Meet Donny Jaeger
Donny, aged 40, was born in Indiana, grew up in Las Vegas, and moved to Phoenix in 1992. He graduated from the Electro-Mechanical Technologies program in July 2015, but first went into HVAC in 2007.
Thanks for your time Donny; what did you do before entering the HVAC field in your early 30s?
Nothing really as a trade. My dad owned a bakery, so we had a family business for quite a few years. After that ...Continue Reading →
Meet Chad Ball
Chad, aged 44, was born in Chicago, IL, but moved to Phoenix with his family back in 1984 when he was 13. Chad graduated from the Refrigeration Technologies program in November 2014. Chad is married with three children, aged 15, 14 and 4.
Thanks for your time Chad; what brought you to RSI in your early 40s?
I guess it was my third career change. I started out in retail and retail management as a young man; ...Continue Reading →
Meet Kayla Grahovac
Kayla Grahovac, aged 21, grew up in the country outside of Idaho Falls, ID. She moved to Florida to go to Tulsa Welding School – Jacksonville campus; she graduated top of her class from the Professional Welder program in June 2015.
Thanks for your time Kayla; what did you do before coming to TWS?
I graduated high school in Idaho at 16 and left pretty much straight after. I traveled with a restaurant for about 2½ ...Continue Reading →
Meet Cody Springwater
Cody, 24 from Stillwell, OK, graduated from the Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in December 2014. He was inspired to become a welder by his late father, who had managed to support a large family through welding. Cody and his girlfriend, Talore, are expecting their first child in December.
Thanks for speaking with me Cody; what did you do before going to TWS?
I was working check to check, you know, like factory jobs. I got ...Continue Reading →
Meet Brian Holmes
Brian, aged 36 from Sierra Vista, AZ, graduated from the Refrigeration Technologies program in December 2013. Brian doubled up on phases and completed the six month program in just three months.
Thanks for your time Brian; tell us how you got started in HVAC.
After graduating high school, I bounced around various jobs; I worked in a tire shop, at Walmart, in fast food places. In 2003, at the age of 24, I decided I needed ...Continue Reading →
Meet Trenton Williams
Trent Williams, aged 25, from Houston, TX, graduated from Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center – Houston campus (TWSTC) in August 2015. Trent was in the second class to graduate from the Houston Welding Specialist program.
Thanks for sharing your story Trent; what work did you do before you came to TWSTC?
I was basically jumping around. I did security, lifeguarding, warehouse work. I did everything, a bunch of different jobs but none that could become a ...Continue Reading →
Meet Alex Quinn
Alex, aged 21, graduated from Tulsa Welding School – Jacksonville campus in July 2015. Before enrolling in the Professional Welder program in December 2014, Alex had never tried welding.
Thanks for sharing your story Alex; how did you come to a career in welding?
After high school I wasn’t really doing anything, so I decided to join the Army. But that didn’t go too well for me; I got out a year later and came home still ...Continue Reading →
Meet Alex Declair
Alex Declair, aged 23 was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. He graduated from the Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in June 2013 before moving back to Phoenix, and then back to Tulsa!
Thanks for sharing your story Alex; what did you do before going to TWS?
I was looking into becoming an officer with the DEA, but I had to have hip surgery; the physical aspects of that job meant that career went out ...Continue Reading →
Meet Macy Vipperman
Macy Vipperman, born and raised in a small town called Moyers, OK, graduated from Professional Welder program at Tulsa Welding School in March 2015. Macy, aged 25, now lives in Delaware, Iowa; she moved there with her first welding job after graduating TWS.
Thanks for your time Macy; what did you do before you went to TWS?
I had a job with the State Park just down the road from Moyers for a little while, then I ...Continue Reading →
Meet Shelton Sullivan
Shelton, aged 28 from Brunswick, GA, graduated from Tulsa Welding School – Jacksonville campus in July 2015. Shelton completed the Professional Welder program with straight ‘A’s and a 4.0 GPA; he had perfect attendance (despite driving 140 miles round trip every day), and was valedictorian of his class.
Congratulations Shelton; what made you choose a career in welding?
In the beginning I was inspired by my high school teacher to take welding; it’s something I’ve always ...Continue Reading →
