{"id":1171,"date":"2018-10-11T12:01:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T16:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/engineering-manufacturing-building-arts-educational-information\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:39:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T20:39:14","slug":"engineering-technology-students-get-industry-tours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/engineering-manufacturing-building-arts-educational-information\/engineering-technology-students-get-industry-tours\/","title":{"rendered":"SPC Engineering Technology Students Get Industry Tours"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Petersburg College<\/a> celebrated Engineering Week Oct. 1-5, 2018, and concluded the week’s activities by giving students behind-the-scenes tours at TSE Industries \u00a0and GE Aviation. Both companies are members of the Engineering Technology<\/a> Advisory Committee.<\/p>\n

Based in Clearwater, Fla., TSE Industries<\/a> is a third generation, family-owned company founded in 1962. The Klingle family\u2019s guiding principle remains the same: Treat our customers and employees as we want to be treated. Their management team and 235 dedicated employees take pride in quality work and being a business partner you can count on and trust.<\/p>\n

Advisory member Michelle Hintz-Prange, TSE Industries HR Manager, welcomed us, then Sales VP Gary Reese took us on a tour of the 6,000 square foot facilities. Students got to see up-close customer rubber molding and extrusion; touch real rubber from the rubber tree; and see custom plastic fabrication, CNC Machining, Millathane millable polyurethane rubber, Duro-Glide UHMW-PE Sheets and engineering plastics.<\/p>\n

After touring the plant, we visited with the WHK\u2019s Quality Manager, who has decades of experience in all aspects of quality control in the manufacturing field. Our tour ended with a stop by a recent SPC student\u2019s desk. He took a few minutes to share that his time at SPC prepared him to become a valued part of the TSE team.<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, we visited GE Aviation<\/a>. Advisory Committee member Matthew Smith greeted us and took us to the boardroom, where he gave a high-level presentation on GE Aviation. At this location, their focus in on providing commercial and military solutions. As a leading provider of integrated military aircraft systems and technologies, GE Aviation is helping armed forces improve fleet reliability and performance and predict future requirements. Avionics, electrical power systems, structures, and mission equipment are all optimized for military applications and mission needs.<\/p>\n

We then divided up into three small groups and went on a one-hour tour, where students witnessed why GE Aviation is a world-class leader in the industry.<\/p>\n

Our day ended with cookies and an engaging conversation with the GE senior leadership team. The conversation focused on changes in the industry and how the future workforce needs to be prepared. Students were encouraged to apply for GE Internships\u00a0and co-op opportunities.<\/p>\n

A special thank you to advisory committee members Michelle and Matt for opening their doors and connecting the classroom learning with future careers for SPC students. Also, thanks\u00a0to SPC Engineering and Manufacturing Dean Natavia Middleton, Program Director Lara Sharp, Career Outreach Specialist Joseph Benavides, Career and Academic Advisor Karen Sommerville, Career Connections DirectorJason Krupp and the 2018-19 Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Education Grant.<\/p>\n