Since North Montco Technical Career Center opened in 1967, thousands of young men and women have prepared themselves for productive careers in the trades. Each of North Montco’s alumni has a story. Some students had a head-start on a great job through the Pennsylvania Youth Apprenticeship Program (PYAP) or the Student Co-op Program, while others embarked on employment upon graduation or after earning a degree. There are multiple paths for students who graduate with industry knowledge and credentials. It is no doubt, regardless of one’s chosen path, the knowledge and skills gained while attending North Montco will be valuable.
I enjoy the opportunity to meet and interact with alumni – they are working in many capacities and employment sectors, each well-verses in their industry needs. Fortunately, some decide to generously give back to us, offering their time or talent in a number of ways, such as participating in a committee, employing our students, teaching classes or by providing monetary or equipment donations.
Each month during the school year, North Montco will feature a conversation with one of our noted alumni. We hope that these discussions not only shed light on the great opportunities that start with a technical education, but also the individual pathways that have been taken to achieve their success.
With that said…
Meet Drew Ward
Drew Ward, a former mechatronics student (previously known as robotics and engineering) at North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC), has been a champion of technical education and a generous donor and supporter of the school.
He currently serves as a board member on the North Montco Educational Foundation and has been instrumental in its development. Kindly, Drew agreed to discuss how he got his start through attending North Montco and how that has influenced his success today:
Why did you attend North Montco? Were your parents supportive?
Ward: I attended NMTCC for several reasons. I had many elective credits available at my sending school, but very little of the elective coursework seemed applicable to life, work or college. Many of my friends took multiple study halls, and I realized that I could go to NMTCC for hands-on education and not miss any of the core theoretical curricula at my sending school. I was worried at the time that I might miss some of the social parts of high school, but I quickly realized I had more fear of missing out than I was actually missing out.
My mother and father supported my interest in NMTCC, which helped me overcome a lot of high school-aged social stigma associated with "Vo-Tech" at the time. I'm so appreciative of their support because — as we all find — as we get older, high school is a very short period in our lives, and I was able to stay very connected with my friends at Methacton.
In addition to their support, my father owned his own company. He saw the value in a well-rounded education inclusive of hands-on application rather than strictly theoretical or academic learning. He knew that the practical education offered by NMTCC was the basis for many successful entrepreneurial pursuits and would be viewed favorably by employers and universities.
They also understood me and my learning style. My parents knew that I would have a much harder time thriving in a strictly academic setting versus a lab setting where I could apply and test the theories offered by my instructors and the curriculum.
Did you like the coursework in the "early" mechatronics program — robotics and engineering?
Ward: I enjoyed the coursework a lot. The program has come so far since I was in school. At the time, we covered many different areas just like today, but they weren't as well connected. Back then, we studied analog and digital theory along with computer science, industrial machine control and general automation methods like pneumatics and hydraulics. We also studied integrated circuit design and were introduced to different software and simulation packages like SPICE for I.C. design and simulation and AutoCad for mechanical design. To understand and appreciate the fundamentals of drafting and mechanical design, we even had to spend a few weeks learning how to draw on the drawing board and use a drafting machine. That's pretty hard to imagine today, but it gave us an appreciation for the fundamentals.
When did your dad start PacPro, Inc.? Did this encourage your mechanical abilities?
Ward: My dad started his original business out of our home in 1981; he was a distributor of packaging materials and equipment, with my mom as his bookkeeper. For the first couple of years, he was a one-man show, selling, servicing, and supporting his customers in the northeast. He invented and patented a unique device for allowing air evacuation from a package which is a crucial part of the shrink-packaging process. He founded Packaging Progressions, Inc. to manufacture and sell his invention and later expanded into the design and manufacturing of industrial food packaging and processing equipment which later became the core of our business. His success, I believe, is attributed to his curiosity and ingenuity, combined with his hands-on education in technical college and his experience as a U.S. Navy diver.
What kind of student were you? For example: technical, academic, athletic, or a mix?
Ward: I was a technical and experiential learner interested in how things worked from an early age. For me, learning and instruction always hinged on understanding and application for retention. I could read something five times before I would retain it, but it was immediately committed to memory if I did it once. I had a better appreciation for why the information was helpful.
What kind of training or characteristics does PacPro, Inc. look for in a tech school grad or student co-op?
Ward: First, we look for hard-working, honest and conscientious individuals. After that, we try hard to find well-rounded generalists who like to ask "why?" and bring curiosity and imagination to problem-solving. We need people who are interested in working through roadblocks to improving products and processes. A technical education provides an excellent foundation for this type of critical thinking.
You have been a champion of North Montco and education in the trades. What message do you have for parents and students considering technical training?
Ward: I would stress to parents not to assume that a technical education puts your child on a predetermined path into the workforce. I would argue quite the opposite. I believe that a technical education offers even more avenues into further education, career or entrepreneurship. Many students will leave North Montco as more attractive candidates to universities and employers, and many will directly apply their skills to start their businesses. These skills are what are so valuable about technical education. You graduate with practical skills and authentic experience that you can carry with you your entire life, independent of the company you work for or where you live. This type of mobility is the definition of career freedom. I would also stress the benefit of the co-op and internship programs offered by NMTCC. Like in college, these experiences are probably the most efficient way for young people to find their way and get better acquainted with their natural aptitude.
What do you think the future holds for people with technical skills?
Ward: There have been so many significant developments over the last twenty years as parents and students realize the benefits of hands-on experiential education. Everyone now sees the market demand for technically proficient professionals. When I was at North Montco, everyone talked about robots and their impact on labor and the labor force. Automation of repetitive tasks remains a crucial driver for many businesses. As the industry exhausts many cost-justifiable opportunities for robotic automation, they are now moving towards logical and analytical automation in the form of A.I. This next wave of automation will have a broader impact in the office building than it will on the skilled trades. The point is: the future couldn't be brighter for students who want to take their destiny into their own hands literally. The careers and education paths that NMTCC is preparing its students for have proven time and time again that it's here to stay, and it's always in high demand.
Any specific changes that you'd like to see in regards to technical education?
Ward: I would like to see some level of hands-on technical education become a public education requirement.
See also:
North Montco Carpentry Alumn Dovetailed Learning Into Career As Essential Worker
Master Carpenter And Teacher Builds A Career Made To Last At North Montco Tech
Virtual And Hybrid Instruction At Its Best For High School Welding Students
North Montco Technical Career Center Launches Educational Foundation
Learn The Tools Of The Plumbing Trade At North Montco
