AIM Magazine 2016 | Page 52

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A local company could be your key to a successful career in the manufacturing industry .
“ Some people want to go to college ,” said Chris Weiser , President and CEO of J . V . Manufacturing and Cram-A- Lot . “ Others have no desire to go . This company is a way for them to earn a decent wage .”
J . V . Manufacturing , started in 1978 , makes Cram-A-Lot solid-waste and recycling balers .
The company has 220 employees with distribution and service throughout North America , but needs more welders and steel fabricators so it can keep growing .
The company purchases sheets of steel , cuts it for parts and welds the parts to form the balers .
“ We build the balers , deliver if necessary , install and service them ,” Weiser said . “ We provide good customer service but we can ’ t do that without good people .”
Good employees can move up in the company .
Shaun Swearingen became the Information Technology Manager after working for J . V . Manufacturing as a college intern . He became a full time employee and was promoted to head of IT .
“ If you show proficiency , you can land a good job ,” Swearingen said . “ This company is family-oriented . I have a relationship with everyone I work with .”
Jeff Givens , Chief Operating Officer , also moved up the ladder after beginning his career with J . V . as a steel processing equipment operator .
“ I ’ ve been with the company 30 years , Givens said . “ I ’ m also a former student of Northwest Technical Institute and currently serve on the advisory board for their welding program .”
Givens climbed through the ranks at the company , earning a degree from John Brown University along the way .