Page 13 - HIWT Summer 2013 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

FEMALE WELDER LOVES HER WORK

(Continued from page 12)

I tell my friends if they are not interested in welding, there are
a lot of other trades, like bricklayers, painters and carpenters.”

Eugene Frazier, administrator of the Joint Apprenticeship
Training (JATC) program with the sheet metal workers local
24, said that young people like Erin are more often beginning
to question the return on investment of traditional college
degrees.

“We are bringing in about 70-100 school counselors each
year to educate them about our programs,” Frazier said. “We
want people to know there are other options out there and you
don’t have to come out of school with a $50,000-$100,000
debt.” Frazier said the apprenticeship program is a great way
for adults to get training and valuable work experience at the Jim Witmer; Dayton Daily News Staff
same time. The program is five years long, but during that
time, apprentices are paid 45 percent of a journeyman’s wage, Erin Hause at work on a project at Kerber Sheet Metal.
receive full benefits and up to 144 hours of classroom study
for year.
For more information about the JATC programs and
“A first-year apprentice can make up to $21 an hour right out apprenticeships available through the Dayton Building
of the gate,” Frazier said. “And we cover the cost of their and Apprenticeship Council, go online to www.
Celebrating 50 years of service to
school. We invest about $7,000 into each student, so we really daytonapprenticeships.org/ or call Eugene Frazier at (937)
Industry providing Tooling, Machining
898-7676.
want them to succeed.” and Special Systems.
Frazier said the application process is stringent, because they
1040 S. Dorset, Troy Ohio 45373 Ph: 937-440-2500 Fax: 937-440-2551
want apprentices that are serious about making the trade a Editor’s note: Erin completed the Combination Structural and
career. Pipe Welding Program at Hobart Institute. For more about that
program, please see www.welding.org.
When Hause entered the apprentice
program about 18 months
ago, she began working at
Kerber Sheet Metal in Troy.
Kerber President Kathy
Kerber says that Hause is
one of her better employees.
“I was immediately blown
away by Erin’s work ethic,”
Kerber said.

Kerber said the demand for
welders will grow as more
longtime career professionals
continue to retire.

Celebrating 50 years of service to Industry
providing Tooling, Machining and Special Systems.
1040 S. Dorset, Troy, Ohio 45373 Ph: 937-440-2500 Fax: 937-440-2551

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