Workforce
still under the radar equipment techs Ousting the myth
Photos courtesy L.L. Johnson Company
Marty Cirbo, recruiter with Wagner Equipment Co., notes the challenge industrywide is to “dispel the myth that this is a low-level, low-tech job. We need to answer the question, ‘why would I want to be a mechanic for the rest of my life?’” Cirbo says all the pay, training and growth opportunities come down to “lifestyle” for today’s potential recruits. The perks, pay and career path relate more to parents— but what they mean for lifestyle is “key” for today’s young people. |CG
Building the pipeline ALCC is partnering with Colorado Community College System (CCCS) to build another Career Pathway to prepare students for technician jobs upon graduation. In the summer, ALCC and CCCS will offer training for Colorado’s Ag/Ed teachers in skills they in turn can teach their students. The Compact Equipment Certificate will launch in selected high schools fall 2019.
About 20 high school students and their teachers from Montrose made a detour on their way home from the National Western Stock Show in January to tour the shop at L.L. Johnson Distributing Co. John Bertsch, shop manager, showed them works-inprogress by technicians on equipment and talked about the variety of jobs along the equipment tech career path.
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