TEST YOUR SKILLS WITH TECH JOBS

Tech jobs at 3M can be rewarding without a degree.

by ANNIE SCOTT

Since 1974, 3M has been a staple in Aberdeen. One of the largest manufacturers in northeastern South Dakota, 3M Aberdeen has around 900 employees. While 3M focuses on production of products such as respirators, filtration, and adhesive tapes that people trust to daily for protection and to improve their lives, the maintenance team plays an important role that helps production run smoothly. Keeping these highly skilled technical jobs local can be a great benefit.

“A lot of high school graduates may be thinking ‘what am I going to do?’” said Dan Uhlir, Human Resources Manager. “Tech jobs are in high demand more than ever. Not every job requires a four-year degree, employees with two-year technical degrees are instrumental in maintaining our vital equipment at 3M Aberdeen. Our plant engineering team comprise greater than ten percent of our total workforce

and operational success would not be possible without them.”

Plant Engineering Manager Stewart Hall explained some of the different occupational paths at 3M. Electrical Systems and Mechanical tech jobs are two of the career paths at 3M, and within those two paths, there are several types of jobs that workers can choose.

For example, Mechanical technicians may focus on precision machining, machine maintenance, or facility work while Electrical Systems includes robotics, programing PLCs, and operator interfaces. 3M offers on-site

 Stewart Hall oversees many of these jobs at 3M Aberdeen.

training and will pair new hires with senior members while they complete different work projects. This way, employees will receive hands-on training while gaining real work experience.

“There are many different areas that these jobs can lead to,” Stewart said. “Some will move on to be experts in their areas. Some can become supervisor roles, and others will take up training roles. There are opportunities for growth with almost every role here.”

Tech degrees can lead to jobs that are highly lucrative and rewarding, and 3M offers these career opportunities to a wide diverse workforce that inspires technological innovation, drives digital operations and next-level automation.

“Jobs like these are an excellent fit for anyone who enjoys continuous learning, problem solving, and resolving issues with lasting effect,” Stewart said. “People grow and evolve, and their jobs reflect that. Everyone brings something to the table, and we all have skills that we can use to give back to our community.” //

PICKLEBALL

INSIDE ABERDEEN’S NEW SPORTS CRAZE

by SUSAN SCRUPSKI

 Behind the net: Rosemary Duch, Mick Clemens, Kathy McNeary, Angie Goetz,

Mike Duch, Jody Parsons, Bill Kimball, Tom Sieben, Kris Sieler. Front of the net: Vicky Sieben, Diane Kost. On the floor: Neil Schaunaman, Nicole Phillips.

Any weekday morning from about 8:00 AM to nearly noon, you can find anywhere from 12 to 16 people at the YMCA in Aberdeen playing America’s fastest growing sport: Pickleball!

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is an easy, fast-moving court game that draws from elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Anyone can play; it’s easy to learn, and it seems the primary objective of the game is to have fun.

Although the sport has been around since 1965, its popularity has skyrocketed over the past decade. I learned about it from AARP Magazine. It’s especially popular with retirees, but all ages enjoy the sport and range from beginners to national pros.

Aberdeen got serious about pickleball in 2016. Mark Zerr, a retired UPS driver, was there. “In 2016 we had a group of about 15 that attended a meeting at one of the rooms at the Y. We just kind of passed the word, ’Hey, this is what we’re going to discuss. We’re going to try and get outdoor courts built in Aberdeen.’”

Zerr and his fellow pickleball enthusiasts were successful in making the case for new courts. In 2017, three of them presented to former Mayor Mike Levson and the City Commission to introduce them to the sport. Doug Johnson was the Director of Parks and Recreation at the time. His commitment to the project was instrumental in securing a federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund that covered about 50% of the cost to build new courts. The first grant was rejected, but the second grant was accepted. With some additional money from the city, and a delay due to COVID, the bids finally went out in April of 2021 for new contracts in May. The courts opened last August.

Mark Hoven, the current Director of Parks and Recreation, remembers it this way: “It really came about because of pickleball enthusiasts who wanted to see it. They wanted to get the sport outdoors here and have their own courts.” The city decided on Manor Park for the outdoor courts. Ultimately, the courts cost about $188,000, and the city contributed about half of that amount.

Zerr and his team helped design the courts with the help of the USA Pickleball Association that provided blueprints to the city engineers. The original design was for six courts and an overflow court so Aberdeen could host more tournaments. They wound up with three courts, and Zerr and others I spoke to are eager to secure funding to add on the remaining courts.

Two avid pickleball players, Jody Parsons and Vicky Sieben, play pickleball nearly every day at the Aberdeen YMCA.

“For me, it’s the most fun way for me to get exercise,” says Parsons, a retired USPS Postmaster. She retired five years ago, and picked up pickleball shortly afterwards. Parsons has been playing continuously for five years.

Sieben and her husband both play pickleball. Sieben has been playing for about two years since she retired from Wells Fargo here in Aberdeen. She explains the way it works at the Y: “There’s a sheet. It’s set up that you can have as little as four players, or as many as 16. We all number off in the morning; you always have the same number. What’s nice is we get to rotate

 Loren Locken, Brian

Schumacher, Mark

Johnson, Ken Wolff, Jim

Hunstad, Colette Quam,

Mark Zerr, Ozzie Osborn,

Ann Hanson

FOR ME, IT’S THE MOST FUN WAY FOR ME TO GET EXERCISE.”

– JODY PARSONS

and play with everybody, and we only play for 10 minutes. This way, everybody rotates in and out.” Zerr estimates there are about 75 to 100 people who play pickleball in Aberdeen. What’s interesting about the pickleball phenomenon is that it's primarily a grassroots movement. The spirit that launched the sport in the 60s still propels it forward. The game’s name is derived from the neighborhood parents that started the sport. According to Zerr, they had a cocker spaniel named Pickles, and when Pickles ran away with the game’s wiffle ball, one of the founders’ wives would shout, “That’s Pickles’ Ball! Leave him alone!” The pickleball name stuck as the game took off around the country. It’s widely believed to be one of the fastest growing sports in America according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

Today, here in Aberdeen, there are about 20 or so players who compete statewide and nationally. Zerr and his partners qualified for the National Senior Olympics in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In Sioux Falls, Avera Health is developing 12 pickleball courts at an estimated price tag of $1.5 million. Zerr says when he returns to Aberdeen from competing in Florida, he’s going to focus on getting organized to finish the courts in Manor Park, as well as put a little structure around the avid pickleball player scene like they have in other towns such as Watertown and Brookings. //

WHERE TO PLAY PICKLEBALL IN ABERDEEN

LOCATION

Manor Park - 12th and Jay Street

YMCA - 5 S State St. Aberdeen

Matchbox - 110 Centennial St S

Bethlehem Church - 1620 Milwaukee Ave NE

# OF COURTS NOTES

3

4

2

2 Open seasonally. Spring - Fall. A public park; outdoor Pickleball courts. All levels.

Indoor courts in the gym. Open year-round. Every morning from 8:30 AM to noon. All levels.

Indoor courts. Advanced levels. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 AM to noon.

Mondays 10:30 AM only. All levels.