(MARSHALL, Texas) – Brayden Pirtle said his future plans were solidified after presentations by Texas State Technical College and Eastman Chemical Co., a polymer and chemical manufacturer, at his high school.
“I was going to play football, but injury took me out, so I decided to look for more low-key, blue-collar jobs,” he said. “Once they presented, Process Operations caught my eye.”
Pirtle enrolled at TSTC’s Marshall campus to remain close to his hometown of Longview. He credited his instructors with helping him stay on track with his studies.
“I liked the aspect of having to use my analytical skills and also having to troubleshoot,” Pirtle said.
Pirtle was originally scheduled to graduate in May 2025, but by completing his general education courses ahead of schedule, he earned his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC in December 2024.
Before then, one of Pirtle’s instructors had helped him get an early start on applying for jobs by putting him in contact with Prysmian Group, a global electric cable manufacturer. By the time he graduated, Pirtle was already employed at the company’s Marshall location.
He is currently working as a cable wire helper, assisting operators in producing reels while also receiving training.
“I’m seeing a lot of the stuff I was taught (at TSTC) out here, so it made it quite easy to catch on,” Pirtle said. “After six months, I’m going to try to move up to an operator.”
TSTC’s Process Operations program is available exclusively at the Marshall campus, offering an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion.
According to onetonline.org, gas plant operators earn a median salary of $88,510 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 17% between 2020 and 2030.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
