Operating Engineers Training site in Coloma held an Externship Day with Wisconsin Operating Engineers on Nov. 8th and Nov. 9th for 1200 Wisconsin students from 60 districts. The students along with educators, administrators, and counselors were invited to join them for a day at the Coloma Training Center. Externship Day is an ideal opportunity for students to get out of the classroom, meet industry professionals and learn about the high-demand career path of an Operating Engineer.
In the opening session led by Terry McGowan, IUOE General Vice President, IUOE 139 President/Business Manager, S.I.A.F Chairman, introduced the students to representatives from Construction Business Group (Laura Cataldo), Cullen (Mark Ihlenfeldt), Michels (Haily Joas), and the Walbec Group (Dan Webster and Dan Eckstrom) construction companies. This panel told the group that first and foremost keep your Drivers License and a clean driving record.
Points stressed during the session also included: The more equipment you learn the more you can advance; understanding how things move with the project you are working on; and math skills. Dan Eckstrom from the Walbec Group said in an asphalt project you need to know how much asphalt you need for a project and how many truck loads will be needed to get that job done etc.
Mark Ihlenfeldt, Michels, said that math skills are vital and he used a crane operator as an example and told the students that the operator must be the safest and most conscientious as he is the one and only in control of this machine that is basically a teeter totter and math skills are needed to interpret it’s operation.
Haily Joas, Michels, said their company builds throughout the United States and this gives their employees a chance to travel while earning a great living. She said the time investment in being willing to travel will pay off. They offer an extra bonus, and help with housing for those that are willing to go to different locations throughout United States.
All companies stressed the importance of being on time and showing up for work daily. One of the presenters said that on time actually means being 15 minutes early. Punctuality is so very important and Operating Engineers teaches this from the beginning. If an apprentice class starts at 8 and the student shows up at 8:01 they are locked out of the class and that time has to be made up.
Laura Cataldo, CBG, said that the apprenticeship also teaches financial management as construction work is seasonal and one can make a lot of money during the busy season and then could be laid off during inclement weather. She said it isn’t wise when you get that money and realize how much you have made to go purchase big ticket items.
Ken Bork, Operating Engineers Instructor in Construction Technology, told the students that he was a construction foreman, moved into the GPS side and took on a project management role and now is in education. He said that a 6,000 hour apprenticeship gave him a very fulfilling career.
He encouraged students that are interested in the apprenticeship program, offering 40 different classes, to fill out an application by going to 139training.org He stressed there is a certain time they accept applications. Requirements include: minimum of 18 years of age; valid drivers license; high school diploma or equivalent; ACT/Accuplacer; and letter of eligibility. In return the training center will call you and if you are not available they will leave a voice mail and you must return their call or they go right down the list to the next eligible candidate.
Bork also said that Operating Engineers 139 continues to offer 400 hours of training classes so that employees can keep up with the new technology and guidelines. He told the students that a journey worker makes $40-$42 an hour and a first-year apprentice makes $27 to $28 an hour. On top of the pay there are great benefits including great health insurance benefits and an awesome pension program. He concluded saying that the Wisconsin Operating Engineers Training Site in Coloma is one of the best training centers in the country.
Steven Straub, Fox Valley Technical College, was on hand to offer information on taking classes in high school to earn journey work status and work to get an associate degree.
Dan Sperberg, Training Director, Engineers Local 139 Training Site, said that this is the third year they have offered the Externship Program. Their first year, 2018, they had 200 students, in 2019, 1,000 students (the program was not held in 2020 due to COVID), and in 2021 they have increased their attendance to 1200. This increase in attendance shows the interest in the program has grown and students are seeking to find out more about apprenticeships in the construction field.
Ben Morey, a Tech Ed teacher from New Lisbon, said he brought over 17 kids and he believes the program offered by Operating Engineers 139 is just the best and gives kids a hands-on real world opportunity. “This is by far the best field trip I take my class on,” he added.
