A COOL CAREER WITH ADVANCEMENT
Creative solutions and endless possibilities can drive your career at this Springdale company .
AMERICAN TUBING INTERNATIONAL makes copper and aluminum parts used in air conditioners and offers careers ranging from production team members to engineers . “ What we do is different than any other business in the state ,” explains Chuck Lewis , company president . “ We want people who are mechanically inclined , but more importantly we need people with the right attitude who recognize opportunity .”
Issaac Hight saw his opportunity . He builds new machines for the company . “ Some days are easy , but others challenge me , and I like that . It ’ s not boring ,” he says . Hight says a hobby growing up helped him learn mechanical skills like welding . “ As a kid , I had a go cart that I worked on a lot . I was always interested in mechanics and learned from other people .” He plans to keep learning and moving up . “ I ’ m interested in drafting . I have a little experience with computer aided drafting , but nothing as advanced as what we use here and I ’ d like to learn that .”
Pam Ford learned most of her skills on the job at American Tubing . She ’ s a quality assurance coordinator in charge of making sure products meet customer standards . “ I started out in production at a time when we were changing some of our production processes , and I was able to move up and carve out a spot for myself in quality control .”
She says taking initiative and stepping up are the keys to getting ahead , no matter what company you work for . But she says there ’ s something at American Tubing you won ’ t find anywhere else . “ I ’ ve never worked with a better group of people . When my house burned down , every manager here checked on me to make sure I was ok . You don ’ t get that at other companies .”
Brad Scott also found something special at American Tubing — a second chance . “ I started through a work release program . Within five years , I went from work release to being a supervisor .” Scott ’ s work ethic and willingness to learn earned him promotions , but he admits it ’ s not always easy . “ When we ’ re busy , I ’ ll put in 11 or 12 hours a day , six days a week . But the people here make it an enjoyable work environment .” Scott works in an area of the company that manufactures aluminum parts . “ It ’ s not what you think of when you picture a factory . I worked in another factory when I was younger , and I hated it ! This is a different environment . It ’ s not dark and dirty . It ’ s robots doing most of the physical work .”
Wayne Meadors is a production supervisor who also worked his way up . “ I started right out of high school at the lowest level job on the production floor .” He soon realized there were opportunities to advance . “ I moved around and learned everything I could ,” he says . The company even paid for him to take computer classes . “ If you show you ’ re dedicated to making a career here , you ’ ll get noticed . This company won ’ t promote you to a job and then expect you to figure it out on your own . They ’ ll give you the tools and training you need .”
Everyone at American Tubing takes a test when they ’ re hired to check basic reading , writing and math skills . The company then offers classes to help team members improve and make sure they have the opportunity to reach their potential . “ This is a good company ,” Meadors says . “ If you ’ re willing to learn , there ’ s always someone who will help you .”
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