Opportunity Dubuque provides support for recent high school graduate's manufacturing career

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Derek Haas was working part-time while completing his senior year at East Dubuque (Ill.) High School in May 2018. As he searched for better paying, more sustainable full-time employment after graduation, his cousin, Joe O’Dell, encouraged him to try Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining at Northeast Iowa Community College.

O’Dell graduated from the College’s CNC Operator – Career Pathway Certificate program himself, then completed the one-year diploma CNC Machinist Technician program and is currently a Metal Working apprentice at NICC.

Funding through the Opportunity Dubuque program helped Derek enroll and complete the CNC Operator certificate and, like his cousin Joe, he progressed immediately into the diploma credit program at the College’s Peosta campus.

“Opportunity Dubuque really did give me a great opportunity to go to college and learn a trade. I wanted to put school and my training first. Now I don’t have a lot of debt to worry about,” Derek said.

After completing the certificate, Derek was hired by Dubuque Screw Products, where he works full-time as a CNC operator. As a student and operator, he enjoys the most what many students find the most challenging: writing the machine codes that run processes and manufacture parts.

“I think that’s the best part; reading the blueprints and writing the programs to make a specific part or tool,” he explained. Derek’s car wash days have likely come to an end. The distinction between a job he has to take, and a well-paying, secure career he enjoys, is much clearer now.

“This is by far my favorite career choice. And the hands-on experiences I have through Northeast Iowa Community College and at Dubuque Screw are more interesting ways to learn and work,” he said.

Being trained as a CNC Machinist provides students opportunities throughout the region. The program provides the skills necessary to do a safe setup and operation of manual machines including lathes, mills, grinders, saws and hand tools. Students learn to operate, setup and program a variety of CNC machines, design and program using CAD/CAM systems, and design tools and fixtures to increase productivity. More information about the program is available at www.nicc.edu/cnc.