“Foot in Door” Approach Creates Opportunity
Joe Davis has been employed at Western Branch Diesel’s South Charleston, WV location since August 2021. In that time, he has proven that hard work and a can-do attitude will get you where you want to go in your career.
Joe first applied to Western Branch Diesel as a custodian. Before this, he had previously worked doing core drilling and parts deliveries, but those jobs kept him on the road and away from home. Joe was ready to find a more stable career path with better pay and benefits. He took the job as a custodian after his friend, Ryen Tomblin, who is a fellow Technician Apprentice at Western Branch Diesel, South Charleston, recommended he take the job to get his foot in the door and work his way into his desired role.
“In the custodian position, Joe was able to fix anything. Whatever I threw at him, he was able to do. Even better, Joe never complained about any of the work. He has always been a great team player,” reflects Derrick Bennet, Service Manager at Western Branch Diesel, South Charleston.
After seven months as a custodian, Joe came to Derrick to inquire about an open Technician Apprentice position. Joe applied online and went through the formal hiring process, including interviews with management at the location.
“I had a feeling he would be a great fit for the role based on how he performed in his current job, but I needed him to prove himself through the hiring process,” says Derrick.
Joe impressed management during his interviews despite not having any experience with diesel technology. He had proved in the custodian role that he had strong problem-solving skills and was good working with a team. Joe was brought on as a technician apprentice in March 2022, and, in keeping with his team player mentality, continued as acting custodian until a replacement was found.
“Diesel technology has always been interesting to me, but I never had the opportunity to receive formal training until now. I had some experience in electrical work and heavy machinery that I was able to apply, but I mostly came in ready to learn. I’ve always been a jack of all trades and am excited to work towards mastering this trade through the program,” says Joe.
While in the program, Joe has been a part of weekly toolbox meetings, where the technicians and foremen gather to discuss project details and review safety guidelines. Technicians are encouraged to ask questions to sort through technical issues and learn from one another. These meetings are a great way for newer technicians, like Joe, to collaborate with their more experienced peers.
After over a year in the program and almost two years with Western Branch Diesel, Joe has earned his certification for maintenance level from Allison Transmission and completed both his electronics training and Detroit Diesel online courses. He is also scheduled to receive Detroit heavy duty line training later this year.
When asked what his career goals were Joe replied “I would like to become Cummins certified and continue to learn new skills. I want to do everything I can to succeed in this industry.”
