(ABILENE, Texas) – Dalton Tiner knew he needed the right education to advance his career.
The Texas Healthcare Linen maintenance technician is getting that education with Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program. He sacrificed his scheduled work hours to other employees so he could pursue an associate of applied science degree.
“When the COVID-19 restrictions hit us at work, we knew it would be hard to juggle everyone working,” he said. “I told my supervisors I would take three days off in order to go to school and allow other employees to work.”
Tiner said his education will be useful at the linen management company based in Abilene. According to its website, Texas Healthcare Linen provides more than 13 million products annually to hospitals in Texas.
“What I am learning in school will be helpful at work. My employers were pleased to hear I was going to take these classes,” Tiner said.
When he started his first semester this fall, Tiner knew he would have to learn quickly.
“I did not have a lot of experience with some of the things I would have to do,” he said. “Today, I am working hard so I gain more knowledge of the industrial process.”
Tiner said Industrial Systems offers a wide range of opportunities.
“This is really the jack-of-all-trades program,” he said. “One day we could be working on electrical projects, and the next day it will be something to do with hydraulics.”
Industrial Systems students learn to install, operate, test and maintain equipment in various facilities. Tiner and his classmates are learning industry-standard safety procedures, mechanical and electrical skills, diagnostic techniques, how to read and interpret schematics, and how to work with motors, pumps, chillers, boilers and programmable logic control systems.
His motivation is simple.
“I want to learn and repair things the proper way,” he said.
Tiner also likes working on the state-of-the-art equipment located in TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene.
“I was really impressed with what I saw the first time I walked in the lab,” he said. “The instructors let us work at our pace, and if we need extra time in the lab, we are able to do that. Everyone has been extremely helpful to me and everyone else.”
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
