(MARSHALL, Texas) – The first time that Terrance “TJ” Holland, of Wills Point, attended a job fair at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall location, he came across Sunstate Equipment. He now works for the construction rental company’s Balch Springs branch as its youngest field service technician.
Holland, a graduate of TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, grew up working on gasoline-powered cars with his father and friends but welcomed the switch to diesel engines when he enrolled at TSTC. Balancing his time between working in a diesel shop and attending night classes taught him more than how to maintain diesel equipment — it taught him to be confident in his knowledge.
“Expanding your knowledge is always good for people, but retaining that information and putting it to use is always the troublesome part,” he said. “Once you get into it and you understand that you can do it, it’s very easy to complete challenges and tasks.”
Holland began working for Sunstate Equipment as a line technician after graduating from TSTC in 2022. In less than a year with the company, his maturity and learning ability showed his superiors that he was ready for field service.
“I had to wait until I turned 21 to get a company truck,” Holland said. “I started in the truck on my birthday. I’ve just been trying to increase my knowledge and succeed as a field service tech.”
Joseph Mbulu is manager at Sunstate Equipment in Balch Springs.
“TJ strives to continue to get better each day and has a strong work ethic,” he said. “He cares about getting our customers’ rental equipment back up and running in a timely manner.”
Holland’s goal is to become a master technician with the company. Despite his accomplishments, he thanks TSTC for its part in helping him become the technician he is.
“This school, it points you in the right direction,” Holland said. “It helps you understand what you’re doing and what you want to do.”
Registration for TSTC’s summer and fall semesters is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
