Oregon program focuses on mentoring welders
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — When two seasoned welders met a couple of years ago, they wanted to find a way to help other people interested in the industry learn the skills.
That's when Dave Rabe and James Stanton decided to form R & S Welding Mentors LLC.
They started their mentoring program in Keizer in February 2011, but moved it to South Salem a few months later, Stanton said.
The pair established their mentoring program to help displaced workers, people wanting to change careers or people wanting to learn a new skill set. The business is not a member of the American Welding Society, nor is it authorized to issue certification in welding.
But students who pay to take their classes, which aren't required, are finding it easier to acquire certification from the American Welding Society, the Oregon Building Association or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
"We try to create a learning culture," Stanton said.
The mentoring program gives people the welding skills they need to pass a certification test, Stanton said. But it also helps establish good work ethics and communication skills to be able to have staying power in the work force.
Wes Williams, who recently passed his certification test after completing his program with R & S, said his skills were "general" before the program.
"They were just good enough to stick stuff together," he said.
The mentoring enabled him to learn more advanced skills and helped him get past areas where he struggled previously, he said.
Nathan Olivares enjoyed the fact that he was able to learn welding skills as well as the "softer" skills.
He said the company expressed the importance of taking care of themselves physically as well as being a good employee and being sociable on the job.
Rabe said they try to teach in a relaxed environment so students can get comfortable with communicating and working with other people.
If there were to be a potential layoff situation, Rabe said knowing how to be a good employee and being personable can make the difference between being fired or not.
"We want these guys to withstand the layoffs," Rabe said.
The program is targeted toward structural steel, fabrication and production welders, but also offers training sessions for artwork and hobbyist welding. There are five-week sessions, two-week sessions or a 15-week package available, Rabe said. Prices start at $1,800.
Rabe said the advantage of going through their program is that people can quickly learn the trade and get into the work force.
"They don't need to put their lives on hold to get a job," he said.
Although the program doesn't guarantee job placement, Rabe said they work with job-placement companies to help find jobs for their students.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
