What do you do here at Carter?
I’m in disassembly. We bring an engine in, disassemble it, clean it, and inspect all the parts.
Explain your path to your current job.
In high school, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career. I had a teacher in high school that inspired me to go into the technical field because I loved pickup trucks. After high school, I attended Lincoln Tech in Nashville, TN. After I graduated, I worked construction for a little while, and put in an application for a job here at Carter. They called me when a warehouse position opened up. As I was about to interview for it, a technician position opened up and I took it. This is the only place I applied to because this is where I wanted to work.
What skills have you acquired that help you perform effectively in your current position?
I’ve always been a hands-on person and picked up things easily when it came to building things from scratch. I love pickup trucks and working on them, and I wanted more experience working on the bigger trucks. The toughest part of the job has been learning about all of the Caterpillar engines. That’s been a challenge, but it’s forced me to step up my game and really sharpen my skills. Working on the bigger trucks has been something I’ve always wanted to do, so this is the perfect job for me.
Why did you want to come work for Carter? How did you hear about Carter?
Carter is the only place I wanted to work because my dad worked here as a pilot and loved it here. He told me it was a solid company and that they really treat their employees well. That was all I needed to hear. I knew this was the place for me.
What do you like about where you work/what you do?
The people here are great. In most jobs, you have that one person you don’t get along with, but it’s not like that here. Everyone you meet is super nice, passionate, and intelligent. Everyone helps everyone out. I also like the fact that no day is the same. You are always working on something new, whether it’s cleaning it up or tearing it down. I like that variety.
What are your career goals?
I want to build engines one day. This is the first step, but my ultimate goal would be to build them from scratch. I’m definitely supported in that goal here – not only by supervisors, but also by my co-workers. They’re teaching me everything they know so eventually I’ll get to where I want to be.
Would you recommend someone who is interested in being a technician to come to work here at Carter?
Why? Absolutely! I love this job – it’s hard to beat. It’s run really well here. Management is great and the people are top-notch.
What do you do in your spare time?
I’m a volunteer firefighter for the Fort Lewis Fire Department. I’ve been doing it for about a year now. I had a buddy who did it, which sparked my interest. After I went to school, I regretted not volunteering. After graduation, I came back to the area and signed up. I really enjoy it.