Local alumna excels in trades close to home

Pam Brodbin was looking for a job with career prospects when she came across the parts technician field.

There were opportunities in explains. “In agriculture, a lot of the the parts technician trade in time people fix their own equipment, Vermilion, near the farm she grew so they’ll come into the shop and up on. After describe researching The instructors were so whatever they are the trade, she supportive. I really got a trying to maintain decided it might just be lot out of it, especially that or improve. It’s my job to find the career she’d first year, because it gave me what they need been looking for that foundational level of and get them the and enrolled at knowledge that is so crucial right quantity for Lakeland College. to this trade. the right price.” “It appealed to Brodbin credits me because it’s very much a customer the support of Lakeland’s instructors service-based trade,” Brodbin for helping her excel in her training.

“Even though I grew up on a farm, there was so much I didn’t know when I started my training at Lakeland,” she says. “The instructors were so supportive. I really got a lot out of it, especially that first year, because it gave me that foundational level of knowledge that is so crucial to this trade. I refer back to it, even today.” Brodbin began working at a summer position as a second-year apprentice at Webb’s Machinery in 2013. “Working for Webbs was always something I wanted because of the positive family relationships we have had for so many years,” Brodbin says, noting her grandmother had been friends with George and Phylis Webb and her family have always had a good customer relationship with store. “After that summer job, I just kept coming back here. They’ve been so good to work with as I’ve had my family or gone to do my training. They’re so supportive here.” She completed her apprenticeship training at Lakeland in November 2019 and continues to work as a parts technician for Webbs.

As a woman in trades, Brodbin is grateful for her training at Lakeland, as it gave her the knowledge and confidence to succeed in the trade.

“For women in trades, we need to work hard and pay attention to the details. We may feel like we need to prove ourselves, so we have to bring our best effort. My experience at Lakeland really helped with that. The instructors were so helpful and invested in their students. They’re so committed to our success.”

Brodbin was one of five female parts technician apprentices to graduate in November 2019 from the program.