Work and school combined with drive and determination has led to a brilliant career for Maggie Mae Lutz of Zanesville, Ohio.  Maggie’s life experiences, that included three years of foster care, could have easily placed her on a less desirable path.   

“I’ve made it all this way on my own, with no help from anyone else,” says Maggie.  “I graduated at the top of my two-year vocational training in welding.  I was the first girl to pass the overhead and vertical shielded metal arc welding ODOT (Ohio Dept. of Transportation) certification for my school since 1989.” 

In addition to that, Maggie was class treasurer and ambassador for the SkillsUSA/VICA club at Mid East Ohio JVS, where she graduated in June 2005.  Maggie chose to pursue welding at Hobart Institute and completed that training on July 28, 2006. 

While attending the nine-month Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program, Maggie was employed at Faurecia Exhaust Systems in Troy as a welder/machine operator.   Of her work there, Maggie comments, “I make and complete mufflers and exhaust systems for Chrysler.  I weld the first two brackets to the muffler and I weld half of the exhaust pipe using the GMAW process with metal cored wire.  I also run the Motoman® robotic plasma equipment to weld the seams of the muffler and Eglass machine to insulate the muffler.”

“Welding in a nontraditional trade for women holds my interest and I enjoy the challenging work,” says Maggie, who has the drive and will to succeed. 

Maggie relaxes by listening to the music of 1980’s rock and metal ballads bands, hiking on scenic trails and falls, and enjoying football.      

For information on the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program at Hobart Institute, surf the site at www.welding.org or call 1-800-332-9448 for a complete catalog and information.

For information on Faurecia Exhaust Systems, see http://www.faurecia.com/pages/products/exhaust.asp