Lakeshore Technical College
Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship, 2016
Maintenance Mechanic, Masters Gallery Foods, Inc.
Spencer Thiel was still in high school when he got his first taste of apprenticeship. During his senior year at Plymouth, Thiel was a manufacturing youth apprentice for Curt G. Joa Inc., a custom machine builder in Sheboygan Falls. When...
Western Technical College
Welding technical diploma, 2014
Welder, GEA Farm Technologies
After eight years working on a dairy farm, Naomi Wells’ brother was supportive of her career move, but her parents were not. She wanted to be a welder. “I think they were concerned with it being a health hazard and...
Blackhawk Technical College
Welding, 2014
Apprentice, Local 383 Ironworkers Union
Wendy Kienbaum had never even used a welder prior to her arrival at Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) in the fall of 2013. A year later, she became a welder apprentice for the Local 383 Ironworkers Union in Madison. “Since I...
Nicolet Area Technical College
Industrial Maintenance, 2013
Maintenance, Drs. Foster and Smith
Ron Evenson went from professional chef in Northwoods supper clubs to a career in manufacturing. “I worked in the restaurant business for more than 30 years, ever since I was 13 years old,” Evenson said. “To tell you the truth,...
Waukesha County Technical College
CNC Level I Certificate
Assembly, Sub-Zero & Wolf
For Pablo Venegas everything is “amazing!” Pablo hardly spoke any English when he moved to the United States from Chile in 2011. Now he has college credits, job skills and a promising future. Pablo was studying physical therapy with hopes...
Waukesha County Technical College
Machine Tool Operation, 2013
Prototype Stampings
As a squad leader in the Army Infantry, Charles Robel took his responsibility very seriously. When he saw his men were suffering from lack of sleep while guarding detainees, he built a better detention center to help solve the problem...
Western Technical College
Machine Tooling, 1997
Owner, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products
Auto racing was Chad Wehrs’ destiny, but he needed some skills to realize his dream. The Wehrs family owned the West Salem racetrack and Chad started working in the concession stand when he was six years old. Eventually, he progressed...
Fox Valley Technical College
Automated Manufacturing Systems Technician, 2005
Executive Vice President, TM Robotics (Americas) Inc.
When Ryan Guthrie visited Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) as a high school student and saw the Automated Manufacturing Systems (AMS) Lab he decided to follow that career path and has traveled the world bringing automation to several industries. “I...
Blackhawk Technical College
Welding, 2009
J.P. Cullen & Sons
Danielle grew up on a farm and became interested in welding in high school. She enrolled at Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) after completing every welding class available at her high school. "The teachers were phenomenal," she says of Blackhawk. "They...
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Machine Tool Operation, 2008
Manufacturing Engineer/CNC Programmer, World Class Precision Products
Although he was accepted to Michigan Tech, Charles chose Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) because it is affordable and takes less time to earn a degree. He found he could have a good career after only eight months in the...
