Craig West

Dislocated worker 'reinvents' himself at RCC

Looking back, Craig West says the upheavals in his life three years ago turned out to be “blessings in disguise.”

He’d worked in the same lumber mill since dropping out of Crater High School two decades earlier. When the plant closed in 2007 and he was laid off, attending Rogue Community College for retraining seemed a natural decision.

“Without an education I was stuck in a rut,” he recalls. Three years and a lot of hard work later, he landed a machinist job with Erickson Air-Crane making helicopter parts.

“I’m already making way more than I did at the mill after 24 years,” he said. “I love what I’m doing. It’s something I could do the rest of my life.”

West graduated in June from RCC, earning an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate as a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operator. His two terms of Cooperative Work Experience at Erickson also helped earn him the job offer.

Before West enrolled in RCC’s Manufacturing Technology program, he had to pass his GED exams. He discovered the learning center at Table Rock Campus was a helpful resource.

“They really gave me a leg up preparing for the GED and for placement testing,” he explained. Maturity also helped him achieve his goals.

“I wanted to learn,” he said. “For me (attending) college right out of high school would have been a waste.” With his children grown, West was ready to focus on school even though he was a bit intimidated. “Who wouldn’t be after 24 years?” he said, laughing.

“I wasn’t computer savvy, and the 'C' in CNC stands for computers.” he said. “So I took a prerequisite class and learned the basics,” he added. Once ready for the program, he plunged right in.

“I enjoy making stuff, so the RCC shop is like having the ultimate toys. The equipment and tools are up to date — what you find in the workplace,” he explained.

West said his Manufacturing Technology instructors, particularly department head Kris Germana, brought a wealth of career knowledge and hands-on instruction to the lab sessions.

“Kris is a really good instructor; he really cares,” West said. “He wants people to do well. He’s knowledgeable, has real life experience, and can tell you what to expect.”

West’s own perseverance also paid off, according to Germana. “Craig put in the extra time and effort to go above and beyond, and eventually that’s what got him the job,” Germana said.

Summing his educational experience up, West says attending RCC proved to be a good investment. “Everyone that I got laid off with, who took advantage of school, turned out better off. Those who didn’t are right back in the same rut.”

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