(MARSHALL, Texas) – Caldwell Machine and Gear recently held its first employer spotlight for the Precision Machining Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall location.
Wesley Cameron, an engineer for Caldwell Machine and Gear, said that for many years the Mount Pleasant-based company sought local high school students to work as machinists.
“They don’t really push machining anymore, so it’s hard to get a high schooler who wants to be a machinist,” Cameron said. “We’re doing more outreach because we need people who are focused on the task at hand and can work hard and don’t mind doing a good job, which is hard to find in today’s world.”
Cameron and company machinist Brad Kittle were given a tour of the Precision Machining Technology program’s lab before speaking to the students. The two brought in various parts and gears created at the shop to help explain its machinery and products in detail. The TSTC students had lots of questions for them.
Caldwell Machine and Gear is primarily known for gear cutting — a service that few machine shops in the area provide — and gear and replacement part manufacturing. Though small, the shop does work for and ships parts to individuals, companies and other machine shops across the United States.
“The work just comes to us; we don’t really seek it out,” Kittle said. “We’re searching for people to help get the parts out the door.”
Cameron said the shop is willing to hire both TSTC students and graduates, and it offers flexible hours to work around class schedules. Employees are paid based on their skill levels.
“As you advance, we advance you in pay and responsibilities,” Cameron said.
Precision Machining Technology student Monica Ford expressed her gratitude to TSTC for holding employer spotlights.
“I think it shows that they really care about the programs and the students because we’re here to learn these things, and they’re helping us to find the future careers that we’re going to school for,” she said.
According to onetonline.org, CNC (computer numerical control) tool programmers earn an average of $62,160 per year in Texas, where the number of such jobs was projected to increase 47% from 2020 to 2030.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion in Precision Machining Technology, as well as a certificate of completion in CNC Machine Operator, at its East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco locations.
Precision Machining Technology is one of nine programs at TSTC that have money-back guarantees. For more information, visit tstc.edu/mbg.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
