Growing up, Tyler worked at his family’s various construction businesses. He learned a lot during those summer breaks: work ethic, safety, trade skills and more.
After high school graduation, he and his now wife had exciting news: a baby on the way.
It wasn’t to say that education wasn’t important, but taking care of his family came first. And he needed to work. He worked at a food processing facility and delved into the world of manufacturing.
He also adopted a forward-thinking mindset: where do I want to go from here?
Future Focused: Where Do I Go From Here?
Tyler started with lean manufacturing training: Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S facilitation and more.
He also began facilitating training for his co-workers who came from all walks of life. It propelled him to pursue a Lean Champion certification through the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC). He praises the team at MMTC for their opportunities and support.
Sparking his love for continuous improvement, Tyler evaluated like-minded employers in Northern Michigan and pursued a career with a technical engineering firm, RJG. Currently an operations manager within the senior management team, Tyler credits his employer for backing his training interests and long-term goal: the C-Suite.
Trades to Training to Associates, Bachelor’s and Beyond
In order to reach his long-term goal, Tyler wants to fill in some knowledge gaps and lengthen his resume. He reached out to Northwestern Michigan College where he recognizes the effort the advising team and the engineering department put in for building a path.
He gained credit for his previous Lean manufacturing training, which meant he wasn’t starting from zero. His previous work experience mattered not only then, but now.
First Steps: Many Times Over
Tyler admits he took the first step towards higher education many times. This time, though, the pieces line up:
- Encouraging employer who invests in him
- Supportive family who understands home/life demands will tilt and change with each step of the journey
- Prioritization: planning for a 40+ work week, class schedule and being present at home
- Educational partner who matches his goals with a course plan
Going to College Later in Life
When Tyler was in high school, he walked into a classroom within a physical building.
Upon starting college, he had to learn how to navigate education that blends online and in-person methods. Sure, his kids learned virtually during the pandemic, but experiencing a Learning Management System (LMS) presented an initial learning curve.
Thankfully, NMC has a class on that, which set him up for success for that first semester.
Plus, he’s figuring out the right number of credits to take each semester. Like many, he wants to finish his degrees in a timely manner without sacrificing his presence in other areas.
We’re thankful for his story to help encourage other students.
As he says, “if I can do it, anyone can.”
Congrats Tyler!
If you’re ready to take that next step, view our Student Resources.