprint reading. He wants to obtain his Associate's Degree in Welding from ICC and keep improving himself. One of his long-term goals is to become a lead welder or end up in some kind of management position within the welding field. His job with Premier has enabled Kole to buy a pickup truck and a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Kole feels very lucky to have come into a career that he loves so much this early in his life. "More kids need to think about manufacturing as a career," Kole advises.

Brad L. - 2011 Graduate of East Peoria High School

“Manufacturing has allowed me to continue my pursuit of a degree in Weld Technology.”

Brad has been a TIG Welder at Morton Industries for 8 months. He prefers TIG over MIG welding because he believes it to be more challenging and he enjoys mastering his TIG skills. Brad was introduced to welding through a co-op program at East Peoria High School, where he enjoyed competing with classmates and even other schools in weld competitions. Before his job with Morton Industries, Brad had no idea that a welding career in manufacturing could be so immersive and rewarding. He enjoys all aspects of his current position - from the conditions and resources available to work with to the attitudes of his co-workers. "Everyone takes care of everyone else," Brad says. "If you have a question, there's always someone with an answer." Brad values the opportunities to apply his life's experiences with welding to his career. His uncle was a welder at a local major manufacturer and his father was always working on cars. He originally applied his first welding skills on the chassis of modified race cars with his family. Brad is pursuing a Weld Technology degree from ICC and eventually wants to move on to the field of Weld Engineering and into management. Brad's creedo: "Welding can be as fun as you make it."

Petra F. - 2011 Graduate of East Peoria High School

“My experiences in the shop grant me opportunities to learn about my goal of moving into management.”

As a Machine Operator at Morton Industries, Petra configures and runs tube cutters, deburr machines, and reamers - often at the same time! In addition to all of these machines, Petra has experience in other parts of the plant, too. She started at the Leak Testing facility and even has TIG welding experience. The amazing part? She's gained all of this experience in only 4 months! "When I'm really concentrating on all of these machines, the time goes by so fast," Petra says. Originally interested in the Nursing field, Petra now enjoys Manufacturing more because she sees a clearer avenue to gaining experience that can get her into a management role, which is her goal. "This job is going to help me work toward my future," Petra explains. She goes on to note, "I feel better when I own something that I worked for, not that was just given to me." Currently enrolled at ICC, Petra already has her own apartment and is saving for a new car. "I feel lucky to have such a good job right now in this economy," she says.

Mitch H. - 2010 Graduate of Morton High School

"There will always be a need for manufacturing."

Mitch has already been a CNC machine repair specialist with Advanced Technology Services for more than a year now, gaining valuable technical experience all the while. He doesn't do the same thing every day, which is one of his favorite parts of his job. When asked what Mitch likes so much about manufacturing, he says it's all about the process of "taking any raw material and turning it into a profitable product." He loves the transformation process products take in the manufacturing environment. Mitch attributes the ease of growth of his career to the extensive training opportunities afforded to him by ATS. The "Multi-Skill Technical Program" through ATS gave Mitch the knowledge and skills necessary to catapult into the field of manufacturing technology. The interest in manufacturing all began when Mitch took a tour through Morton Industries with a high school class, and now he has a profitable career with a bright future. He wants to get a much experience as he can, and then possibly wants to fulfill a dream of moving to California due to the CNC machining opportnities there. In the short-run, Mitch is obtaining his Associate's Degree in mechanical and electrical work. He definitely wants to stay in manufacturing and would love to own his own shop with a few employees one day. The importance of his new job has given him a higher sense of responsibility, one which Mitch doesn't take lightly. "There will always be a need for manufacturing," Mitch says.