For Gunnar Ebert, learning to weld was something he had thought about for years.
“Welding was something I’ve always wanted to get into and financially was never able to take the time away from work to go to school,” he explains.
When AriensCo offered employees the opportunity to participate in a customized welding training program through Fox Valley Technical College, Gunnar did not hesitate.
“Getting the chance through a company I already work at, to go learn a crash course in how to do welding was a really good opportunity for me,” he says.
Gunnar was among 11 AriensCo employees selected to participate in an intensive, two-week Introduction to Welding training program developed through FVTC’s Business & Industry Services. The customized training included welding safety, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) skills and weld symbol interpretation during 80 hours of hands-on learning in the FVTC welding lab.
AriensCo has a longstanding commitment to developing talent from within, but leaders recognized a need for additional training capacity to help employees gain specialized skills.
“One of the challenges for Ariens right now is that we have the skilled people to do the training, but we don’t always have the bandwidth to accomplish the training in a lot of situations,” explains John Melotte, an FVTC alumnus and manufacturing engineer at AriensCo. “So, reaching out to our partners like FVTC and establishing a program that is set up to help us do the training really benefits us in a lot of ways.”
The opportunity attracted employees with a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels.
Yesiree Ojeda learned about the training through flyers posted at AriensCo. After working in the painting area for only a few months, she saw the program as a chance to grow.
“The ambiance here is favorable and we have an excellent teacher,” she shares. “I got here without knowing anything about this and I’m leaving knowing a lot about welding.
The training helped her see new possibilities within the company.
“I see myself moving into a new position if they give me this opportunity,” Yesiree says. “Because I feel I’m going to be very prepared to do it.”
For Jeff Brown, who joined AriensCo in 2022 and works on the assembly line, the training offered a chance to explore a new skill set while investing in his future with the company.
“After taking this class, I’ve learned some great welding skills,” Jeff says. “I really want to thank my coach, our instructor, Adam. He is an amazing instructor. He really was patient with me, inspired me, gave me tips and feedback on how to make things better. These two weeks have been an amazing opportunity.”
Instructor Adam Laabs says the group brought a unique dynamic to the classroom.
“I enjoyed the diversity in the class,” Adam says. “It was a welcome change, and it added a challenge to something I have taught many times before. When you have exceptional students, it makes my job a lot easier.”
The cohort included employees who participated with the assistance of Spanish and American Sign Language interpreters provided by AriensCo.
“What makes this cohort unique is the strong collaboration between FVTC and AriensCo, along with AriensCo’s commitment to supporting employee success, including providing the support of Spanish and ASL interpreters,” says Dawn Rall, FVTC’s associate director of Business & Industry Services.
“Mainly we like to invest internally in our people,” John says. “These are the people who have been with Ariens for a while or have quickly learned our work culture. They know what we are looking for and we are looking to invest in these people because they have chosen to be with us and we want to advance them in their career. So it’s a pretty big deal.”
That investment resonates with employees like Gunnar, who entered the program hoping to learn a new trade and left with renewed confidence in his future.
“It’s nice seeing Fox Valley Tech because I’ve been thinking about going to school with my GI Bill and FVTC is where I was considering going,” Gunnar shares. “And now having been on campus for two weeks and seeing how it is, I think I would definitely come back here in the future to pursue a two-year degree.”
