I wanted to thank you and your staff for the splendid experience my colleagues and I recently had during training at your facility.  As the lead for metals processing research for the Air Force, it is always a challenge to ensure our engineers stay up to speed with the state-of-the-art in such a rapidly changing field.  After evaluating several options for hands-on education in aerospace welding, I decided to try Hobart.  It was the right choice.

Your facility and equipment are outstanding.  Your staff could not be more helpful, and the educational materials are thorough and clear for the skill level being taught.  I wanted to take a moment to detail the interaction with some of your staff.  The primary instructor for the week long course was Mr. Kevin Scott.  Mr. Scott was very professional and extremely knowledgeable in the area of study.  His answers to our questions were outstanding and he was always willing to help with any problems.  More than that, he seems to really care about the students as well as their understanding of the technology and he was very patient with what could be a difficult group of students.  He is an amazing welder and teacher – you should be very proud of him.  Also, I wanted to thank Mr. Richard Smith for taking unplanned time out of his day to show us GMA welding.  From the front office, to the classroom, to the shop floors and labs, everyone we met displayed tremendous professionalism and obvious pride in what they do.

Based on my experience, I plan to send all of the engineers in my organization to your class.  In addition, I would recommend Hobart to anyone seeking and education in aerospace welding.  Its one of the best courses we’ve ever taken.  Sincerely,

~ Jeffrey R. Calcaterra, PhD., Chief, Processing Section;
Metals, Ceramics and NDE Division; Air Force Research Laboratory;
Department of the Air Force;
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

I began my welding career in 1968 as a 2-year vocational welding student.  For the next 25 years, I worked as a welder and raised my family.  I returned to teach welding technology in 1995 to the present.  In 1997, I attended the Hobart Institute and became CWE/CWI.

I have truly been blessed to have had the opportunities welding has given me.  “It doesn’t get much better than this!”

                                                                                                         ~ Gary McKenzie, Mansfield, Ohio

TesTech is a testing company based in Dayton, Ohio with offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Lansing, Michigan, and just opened a new office in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The company performs construction inspection and material testing for major retail businesses, FAA projects, DOT projects, city school projects, Corp of Engineer projects, and the private sector in various areas. 

In early spring of this year, I was nominated and received inclusion in the 2007-08 edition of Strathmore’s book of Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals.  I feel this is a great honor and, with the help I received with attending the Hobart Institute in preparing me for my CWI, this additional training and certification helped in receiving this honor. 

I want to thank the dedicated instructors at Hobart Institute for their effort in making the field of construction a better and stronger profession.  Keep up the great work!

 ~ Scott Trissel, AWS-CWI
TesTech Inc., www.testechinc.com

My name is Justin David.  I’m from Scott, Ohio and I’m a senior at Vantage Career Center.  I am also proud to say I’m a welder and I have learned a lot while going to my vocational school.  It makes me grateful to be a senior because of the talk about welding programs [in schools] being shut down.  Weld on!

~ Justin David, Scott, Ohio

As a female welder with much to learn, I've sparked a fire, if you will.  I attend Shasta College and am in advanced MIG and intermediate arc, along with blueprint reading.  My father was a welder, but my passion for welding started with a friend who injured himself and needed my help welding a bracket on a muffler using a hanger as a filler - I passed.  Ever since, I can't get enough. Code after code is my goal.            

~ Barbara Marmon, Redding, California