Page 14 - HIWT World of Welding Fall 2021-Winter 2022

The Spotlight is on You!

Josh Moniacci Kasey Thomas
Josh is a Skill Welding Instructor at HIWT and he has been here for seven Kasey has been with HIWT for nearly 9 years. He is a Gas Metal Arc
years. He is also a Combination Structural and Pipe Program graduate Welding Process Lead and a Skill Welding Instructor. Kasey served in
from 2006. After graduation, Josh went to work for a company building the United States Army as an infantryman prior to enrolling at HIWT.
armored vehicles for the military and other branches of our government. He is a 2008 graduate of the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding
He found it satisfying to know he was building something that would help Program. After completing his education, Kasey worked for a company
protect our servicemen as they protected our country. Josh has helped building Striker and Abrahams tanks for the United States military. Since
create and revamp several of the courses in the program as the school being employed at HIWT, he has also worked as a Technical Education
has strived to ensure the curriculum stays relevant to today’s industry. Instructor teaching the Certified Welding Inspector Exam Prep course and
When asked what he likes about working in education, Josh said it’s has taught specialized training in various processes. What Kasey enjoys
working with students who want to learn. “The majority of our students most about working in education is the opportunity to meet and deal
want to learn. They get excited about the various processes they are with different people from different backgrounds. He has found that he
learning, and it makes it easy for me to stay passionate about their can adjust his teaching delivery to match the person he is dealing with
education.” Specifically, Josh really likes when he has a student in class to help them learn. “It is great to see how accomplished a student who
who has never welded before. “At first, most of them are not very good. is struggling with a process gets when it clicks. Watching them grow
But after a few weeks of working with them, they get better and better. and improve their welding skill is extremely rewarding.” As a Process
It is rewarding to watch them improve. It’s a great feeling being involved Lead, Kasey enjoys having a hand in hiring and training new instructors
in such a big part of their future.” When asked if he could go back to to the standards for welding skill and instruction that is expected as an
when he first made the decision to get into welding, what would he tell instructor at HIWT. If Kasey could go back to when he made the decision
himself, Josh replied “I would tell myself to go for it. I don’t regret the to get into welding, he would tell himself to focus more on the theory of
decision at all. Welding has done so much for my life, and I couldn’t see welding and not just the skill. I have found that the more knowledge you
myself doing anything else. If I could give advice to someone considering have about the metals and different welding process, the more skilled
a career in welding, I would tell them they are making a wise decision. of a welder you become.” Kasey says the advice he would give anyone
Welding is one of those jobs that will always be in demand in the USA. considering a career in welding would be to “Learn all you can about the
Almost everything that is made of metal is welded. And once you develop field of welding. Be a sponge your entire career. Welding is a field where
the skillset, you will always have it.” you will never know everything, so keep learning as much as you can.”
In his spare time, Kasey enjoys golf, fishing, and spending time with his
kids. He resides in Troy, OH.

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