Our mill had the pleasure of offering an opportunity to send two employees back to school to further their education. 10 candidates were considered, and from those applicants two were chosen for an apprenticeship through a series of interviews, job performance reviews, attendance, and work ethic.
One candidate selected for the apprenticeship is Jordan Harrison, a talented Multi-Craft Apprentice A in the melt shop. Jordan went to trade school for instrumentation which has helped him with many skills and learning new skills in his current role within the mill where he has worked for 10 years.
The other candidate selected for the apprenticeship is Joseph Wineland. Or “Joe” as most people call him, an Multi-Craft Apprentice A Millwright in the rolling mill at Optimus Steel. Joe has worked at the plant for 7 years, he started in production and worked his way to his current position.
Joe has followed in the footsteps of his father, Clifford Wineland, who also worked for the Beaumont mill or approximately 15 years as a Millwright. Joe expressed his excitement to finish school and officially start as a millwright like his dad, with “big shoes to fill”. Joe saw this “as an opportunity to further his education, gain more knowledge, improve himself and Optimus Steel”.
Joe and his entire family have been involved in all the company’s social responsibility events like, the Julie Richardson 5K Color Run, Optimus Steel softball games, adopt a highway, and volunteering at SETX food bank. He is also a member of the Optimus Steel Social Responsibility Committee. Along with his incredible efforts to be involved in the community, Joe is also part of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. Joe joins forces with other employees throughout the mill, to discuss safety topics and potential safety hazards to keep all workers at Optimus Steel safe.
Jordan along with Joe have both been dedicated to attending night classes after work for the past three years. “We sometimes don’t get home until 11:40pm, then have to be up again by 6 am”, says Jordan who agrees his family will be glad he is graduating in May. Both men have stood out through their work ethic and their dedication to their families, their teammates and the company.
Both were asked what advice they would give high school students who are considering trade school. Jordan said, “I would say choose something that interests you. In my case I studied instrumentation which involves more electrical work, but what I really like doing is more mechanical work.”
“(Learning a trade) is a really good opportunity to get a really great job and have less debt. Craftsmen are a dying breed, but they are not going away. Pick up a trade for a skilled position, then you will have a good job.” Said Joe.
We want to congratulate our two apprentices and thank them for their hard work and commitment not only to their own futures but to the future of Optimus Steel as well. Thank you, gentlemen and congratulations on Striving for Perfection!