Tell me about your background.
I am from Acworth, and I graduated from Harrison High School. After graduating, I pursued athletic training at Georgia Southern University. During my first semester, I struggled to find the excitement that I once had for my career. At the time, I had a few friends that were in a club called Eagle Motorsports, which is a Baja truck and formula racing fabrication group. After spending time working in the shop, I found that working with metal was my passion.
Why did you become a welder?
While I was bending and coping tubes for our Baja truck roll cage, there was another student who was welding all the pieces together. I immediately was drawn in by the process and began asking him questions. Before I knew it, I was in the booth welding T-joints together. I fell in love with the concept of taking pieces of metal and creating something completely new. Later on, I attended GTS at night while working at a metal fabrication shop in the morning.
Tell me about your experience in the field.
After graduating from GTS, I created an LLC and began taking side work as I traveled around searching for a place to call home. I joined a crew of 18 other welders and rose to lead welder after three years. At that time, I was asked to take on a process improvement role in the office, but I felt like I was leaving my passion behind. At that point, I did not have a college degree, and that hindered my progression in corporate life. I decided to quit my job last year and take my side business more seriously. I now share space with a couple of other fabricators and operate under CWM Fabrication, LLC. Along with taking on my business full time, I decided to go back to school and recently graduated with a business administration degree from Nashville State Community College. My favorite part about my journey is meeting other people who have a burning passion for the trade, as well as sharing stories from different job sites and having the opportunity to work alongside some amazing fabricators.
From Acworth to Nashville BY RYAN BLYTHE
This year, Georgia Trade School (GTS) celebrates its 10th anniversary and fifth year in Acworth. With more than 1,000 graduates across 20 states, there are plenty of success stories to tell. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Acworth native Cole Musial, a former GTS student who has traveled extensively since becoming a welder. His journey includes stops in Hawaii, Colorado, Michigan and Tennessee. Today, Musial lives in Nashville and is building his own business.
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AROUND KENNESAW | March 2022
What advice would you give newcomers or prospective welders?
To the newcomers, get comfortable and watch that puddle (the molten metal produced while the weld is being made). I have come across a few welders in the field who are decent welders and have a lot of potential but become close-minded when it comes to perfecting the craft. Always stay coachable and willing to take advice. To the prospective welders, I highly suggest taking a tour through a trade school. Understand that welding is hot, dirty and can be dangerous, but you can learn from instructors who will help set you up for a rewarding career.
Ryan Blythe is the founder of Georgia Trade School, which for the sixth consecutive year, was named one of the Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year.
