The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that connects to welding professionals around the world and unrepresented communities as we continue to strive for a more diverse workforce. Join us as we celebrate Women Empowerment Month to learn about the incredible contributions of Women in the welding industry and our communities.
Embark on an enlightening journey with guest Patricia Carr from Miller Electric, as we navigate her adventure from Brooklyn's bustling streets to the forefront of the welding industry and education. Through her experiences, we unearth the challenges and victories that punctuate a career in workforce development. As we look ahead, the horizon brims with potential, and Patricia offers a sneak peek into the exciting innovations that lie in wait. From the gamification of welding education to the integration of industrial concepts into early learning, we explore how these initiatives might redefine our approach to cultivating the next generation.
Follow Miller Electric:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millerwelders/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millerwelders
Website: https://www.millerwelds.com/
Thank you to our Podcast Advertisers:
Canada Welding Supply: https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/
There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member
The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that connects to welding professionals around the world and unrepresented communities as we continue to strive for a more diverse workforce. Join us as we celebrate Women Empowerment Month to learn about the incredible contributions of Women in the welding industry and our communities.
Embark on an enlightening journey with guest Patricia Carr from Miller Electric, as we navigate her adventure from Brooklyn's bustling streets to the forefront of the welding industry and education. Through her experiences, we unearth the challenges and victories that punctuate a career in workforce development. As we look ahead, the horizon brims with potential, and Patricia offers a sneak peek into the exciting innovations that lie in wait. From the gamification of welding education to the integration of industrial concepts into early learning, we explore how these initiatives might redefine our approach to cultivating the next generation.
Follow Miller Electric:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millerwelders/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millerwelders
Website: https://www.millerwelds.com/
Thank you to our Podcast Advertisers:
Canada Welding Supply: https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/
There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member
All right, I checked, checked good, so I'm Max Ron. Max Max Ron SHITWB Association welding podcast podcast podcast. Today we have a really cool guest welding podcast. The show is about to begin. Attention, welders in Canada looking for top quality welding supplies, look no further than Canada Welding Supply With a vast selection of premium equipment, safety gear and consumables. Cws has got you covered. They offer fast and reliable shipping across the country. And here's the best part All podcast listeners get 10% off any pair of welding gloves. Can you believe that? Use code CWB10 at checkout when placing your next order. Visit canadaweldingsupplyca now. You're a trusted welding supplier. Happy welding.
Speaker 1:Hello and welcome to another edition of the CWB Association podcast. My name is Max Ron and, as always, I'm checking out all the talents and skills and wonderful people across the planet. Today I have brought in a good friend of mine and a wonderful supporter of the CWB and all things Education. We have Patricia Carr here from Miller Electric. She is part of the let's see if I get this right the education and workforce development team for Miller. I know that's only part of your very lengthy title, but, patricia, thank you for being on the show.
Speaker 2:Fantastic. You did well, Max, so thank you. Yes, so I am a part of a unique set of people at Miller, where we lead all of the education and workforce development initiatives. I split the country with a wonderful colleague of mine, Steve Hiddon, and I'm all things Canada, as you know, and I cover all the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-South as well.
Speaker 1:So that's pretty much it. So that's a big portfolio, so we're gonna get to how. You got to be in charge of a lot of stuff and I've known you for about three years now and I've even seen that portfolio grow in these last three years quite significantly, and so you must be doing something right. You must be doing something right.
Speaker 2:That's great to hear, thank you.
Speaker 1:Well, and you haven't gotten fired. Both of us haven't gotten fired yet, so we're doing okay.
Speaker 2:Do the right yeah.
Speaker 1:So let's start at the start here. Patricia, when are you from? Where's your roots?
Speaker 2:from, so I am first born generation here in this country. Both my parents are from the beautiful island of Jamaica.
Speaker 1:West Indies, so Jamaica, and you were born where in the US.
Speaker 2:I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens and now live in Long Island, so I'm very New York okay.
Speaker 1:Very New York, but you were complaining about the cold. So I don't know, do New York people complain about the cold?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they do. You know, hold this something, max, you can never get used to. That's just my opinion. Like there's no, I don't care who you are, the cold definitely affects our mood, right. So that's kind of one of the things with me I don't like the cold.
Speaker 1:I find it interesting because I really do think it's genetic. I do think it's genetic right, because if you look at people that come from like European or Scandinavian countries, or like Russia or Northern Asian countries, they're fine with the cold.
Speaker 1:They're totally fine with it. Like my wife is half Metis, half Polish, she's out there in the snow playing like a happy camper all winter long. I'm from South America. I come from a warm country. I'm warm-blooded genetically, so for me I have never been able to get used to the cold. I like hide in the winter like a hermit.
Speaker 2:We say the same. You should have said your chest before.
Speaker 1:All right. So, patricia, you're born in Brooklyn, you're raised in Queens and you work in New York now. So this is your bubble, right? Yeah? And what did you do in school, like in high school? What did Patricia think she was gonna do when she grew up?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so interestingly enough. So I always knew I had the love for business. I love to understand money and how it works, so that's kind of something I've always had an interest in. I also love the theater, the arts. I thought I was gonna be an actress when I was a younger.
Speaker 3:Oh, that's fantastic.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I believe that, and did you work towards it, like, did you take acting classes and stuff?
Speaker 2:So I did. I was a part of the New York Thespian Club. I've done a few plays here or there. It's something that I like, but then slowly, surely, the love of the business world really kind of took over, you know, and God has a way of just working things out. We have an idea, but he has a plan that's probably better than your own. So that's kind of how I ended up here.
Speaker 1:So you're in high school, you're a part of the school plays, you're into business. So you like math, you like numbers, yeah, yeah, you graduate high school and there's that question. Everybody asks you what are you gonna do with your life and what did you decide to do?
Speaker 2:So I really didn't know. I joined a community college right here in Manhattan. Okay, so shout out to BMCC if anyone's watching. I'm a graduate of BMCC Went there and I said you know what One thing I've learned? Like a lot of people suffer with school or debts, and I said let me just get the GREs out of the way. Let's not pick a major, let's just go into community college. Get all the basic you know the math, the science, social studies that you need for any degree and get that done. So that's what I did. I started at a two year school. I was working while I was in school as well, actually part time at the New York City 311 system, which is like the information system for New York City. I was a call center rep.
Speaker 1:Hello and welcome to 311. How can I assist you?
Speaker 2:Exactly, and I learned a lot about the city, which was pretty cool, because I still answer questions today for my friends who have questions about the city.
Speaker 1:Did you know that the underground transit is 3,600 feet long? No, I don't know Stuff like that really.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do Like how to make complaints of your garbage. I know some unique things on how the city works, but nevertheless, you know, working there while in community college, graduated from there, obviously you know when I got to the senior level, when I went to Queens College, which is the CUNY system I'm a graduate from CUNY I realized that, hey, I do like business and I love sociology, I love the idea of society. So I had both. I did a double major there and a concentration in child psychology as well. So few things.
Speaker 1:So you kind of took both branches at once. I mean, most people tend to like go either science or art, you know like, or the liberal arts, you know so, like the human justice or human rights stuff, and you kind of did both. You're like okay, I love business, but I also understand that there's a connection to real life, which is the sociology side of it, which I find commendable, because often, and like in the welding world, it's kind of like the difference between a welder and an engineer. The welder's on the ground, he's part of the real life, he's doing the real stuff. The engineer lives in like the theoretical bubble of life, which business can often be too theoretical, and they forget that context of what decisions get made in that office affect real people's lives over there.
Speaker 2:Right, I'm with you and that was the mindset, Max, Understanding people and how money works is to be the foundation to any career and that's kind of the reason why I went that route and I'm so glad I did. Looking back now kind of knew a thing or two. I'm gonna, you know, I gotta pat myself on the back.
Speaker 1:But you seem someone like I mean from day one that I met you. You seem someone that has, like you, got your stuff together, like you seem very put, like I mean for someone who, like me, is like I'm like chaos in a box right, like I'm just rolling around and just firing off like it's a maniac and things work out for me somehow. But like I look at you and you're like man, she doesn't do that, she knows what her next step is right.
Speaker 2:You know. But I have to tell you I can't take over credit. It's the grace of God. I'm a product of the grace of God and just having that solid relationship he leads me, and I'm proud to say that to you, max. That's why I am where I am today and we'll continue to grow by God's grace.
Speaker 1:So you finish college you finish college and now it's like you know the big fear. After college. You got to get a job right and plus there's a lot of thoughts like do I move, do I stay? Those are those college questions, you know. Like it depends if you have a spouse. Is there something keeping you home, family maybe? Or is it time to like go across country and figure it out? What was kind of your thought coming out of school?
Speaker 2:Let's get a job yeah.
Speaker 1:Start making some money.
Speaker 2:And start making some money. You know, and I thank God, I have to say, gave me wisdom. I graduated with no debt in school. So I didn't have that kind of you know that stress so. But I wanted to kind of get started on my career young, just so I can continue to grow, and I did so, falling in love with the city, working at 311, my first gig was in the workforce, one One Stop Centers. I was like a re-engagement specialist.
Speaker 2:I was once again kind of like a call center rep gig calling people who we've placed through the system and confirming their employment with that company. So that's kind of my start in my career, Like the parole officer for work. Yeah, exactly, because that's how the city got paid, so you don't get to prove that they're working.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Which is an interesting gig, you know. Once again, I learned a lot about the city on that and the workforce development side, and that's where I fell in love with workforce development. It was there and I continued to work myself up within that company before I left, yeah.
Speaker 1:Well interesting, because workforce development is a different thing depending on the level you're at right. Yeah, absolutely. When you're working with people who are, you know, disenfranchised or from a minority group, or newcomers, there's a whole different set of obstacles, as opposed to someone who is perhaps retraining or switching careers or looking to upskill within a career Different challenges, different world. But I think you kind of have to know the bottom levels to really get the top levels right.
Speaker 2:Absolutely that grassroots training. There's nothing like it. There's nothing like it. So I'm grateful for the experience because I understood to the two dynamics right that graduate coming out of school trying to get a job and, like you said, that adult who was either changing careers, maybe even new into the country, who needs to identify how to use their skillset from back home per se and apply it here in America. You know, I also worked a lot with our veteran population, a lot of them who were coming back home and trying to transition to civilian life. You know I had a contract, a veterans contract, that I worked on to do job placement for those folks and that was something very interesting for me to experience.
Speaker 2:Every time, and their spouses, I'm telling you, but one of those humbling things and I learned a lot. You know I learned a lot. So to your point, yeah, workforce development is a lot of range there, a lot so how long did you do that job for?
Speaker 2:So I was a re-engagement specialist, I want to say for about maybe a year and a half. Then I got promoted to career services. So now I became like a career advisor where I would kind of have my own setup. I had a set of clients that will come in through the system who are unemployed, and I will have to then identify their skillset, package them in a way to make them employable and send them out on interviews.
Speaker 1:So that include, like figure out what skills they're lacking, what they need to like what gaps, like a gap assessment of their skillset.
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. Do that skills assessment. I'd identify the areas that they need to add to the resume so they become more attractive to employers, and also taking a look at the local economic needs of that community right, because not every borough. Take the five boroughs of New York City Brooklyn, brooklyn, broad, staten Island, manhattan right and Queens Not Miss Queens, I grew up there.
Speaker 1:I just think of the Beastie Boys. When you say five boroughs, I'm like, yeah, Beastie Boys.
Speaker 2:So what's interesting enough, you see there in Canada, every borough or, in your case, province, has like a trend that you see in terms of work, right. So those are some of the things that I got to be exposed to in that role was to understand the local trends of the economy and making sure that those people who are unemployed have the skills they need to meet the demand of that local economy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and what type of work was it mainly that like what's the? What are the trends in the New York area that people need to like mainly get hired in, or that you're trying to get people into these jobs?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I had a specialty. I focused on the industrial and transportation trade, so I was always into the trade and so one of the trendy things. I'll tell you a quick story. I had to recruit for Learjet pilots one time.
Speaker 2:So, these are these specific niche type of pilot. They had to have over 3,500 flight hours for this and they were flying these, these kind of more like private type style, you know, planes that were owned by businesses that would use some of the local regional airports in New York, and it was a specific skill set. And I remember, you know, I was looking for these pilots and what was most humbling thing for me was to see how many commercial pilots wanted to get out of flying for, like the Delta, the American Airlines, and wanted to transition. They may have like 30, 20 years of experience, but they did not have what it needed for that particular role because they never flew that type of plane.
Speaker 2:So, to your point, to your point. It's very unique in those areas and for, in terms of what's trending in New York, a lot of it is construction, as you know. I mean, we've been building a lot here. We never had enough tool and die workers. That was at the vane of my existence in that role.
Speaker 1:Well, that course doesn't almost even exist in North America anymore. So how can you want something that there's no school for?
Speaker 2:you know there's no school and that you hit the know. That's the challenge. We're not training, there's not enough programs available. And there are available, they're not local enough to find the local people to take those programs or causing to fly out, get the training and come back. And who's?
Speaker 1:paying for that? Yeah, who's doing that? Yeah?
Speaker 2:It's. It's definitely tough, but that. That was some of the little things that humbling, but I learned a lot about New York's economy through that role.
Speaker 1:Yeah, sure. So then you were up into supervisor. How long were?
Speaker 2:you there in that role for.
Speaker 2:So I left. I left my career career advisor. Then I became a partner manager. So that role I was managing all of the CBO's networks within a specific borough and making sure that they, their cohorts, are sending us their people. You know, because we're in a business of bodies, you know, when it comes to workforce development and training, you need enough people to train them in a specific skill. So that was my role. That's where I learned my reach in my knack for gathering people, Pulling them in and also understanding the needs assessment and the collaboration piece of what it takes two independent organizations to work together for a common goal, and that you know. I learned that skill there and, I have to tell you, very rewarding and also learned a lot about how money was funded, because those CBO's are funded uniquely, and I learned a lot about, you know, those trends that I see in New York as well.
Speaker 1:So that's it Well collaborations make the world go by. Like I mean and I think that's something that got forgotten for like the last 20 I would say the 90s and 2000s Everyone forgot to collaborate. It was like everyone was looking at the amazons and the pay pals and the fords and chefs and thinking One company to rule them all or one company to do it all, and then it all fell apart. Like it all fell apart. Like the economy's collapsed in 2008 and I get in 2015 and it's like Okay, well, what are we learning from this? We do need small business, we do need entrepreneurs, we do need young people getting into these trades that we forgot about for 20 years. So how, how the heck are we gonna start getting bodies in them? The programs have been shut down, the schools have been closed. The funding is now gone. Well, what the heck? You know how do we start dealing with that? And and collaboration is the answer. Like we got a, we got, we got a band back up. It takes a village right.
Speaker 2:It takes a village and an industry, I believe, needs to be the leader in that, because if we want education to lead, we're always going to be behind. Industry should be leading education. It shouldn't be the opposite, and that's kind of what we've been seeing. You know, the standards are created and then industry is hoping that the standards meet their needs, and I saw that. I saw that in that job, for sure, you know.
Speaker 1:So, after being partner manager there and taking on this big, big yeah, you know, roll out. Now you're in the money side. Right now you're on the money side. Less about bodies, but more about KPIs and statistics. No, yeah, how long were you there for?
Speaker 2:So I did that role that's for another two years and then I moved up to a senior sourcing manager.
Speaker 2:This is always in the same company, so all within the same company. Before I get into department education, I'm here and go there after that. But, yeah, I'm going to senior sourcing manager. So now I have my recruiter is reporting to me on a few career advisors of a bigger team there and there I learned more about KPIs, like you said, numbers and strategy. That's where I really got to kind of create and be in my bubble. I look at the system holistically and build strategy around how to be grow the business you know and get more people in our, in our center. So that that was exciting and, and then.
Speaker 2:And then I, I branch over to the department of education. So was this a willing?
Speaker 1:move, where you look in the balance, where you like I need to try something else, because it sounds like you've been at this place like 70 years now and that's like right out of college, like I mean I'm sure you're looking Well, I don't. Some people are very happy in the same place for 20 years. I get like a seven year itch, about seven years with the company. I'm like, uh, I mean I might love my job, it's great, but I started looking over the fence and being like what's, what's going on over there? Or I guess I get the urge to learn something else, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know, honestly, that gave someone tapping in the shoulder. I said, patricia, you know I think you'd be great for this role. See what happens, you know, and it happened and they hired me as a cte manager. I I oversaw whole district there. This used to be now to the citywide district specifically for marginalized populations.
Speaker 2:So we have the adult education, the access vr, which is the students with disabilities, um, and also um students who are coming in taking like the ged or the task programs they call them, you know, over age, under credited students. I also dealt with students, um, who are juvenile delinquents. I covered those programs as well, citywide. So it gave me an opportunity just to reach different populations outside of just dealing with adults. On the other end, you know workforce development. So that's kind of why I took it on. I was excited for the new challenge and and also to bring more industry into education. You know I have a love for industry and education working together and that role for me allowed me to do that and I stayed there for a while. Go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1:How did that allow you to do that? You know when people think of government or municipal, you know roles and programs. You don't necessarily see that industry partnership very often. So you know how did you make that connection? For you know the city in new york and and industry to say, look, we need your guys's hands on on man dear to To get these programs up and running and to be successful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so couple of things. I had to do, some selling Um with some of the superintendents that get them to see the value, because we were not. We were dealing with non traditional students.
Speaker 2:Yeah these are students who are new to this country. These are students who um, there are other challenges right that take place and the, the schooling is one thing, but they also need to work. You follow me, and if the school could be like the, the school could be kind of the medium that brings the two together, then that student will probably more than likely graduate, because now they can put food on the table and that's what I saw, you know, and I thank god for my leaders at the time who bought into the idea and they allowed me to build programs. So I got CVS to come in and build a pharmacy tech program in one of our classrooms in brooklyn and they trained students to become pharmacy tech and take them.
Speaker 2:Take that, that's it. And they've trained them, they certified them and they said look, if you want to go back to school, will sponsor part of your tuition To become a pharmacist. So these are some of the programs that I was excited to be a part of. Um, do you really just see the change, you know, in the local economy?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and how do you get the students to buy in? Because you know, as In my, in my life, you know, I've seen kind of all the sides of it, right from top to bottom. And there people that have had struggles, regardless of what the reason is, people that I've had struggles especially with schools or school systems, create a deep level of distrust. Right, they have a level of distrust of systems in general, of government, of programs, you know. Like they, many of them feel like the system failed them when they were younger. And so now here shows up patricia, say well, this system is different, this one's not going to fail you. Why would they believe you?
Speaker 2:Great question. The first thing is the barriers to getting things done. It has to be easy. So if you have, for example, if you have three meetings before that student can Can see the end goal, then that's an issue right. So simplicity is the first thing.
Speaker 2:Another reason why I believe that program was successful is we brought the program to their, to their local school. It was local enough where we removed travel issues, money to get there, you know. And also we were paying students a stipend, because a lot of times these sort of drop out of school because they need to get money Mommy doesn't make enough money in the table or they have siblings. They want to help out, you know, to help take care of them. And if you can, if school, if education could provide a medium for both, then that student now is an environment to be more successful. So, but it can't be difficult for the student to even do business with us. You know, and that's why education, that's the missing gap. It's we want to create systems that check boxes, but it doesn't necessarily serve the constituents a part of that system. So that's where you see the system failing us, and that role allowed me to kind of remove some of that red tape and Virocracy piece.
Speaker 1:It can be done but it needs to write team and the right vision it does it does, because you know I love your Checkbox analogy because sometimes we see a checkbox on a list, yeah, and for me I can check that box, but for somebody else they might have Five or six hidden check boxes under that checkbox that they need to hit before they can do that. That I just innately have Through my existence or my privileges that I I own right. Some people don't have those privileges, so that checkbox is actually a huge hurdle, right?
Speaker 2:I'm telling you, I mean another, I'll share this with you. So the else population, which is the English language learners population within schools. A challenge that we face with them is that they don't speak the native language and and there's a socioeconomic gap, right? So how do you serve that student where you're trying to teach them a language, get them the skills they need and they need a job. So you know it's taking that holistic approach to school. It can't. You got to look at the whole student Can't just be focused on the academics. If you are, they're not going to be successful and that's where.
Speaker 2:That's where I saw that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all right, Well, no it's and, and, and we see it, we see. We see that it gets done and we see pieces of it. What? What I have yet to see is that it that it spread like the wildfire that we all wish it did.
Speaker 1:Yes you know, because there's pockets of greatness all over the place, people doing amazing things. You have champions that come up within industry, that come in and shake things up and do great things, but then it's almost feel like the bureaucracy comes in and says that's enough of that, that's enough of that. Close the walls on you. That's a great idea and all but we we you know the old boys club we like it the way we've always had it right, oh yeah, I've experienced.
Speaker 1:So so you're working in this gig now and it sounds like it's right up your alley and you're loving it. How long were you there for?
Speaker 2:I was there for close to about five years, and then Miller knocked on my door.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, how does that happen?
Speaker 2:Oh, because.
Speaker 1:Miller's a whole different type of company.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you and First of all, this is a, this is an act of God. Let me just put that out there because there's no way now I get a. I get a message on LinkedIn and this is one like LinkedIn. I don't know if you ever got like messages from recruiters. It could be sketchy.
Speaker 1:I get a lot of them. Yeah, you get a lot.
Speaker 2:So you know, okay, I get a message from LinkedIn, from a HR manager over at at Miller and you know they found me on LinkedIn and my look at my profile and felt like I had, I was a good skill set. They were looking for someone to lead that education you know, the education piece of, in terms of strategy who came from that industry. And I got that message and I'm like, is this real? I'm gonna say to my mom Wisconsin, I don't think I'm gonna move.
Speaker 1:I mean, there's beautiful state parks in Wisconsin. Oh yeah, summer set, wisconsin is beautiful.
Speaker 2:In the summer. So, listen, we talked about the call.
Speaker 1:That's right, that's right. You're not putting your snow shoes on, no.
Speaker 2:Wisconsin's a different animal when it comes to weather. It could be sleep rain on a Monday and like 70 degrees on a Thursday. I've never experienced a place where two different ends of the spectrum. But In a nutshell, I get a knock on my door um for for education channel manager position and I went up there, I interviewed and here I am and it's been six years since I've been there and it's been great. I can't complain I the role. I'll tell you why it Appealed to me. It brought the two greatest assets I believe I have, which is that I understand education, I understand how business works and bringing the two together, and that is why you know I'm still here, because it's it's been fun.
Speaker 1:So when you, when you got the knock on your door, yeah.
Speaker 1:You know you got to play the pros and cons games right. Like you know they go gay. What do I gain? What do I lose? You know, um, I feel like what you do now for miller and correct me if I'm wrong but yeah, I feel like it pulls you a little bit away from the floor, like you're a little bit off the grassroots now You're you're much more in the office, You're creating these programs and and there's a piece of it that you're not a welder. So it's not like you can get back on the ground and be like hey, I'm gonna show you how to do this, because it's out of your wheelhouse.
Speaker 1:So you gave up that level of comfort because in In there, in your government job, you knew all the pieces and you understood all the pieces very well.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, so definitely left the comfort zone for sure, and I love to see a project to the end. I that's. I love to see the ROI from a project. Yes, so people who love creating great programs and they walk away, they're fine. I like to hear you know what did this program yield us? And so, yeah, so some of that I did lose, but you know, being on this side of the coin, I get to create those assets internally now. So, looking at the business Miller as a whole and kind of how it works, you know, from a business standpoint, between our sales team and just continuing to grow the interest for us to focus on education, I have to say Miller has taken some starts, even recently. Now we created a whole new education vertical and strategy specific to that market. So it tells me that Miller has been listening in the last couple of years and we're making steps in that way. So I'm able to do some of that work, but not grassroots like you say.
Speaker 1:It's more so dealing with the systems that play and how to make each system work, interconnect to make a trifecta that will yield us some from, and I guess how Miller can be the product of choice, not just as a machine or a consumable, but also as an educational partner right.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, because that's what it's about. Now, if you want to do all that education, you got to build solid relationship and partnerships. Yeah, no one wants to. I mean I've been a bunch of sales calls. I mean you also need instructor, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I taught in the college for years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Okay, so you understand. You get the calls.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we got this new textbook, we got this stuff yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you, especially when I was dealing with teachers and superintendents, they're always getting calls about LMS systems and why to go. You know we all been there and the approach with Miller now, with taking a partnership style approach to schools, I believe that's what's going to be beneficial for both entities. One, it gets our blue systems in the schools. But the second thing, like you said, we become the brand of choice, right for that student, because what you train on, what you're going to buy in your personal garage, you get older.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Brand loyalty is a very interesting thing. I mean, look at, look at the automakers and how much they build their companies off that brand loyalty and and really it translates. You know, there's companies in the world that are three, 400 years old and and we don't even know. But we know the name, right, like you hear. You hear Rolls Royce. None of us has sat in one, none of us has owned one, we don't even get close to them. I don't think I've even smelled the Rolls Royce, but we know what it is, immediately because of the brand name, right? Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's the business we're in now.
Speaker 1:So this is a great time to take our break. We've already flown through half an hour. I can't believe that. That is wild. I love to. Every time we hang out, no, every time we hang out. We're like this because we both have this energy we're like. So let's take a break. Our listeners can have a sip of coffee, because I'm sure they've been hanging on our words and we'll be right back after these words from our sponsors, so don't go anywhere here. On the CWB Association.
Speaker 3:The CWB Association is new and improved, and focused on you. We offer a free membership with lots of benefits to anyone interested in joining an association that is passionate about welding. We are committed to educating, informing and connecting our workforce. Gain access to your free digital publication of the weld magazine, free online training conferences and lots of giveaways. Reach out to your local CWB Association chapter today to connect with other welding professionals and share welding as a trade in your community. Build your career, stay informed and support the Canadian welding industry. Join today and learn more at CWB associationorg.
Speaker 1:And we are back here on the CWB Association podcast. My name is Max Raun. I'm here with Patricia Carr from Miller who's talking to me about her. Well, we just ended up on her pathway to get in the Miller and now here we are today. She's been at Miller for six years and now is in charge of education and and workforce development. Now, one of the points you just made right before the break was how Miller in the last couple years has seemed to really kind of get behind the education game. Now I literally just interviewed someone from Miller for the podcast Two days ago, one of the district managers up here in Canada, tabor Tabor Hall out in the West, great guy.
Speaker 1:But we brought up education and I said you know, it's funny, in a couple days I'm interviewing Patricia. So but the conversation was about how Miller sort of wasn't in the education spectrum. You know Lincoln had done a hard push into education 20 years ago where they came out with like major educational discounts. They have their consumables program. They come, they've tried a few variations of an LMS online education program and during this whole development and this is what I was a worker and then a manager and then an owner, and then into the college system as an instructor. Miller was always just like machines and consumables. Machines and consumables and if I remember there used to be a 1 800 number you could call and they would send you a tube of posters and it was always nice to get to the posters for free because they were good posters and it's nice. We all love having those posters around the shop, just for safety, and you know blah blah blah.
Speaker 1:And then all of a sudden, when I was about two thirds of my way through college teaching college, so I was in my third or fourth year all of a sudden we had our Miller rep come by Duncan at the time and he said we're getting into the education game. We're going to start creating manuals, we're going to start creating books. At this time there was no talk of LMS or digital or nothing. It was just, you know, like a book system.
Speaker 1:Are you interested in taking a look at them? Like you said, they're coming around knocking and I was, like, I'll always look at curriculum. Like I mean, a good teacher doesn't say no to looking at curriculum Because because you want to incorporate all the all the best stuff Absolutely In your six years. Now, what's the difference? Why Is it? Because they hired Patricia, you know, did you? Did Patricia come in and say look, I'm you, hired me to be your education specialist? Well, this is what we got to do. Or was there a big plan already when you came in, that it was like we got a shift focus, or I'm very interested to know the pathway for that journey.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I think I'm gonna say it starts with products. So to your point building big blue machines. You know we built a augmented reality welder right, we have a few.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:So when they built that machine, immediately they know what was a training tool and where does training happen in schools. So I believe that's kind of the birthing of how Miller started to look at education like, hey, this we may need to pay a little more attention here, you know. And so it started with that product and as that product continued to grow I mean when I first started I was hired specifically for under that business with that product we took that built that business from 3 million to 7 million in five years, okay. So when we saw the growth rate and it was in schools, I mean we do have some industry that buy this for their recruitment purposes and things like that, but the 80 of where that that equipment is sold is traditionally in schools and Union Hall training centers and things like that. So when we when we saw the opportunity as you know, we're in schools, we're having these conversations, we're hearing about new welding programs being built or funding coming through we say, ah, maybe we should not only be focusing on these two products.
Speaker 2:Let's look at the entire portfolio and have a strategy for all of it into education. So that's kind of where Miller first had the aha moment with education. We started with those augmented reality products. Obviously they shed the light on for Miller to kind of start taking it.
Speaker 1:And that's really interesting because I feel like Miller got into that game basically to keep up with the Joneses. You know, it's like everyone else is coming up with these cool tools. We can do that, we can do that, we can make it better. You know, like everyone was doing VR, then they came out the AR, right. So I was like you know, we're gonna one up our competitors, which which is good. Competition breeds excellence, right, it is what it is. But I didn't realize that that was kind of like the chicken before the egg, because I thought there was already like a game plan for education before the.
Speaker 1:AR machine came out. Because I saw those AR machines when they first came out I was like these are awesome and I didn't realize that that was the kind of like the inception of this education portfolio.
Speaker 2:It really was, because also when they, when Miller thought about education, he thought about educating our distributor channel, not necessarily education the sector you know. You found him saying to so a lot of, even the books, the Miller Masters program, that was centered about educating our distributor channel so that way they can go out and sell more of our stuff, you know. But but yeah, that you're right, the AR machines kind of started that baby here at Miller, for sure.
Speaker 1:So so now, what is division? You know, like when you're looking at education as a sector, well, that's, that's a Pandora's box, because you got government involved, federal, state, municipal, you got multiple levels, right, you got different. Well, school districts with different. You got private, you got public, you got kind of like. You got, I mean, this is a web of webs, right? Yeah, how do you come into there and start scratching the surface of these, of this web, and saying, hey, we're a new player on the market, you already know us from our machines, but now we have this.
Speaker 2:Right. So great question, max. You know 80, 20 is a principle that we strive on here at I T W, and so when we look at the education sector, one of the things we did was look at where are we doing? Well, first you know what equipment are we selling into education and you know like the XMT 350 is kind of one of our leading, you know very, very multi platform.
Speaker 1:Easy to use machine.
Speaker 2:Yeah, easy to use machines and some of the millimatics as well. So take a look at, kind of, where the money's going. Okay, that's the first thing, and the next piece of it is what parts of the country do we see the sales happening right? And then, once we identify those targets, then we can get to the point where we start to find funding trends, understanding where the funding's coming from, like Perkins, I mean, some of this stuff is public knowledge. I mean, if you go on, you know Perkins, dot, edu, and look at the funding, you can see certain states are funded more than others, and just building a strategy around that.
Speaker 2:Now, one of the challenges around doing that, though, you know this, all this max, all of the information is not on the internet, so you're gonna have to rely on a combination of your local sales assets which is within district district manager, like you interviewed with a couple of days ago and a combination of our local sales assets and also our set, our historical data and making decisions from that. You know, another play I'll say that really helped craft how we scratch the surface here is open book. You know we have our own LMS system and during COVID we had like over 1000% increase in registrations during COVID, and what that allowed us to do is to capture data, because what's actually more expensive in this world is the data we get on our customers right.
Speaker 2:And, and so taking a look at who's registered with open book tells us these are where the welding programs are and we need to have a strategy in these areas. So that's kind of how we formed, you know, the strategy and how to, how to focus on those areas. In terms of that, I hope that helps.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it does, it does and then when you look, at the funding envelopes. Like I mean, miller's a private company, yeah, you know they. I'm sure there's an X amount of funding that gets put into your department from the mothership, right, yeah, to make the wheels turn and to seed money or whatever it is. But you know how dependent are you now in the education sphere and chasing down those funding sources as well, whether they be public funding or private.
Speaker 2:All the time, because wherever the money, because wherever the money is, they'll spend. I mean listen.
Speaker 2:It's if you speak to any instructor now, they'll tell you they'll love to buy 10 millers right now. That's not an issue. You don't have to sell product. It's how do we get the money in the hands of the customers that they can buy it right. So that's that's. An area of growth for us is understanding the funding streams and where the money is coming from and when it's coming. And we are, you know, we're doing research even now on doing that, just studying. Like the RFPs that come out, we're doing some of that work, making sure we respond to them, Because there are certain players that play better in that than others. Like I said, more has not looked at education. We haven't been in this business for a decade. I think we were in it by default because we have the brand, but not taking an intentional approach in this case right.
Speaker 1:You know, and then what about?
Speaker 3:you're an important person, I'm sure.
Speaker 2:No, I'm sorry, this should have been on silent. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1:Yes, Now, what about, like? I want to put a theoretical question in front of you. You have a school that says we know we want 10 machines, we'll use your, your, your licensed education program or whatever it is on open board, we're in, we're in, patricia, we're in but we don't have the money for these 10 machines. Do you work with the schools to help them access funding? For, like you know, because they have access to funding different than you have access to funding, are you, are you up? Are you up? Participant in that proposal process? Or do you say, like you know, good luck. I mean, that's a whole nother level of work, no, no, you're right.
Speaker 2:But I'll tell you something I believe for us to be effective, you need to be able to provide technical assistance to schools looking to improve welding. Right? So it's to your point. I answer this in two ways. So the first thing is, yes, we do point them in the right direction of where to get the money. You know, like I had a conversation yesterday with the high school about you know, some grants that AWS is coming out with that's gonna close like on the 15th of March. Like I'm like, go and apply.
Speaker 3:Yeah, hurry up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and so yeah, so we do some of that work. Another piece I can't stress enough is the capacity of the school. You know, you know this, max Not every school has a grant writer, so you're gonna have to find that instructor that's zealous, willing to do the work follow the money, the champion to finish that. So we do a little bit of that and then we also provide data around the impact of our system, specifically the AR machine A lot of times for the proposal.
Speaker 2:So we offer that type of assistance. We have a grant assistance tool that we built out for our schools where they can, and give some basically the successful components of a grant so they understand, kind of this. These are the things that need to be written in your grant for it to be successful. We have a list of like resources where they can go and find money. So we do, we did some work in that area to help remove the barriers, the barriers to buy from us. And the last thing I'll say in closing is, with the new education focus, we've created some curating buying options now to help remove some of those barriers, correct, correct.
Speaker 2:So that's something that we've created now with the change and looking to, and that's not offered to everyone, obviously, and you do some discovery with that, but it's not for everyone.
Speaker 1:Well, hey, patricia, I want to start a school in my house, here, you know. Can I get some funding for 10 machines please?
Speaker 2:Exactly so. There's some discovery you know that happens, but to your point is removing the barriers to purchase. That is where the strategy is wrapped around, you know, and positioning us to be the preferred brand in that.
Speaker 1:So yeah, so a couple things that I've noticed during a conversation is that you know the machines now. Like how much of a sales training did you have to get in terms of the products at ITW? Good, question.
Speaker 2:So I went through a full rotational program where I welded, got on the machines, understand. You know the different processes. I probably know more than, or I love to be dangerous. I'm not a welder.
Speaker 1:Could you fix your husband's chair when he breaks the leg off? I probably cannot. I do a few things around.
Speaker 2:I can fix him too, but that's a tough question Well, how?
Speaker 1:many kids.
Speaker 2:You got Four or no, or under eight.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know, yeah, so you're a super mom. Today, international Women's Day, congrats to you on being a wonderful, strong black woman with four kids.
Speaker 2:Thank you for that, thank you for that, thank you but, yeah, so that's the name of the game there, man.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So I learned a lot. I learned a lot. I went through a full rotational program. I went to some of our different training sites throughout the country, got to weld some of the greatest and latest trainings that we have, that facilitate trainings on even some of our webinar series that you see today, and it was good because you gotta know enough about the product to have the conversation. You know, what I mean.
Speaker 1:Or else there's too many hands off.
Speaker 2:It's exactly, and it's easier for me to have those conversations. I don't want to be in a room and feel like I'm becoming the wall because I don't know what to say. That's right, you're on a different language, because welding has its own language. Every industry has its own language. That's right, and if you're gonna be, you're gonna play a part in this. It's important to know the language of the land, and that's what I believe that's great advice.
Speaker 1:You know that happens lots and in various levels of industry, because the higher up you go, it's almost they're more removed from the product you are. So once you get to like senior leadership or CEO or board of directors, they're very important decision makers, but sometimes they kind of don't know what the heck's going down on at the bottom right, right, I mean it's, yeah, it's a product, it happens even in government.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because a lot of people making decisions that don't know what's going on in the local economy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so in the education sphere, because you've been in this sphere now for it sounds like almost 20 years from doing the math right, like 18 years, like that About about 15.
Speaker 2:15?. Give me a little bit Okay. Sorry, no, you're right, 16. No, you're close to the 20. You're absolutely right, I'm gonna go.
Speaker 1:We all are, man, we all are. So you've been doing this for a while. You know, yeah, what and I'm gonna back out a level here not necessarily you with Miller, but you as an education, you know, involved in the education field what are some of the big obstacles that you've seen really arise over your term in the in this field. You know what are the things that perhaps new educators coming in today, you know listening to this podcast should be aware of, be like, hey, watch these trends or watch these things. You know that that's kind of a could be an issue or it could be a positive maybe.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think, as I take a step back and see some of the issues. Or, like you said, speaking to a new educator coming in, I would say networking.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna say why. Networking specifically with industry in the area where your school is? I believe that's a missing piece. How to build those solid relationships? Because you have to have a balance right. Your states that set your standards on what you need to teach, but then industry has theirs, and if you're a true educator and and I am, and you are too max you want your kids to graduate and get good jobs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And so if you're in, that game, that long-range plan, and you're committed to that. I would say building your network, just taking time to learn who the players are in your, in your community, and finding out where they gather whether it's you know specific clubs or and going back to your ministry, say, hey, I want to be a part of this club. Would you sponsor me going there, maybe once one Wednesday in afternoon to leave work early. I start to engage and have those conversations. Don't leave everything to the administrator. I can't emphasize that enough.
Speaker 1:You know that's great, is it burnt out? They are, they are thinking for me.
Speaker 2:They're parked out and they don't know everything. But if they see you're serious and your heart in the right place and you really looking to do was right for those children, that I don't see why they wouldn't support it. I've done it with my yeah, educators yeah.
Speaker 1:I do it too with my stuff and and I feel like it was something that was around. I remember my dad grew up in the trades and there was a lot of associations and he would go to their bowling nights and pool nights and he would drag us kids along and I'd see my dad with his. You know there are two companies that hate each other in the in the industrial world, but in this is neutral ground. This is a place where people just get together to chat and talk about business and it's and and that networking, you know, was very good for my dad in the associations. Now because now you know I run a, the association you brought up a WS fantastic association in the US how important do you see associations in terms of being partners, of education or of these processes?
Speaker 2:I believe they, they should be the actual, true facilitators and intermediaries between education and industry. That's where I see associations. That's the role there, right, it's a gathering place, like you said, for for different entities with the similar interests to have these meeting of the minds and build programs and see change. I believe that's the role of an association not to just like members and membership fees well, that's a thing you know.
Speaker 1:Like a KPI of a membership is of an association, is membership, you know, like I mean, that's number one on my list at work is like where's the members? And it's like, well, you know, that's that is important, absolutely like a business is business, things gotta grow. But it's not gonna grow and stay if you don't have the backing of of the process behind it. Because I can make numbers burst tomorrow if I dump 10 grand into Facebook and, hey, look, we got all these members and then six months now they're all gone. Right, it's like you want that staying power where where they get something out of it, that it's not just like for nothing, they are getting something out of it, there's a value proposition for them that they're like, hey, I'm gonna be a part of this association because I'll connect to people, like I'll run into a Patricia from Miller. I'll run into a so-and-so from you.
Speaker 1:Know this company and and those connections will help me with my career right you're absolutely right.
Speaker 2:It's so important you know. I would even take it a step further where or associations like yours or like AWS, they need to think about sustainability. I think that's also a missing piece, even in strategy, business wise, right, when I'm thinking about programs. How can we sustain this thing five years down the road, when I've made, moved on with you before and man? Yeah and a lot of times what happens, especially in the education industry? Something will be created and it dies with the person.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I see that report that said and this was in Canadian government, but I'm sure it's our same or on the world, that there's more money looking to be invested in pilot projects and sustainable projects. And I always I thought, I looked at that and I thought you know that's a double-edged sword, if I ever read one. Because yes, we want pilots, yes, we want people to come in with new ideas and to say this is a new thing I want to do because of X. But if you're not willing to fund that after year three because now it's a sustained project, then did you really care? Did you actually care or did you just need to hit up a KPI on your box to make your boss happy? You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly. So that even happens with the internal organizations as well, you know, all the time. So that's sustainable. So maybe we should be leading with sustainability.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 2:In my opinion, we should be leading with that. That shouldn't be an afterthought. Now I have a great sexy program. How are we going to maintain it? No, let's build a program that can be maintained with the card systems in place.
Speaker 1:Whoa what's the process?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I'm with you 100%.
Speaker 1:Now, what about your art bug inside of you? What happened to the art bug? So tell me what's going on with you now, because I know art. I got my guitars back there. Art never runs away from you. Even if you take a break for a while, it sneaks back. So tell me. Yeah, and I'm just going on an aluminum here thinking that you're doing something.
Speaker 2:Well, let me say this I'm not doing anything actively because I have four children and a husband, which my life was filled. You have enough rules, you're going to play.
Speaker 2:So I'm maybe acting in that for a bit, I'm a counselor or teacher or a warden for the day, but however, you know, I do find time, by God's grace, so really indulge in the art. So, like I love music, you know I'm someone that I move by music. I love to see even instrumentals, I love jazz, you know. And my daughter interestingly, my youngest, my youngest daughter anyway, elizabeth she loves to sing, so she got a little bit of that from a. Yeah, I mean she has always had a song in her heart, max.
Speaker 1:Yeah, my daughter is a professional musician. You know she started as a musician young. She had the skill by five. She was already amazing, and so I really supported her. And then, you know, everyone's always like, oh, arts, arts are kind of, if not. To me, arts are, I think, almost like the highest level of human expression. You know what I mean. And now she's a musical director for a school district.
Speaker 1:So yeah people are like, oh, there's no future in art. I'm like, yeah, there is. My daughter's got a great job and she's a professional flute player. She kicks butt man.
Speaker 2:It can be done, it can't be done. You're absolutely right. That's awesome. You can send me some of her stuff.
Speaker 1:I can. I can. Yeah, she's online, she's in another angle. What about your role as a as I'll put two questions in one as a female person of color in a non-traditional industry right, that's the question. And that's a barrier, like I love seeing a successful, strong woman, especially a person of color. You know, being you, you're just being you and you're kicking butt. That is inspirational to so many people, whether you want it to be or not. It just is right. Yeah, what? How do you feel about your path? Has it? Have you had some major roadblocks? Have you had some serious issues, and how did you navigate them?
Speaker 2:So stereotypes exist. That's right, and people have their mind made up by just looking at you. And I have to tell you so, yes, and it has impacted my career. I have experienced some things, you know, some barriers of growth because of what I look like and I'm not one of the boys, so one of the you know in the inner crew.
Speaker 2:I don't look like the socially acceptable one in this role, and so one of the things that has helped me obviously, my relationship with God is number one, but the second piece is staying who you are. I'm very intentional with that. So integrity is everything to me, Max, and I believe integrity can get you far, because I can sleep well at night with everything that I do at work and also allowing your work to speak for itself. That's another portion of it. And being open to feedback I'll say that's the third thing and even feedback from those that you know are not your greatest fan, because you actually you open up the door to teach them something different than what they thought was.
Speaker 1:No, and that's wonderful.
Speaker 2:No, that's wonderful.
Speaker 1:Okay, because I feel that I feel that I'm a kind of a firecracker. When you've met me, I'm kind of, I got long hair and I'm covered in tattoos and I come from a very different background that a lot of people would normally run into in this level of business right, and I've had to have that conversation. I've had to be open and honest with people to say, you know, just look at the work, Don't look at me, just look at the work, because that's what I'm here to do and work. And when I go home and I'm in my personal life, I'll live my personal life how I want.
Speaker 1:But when I'm here, I'm doing the job, tell me the job is good, criticize the job, whatever you want, but that's fair. But don't come at me and say I think you should change the way you look, talk, act. You know I've had, I've had in business many times. People say, well, could you tone down the way you communicate with people and it's like, not really that's kind of who I am Like, and part of the reason you hired me in the first place is because you want me to go out and do this for you and then you can't complain when I'm doing it here too.
Speaker 2:Right, it's the same max at the boardroom with the same max at home.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 1:That's right Because being authentic has gotten me a long way, because there was a small part.
Speaker 1:There was a part time in a small portion of my life where I was younger and I was trying to figure out how to like change myself to fit in, and it was probably the most unhappy I'd ever been in my life, when I was like you know what? I remember I had a caught in a couple of tattoos when I was really young and the people were like, oh, they're going to ruin your career, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then I albeit I probably had to fight six times harder than the average person, but I started climbing that ladder. You know, just fight, fight, fight and eventually I got to the point where you're like you know what? I'm just going to get as many tattoos as I want Because you know what, I don't care anymore, I just don't care. If you don't pay me for my skill set and my passion and my intelligence and you're not willing to pay me because of ink on my arm, then we don't have a relationship. This isn't going to work anyways.
Speaker 2:You shouldn't want to work for that employer. That's just the truth, because you should be interviewing the employer as much as they're interviewing you. That's right, and you know I'll say this. The reason why it's like that is because there's a lot of people who got where they are by what they look like and not necessarily the work they've done.
Speaker 1:That's right. I love that you. That is a beautiful way to put that.
Speaker 2:You know. So that's why we stand and we interact and face the things we face, looking the way we do, because a lot of people who make decisions today are there because of what they look like. Nothing more, nothing less.
Speaker 1:That's right. And then we talked about that, that old boys club, or you know that, and it's tough to crack and they make. Well, it's part of the struggle, but where we got we got each other's back. You know, it is what it is.
Speaker 2:I'll give you a quick story back to make you laugh. I remember I was talking with a director for school and I will say the person's name and scheduled a meeting and we met in person and he was shocked that I was black. I didn't expect you. He was honest about it. We had a chuckle about it. But I go back to say the assumptions right.
Speaker 2:The assumptions that people make, and so the more we continue to be us, max we get to. We get to prove the assumptions to be wrong, and that's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1:It is, it is and it's very validating.
Speaker 1:You know I have that. The question I get lots is can I talk to your director? You're looking at him, bro. Can't make it out? No, you can't. But you know what it is. It is why, it's why I do the podcast, it's why we do these things. It's, you know, to get the stories out there and to let people know that no one's alone, no one's unique yes, everyone's got everyone's got their own piece of the puzzle, but we all fit. There's a fit for everybody, right, and it's, and it's somewhere in this thread of fabric that we call life right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1:You're absolutely right Now, what's on the path for you for the future. You know, like you, you've been, and we can break this into two pieces. Let's break it into first the first part, which is Miller. You know what's Miller got coming up in the future. What are you working on? What new and exciting things? Can we perhaps get a teaser of coming down the pathway here?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I guess the first thing I'll say is this education vertical. You know it's actually a dotted line in corporate now, which is exciting, and so that's kind of the immediate thing in the next couple of years. I'm excited to get into the weeds a little bit about our strategy, our long range planning and, you know, Miller, being more intentional in this space from a dollar's perspective and also from a, you know, equipment perspective, because we're doing a lot of VOC work consistently and hearing you know what's good about our machines, what sucks about our machines, what do schools need, and taking the charge on those conversations to really influence, you know, our new product development. Those are some of the areas you're going to see some great things from us in that space is being more intentional to build machines that work for schools. I'm excited about that.
Speaker 1:That's such an interesting idea because it was something I talked about when I was just interviewing one of the major cobot distributors in Canada, when I said nothing's real Like things don't hit society for real till they're a toy. You know what I mean Because you think about it. You know, like your first interaction with vehicles is with toy cars. Your first interaction with clothing and fashion is with toy. You know figurines and dolls, and right, because nothing really like. There's little construction sets.
Speaker 1:So if you're in a construction family, you can buy your kid a little toy drill and that's like hey, stem, we're talking STEM, we're putting these toys in front of them. Well, where's the toy robots? Where's the toy cobots? Where's the toy welding machines? Where are the toy cartoon? Where are the cartoons for this? Because if you're not putting this stuff into the mainstream and try to get it in their heads at 15, you're too late. You're way too late because they've already. I mean they're playing with fire trucks, cop cars, ambulances, because they're playing with, they're playing doctor, they're playing lawyer, they're playing with all these things from zero. So there's already these conceptions, these pathways being made in their synapses and their brains that are kind of focusing their future. And I said you know cobots because right now cobots are such an amazing thing in industry but they're not really catching on to small industry. They're kind of there's. It seems to be a barrier there. Right now Everyone across the planet is frantically trying to figure out how do we get cobots, because they've come down in price significantly.
Speaker 3:But money isn't everything.
Speaker 1:Just because they're cheaper doesn't mean people are buying them. So now the question is like well, why not? It's like, well, there's a comfort level that's not there. Well, can I buy a cobot at Home Depot? Well, no, right, but I can buy a 3D printer at Home Depot. So, right, I got additive manufacturing at Home Depot. That now makes sense. It's now a hobbyist, I can do that.
Speaker 1:So I think that you know, when you're talking about getting welding and working with the sales side, distribution side and education, there might be some things that come out of those type of you know, investigations to say, well, maybe there needs to be that. You know that simple welder that you can put, and I don't even know what this is. I'm like in imagining something but like the toy that kids can play with, that's like it, and I guess VR is like that, ar is like that, but they're pricing machines. They're pricing machines, right. They're not something you can just pick up on your phone, like I put a proposal in a couple of years ago like let's make a welding video game for your phone, like an app that kids can play in, like you can even have like it, sponsored by industry, being like oh no, the bridge is going to collapse, let's go fix it with the welder.
Speaker 1:Which electrode should I use? Should I use this one, this one or this one? And you get to pick and you learn a little bit about electrodes. You know, miller could sponsor it and say, hey, use Hobart 7018 or whatever. You know like I don't know. But I didn't get shot down in so many words but I was told like maybe not yet, not yet. But what do you think about that angle, about? You know like trying to get like how do we get it into? Like more in mainstream, right?
Speaker 2:I kind of love that idea. Wow, You're not going to have to have more conversations about this. This is what I'm thinking. I'm thinking like the market is to go after, kind of like the mathematics, the publishers right Go after the textbooks companies and build activities around the welding space.
Speaker 2:That's what I would go after you know, so my little one like you said second grade you know can have a project centered around welding and things like that. But I do like what you're. I'd like where you're going with this. It's a totally idea. You onto something back. They want to go patent it.
Speaker 1:That's all right, I don't care, I'm open source. Take what you want. I'm an offer, profit, remember, like it's all yours. Take it and run with it. Just put it. Just put it. Just put my name somewhere on it so that I get some credit.
Speaker 2:And come back and write a check.
Speaker 1:No, I'm teasing Money is a concept. I know you, I agree I agree, it's a concept.
Speaker 2:You're right. You're absolutely right. It's not, definitely not everything.
Speaker 1:It doesn't run my world, that's for sure, right and for to wrap up the interview. You know the the first question was what's going on in Miller and in the future that makes you excited? What's going on for Patricia that's making you excited? What's what do you see in your future Like? You've had a pretty consistent run here of up, up and up and up and up. Now are you, are we going to see Patricia breaking? Is Miller education going to break off as its own department? Do you see like yourself as a VP, or do you see yourself getting enrolled into something else? What's a dream state?
Speaker 2:So we have broken off to our own department now. That's a new thing, and you're right, I see myself leading that team. Yeah 100%, that whole department and eventually working up to the C suite. You know that's my goal.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And if God has it now you, you're the boss.
Speaker 2:I'm just saying Don't tease me out, Don't tease me out, but you know, I, I, I have, I have high expectations with that, because one of the things that one of what drives me is I would love to get. There's one thing but I want to give back, just like yourself. That's. You know, you're a director. You said you're intentional about raising up someone else and I'm always looking for someone to backfill my role, because that's how you grow. You know you got to find that potential person that can take up.
Speaker 1:take the range from you A rising tide and raises all ships.
Speaker 2:That's it, and so I'm not a lot of leaders think that way though, Max, so you know you're unique. But yeah, so it's a two year point. I see myself running this department entirely, so how do you do?
Speaker 1:No, that's awesome. Hopefully I can work my way up into that C-suite here at CWB we can carry on these partnerships for the next 20 years. I don't know if I want to work 20 years.
Speaker 2:I'm older than you, so OK, yeah, but you listen if you're still kicking and got the fire, keep going, because it's nice when you have something to do. I've heard too many stories of people retiring and have nothing to do with it.
Speaker 1:Oh girl, I got so many hobbies, so many hobbies that I can do. You're busy and honestly, my hobbies would probably be volunteer work in the same industry I do right now. Because I've always been a volunteer, I believe in volunteerism, so that's always been a big part of my life and I've always looked at the retired volunteers where they can really get into it and I'm like that would be so cool to just get out there and give every day. But you've got to be financially secure to do that, so I need a few years in the C-suite to get everything under wraps around here.
Speaker 2:Why? Why To secure the link.
Speaker 1:That's right. I mean, my kids are already grown up and moved out, because I started real young, but you've still got another 18 years ahead of you.
Speaker 2:Oh, I sure do, and for 18 of life, right now, yeah.
Speaker 1:No kidding, let's not talk even about college. Hopefully they all go into the trades.
Speaker 2:And listen. I'm raising smart kids, so they'll get scholarships.
Speaker 1:Hey, there you go.
Speaker 2:There you go. Whatever they decide, they'll get scholarships.
Speaker 1:Awesome, Patricia. Was there anybody you'd like to send out a shout out? Or would you like to say hi to anybody before we sign off here?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah. So I'd love to say hello to the team at Miller and specifically the education group. I thank you, Jessica. You're watching Jessica's the reason why I'm at Miller. She found me on LinkedIn Awesome and I'm here. I'm a product of a vision that she has for this business and I'm just grateful for the opportunity and just the openness. I'm a little radical myself, Max, like you, and I love the environment that Miller creates where you can be your true self and they're also comfortable calling you can call their baby ugly, like my boss, Phil always says that to me, it's OK to call my baby ugly. So I appreciate those things that they have been there. And also just my colleague Steve hit it. I've been working alongside Steve. You know Steve, yeah, oh yeah, Seven foot can't miss. Working alongside Steve has been an absolute pleasure. He's been a great colleague to have and just a team in general. I haven't met anybody at Miller that piss me off Well you're a Miller.
Speaker 1:Itw just hired one of my best friends, stephanie Hoffman. She just started there so I'm pumped Get out of here. I was trying to poacher but you guys got her before me. You sneaky guys. But hey man, talent's talent. I'm proud for her.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I mean, I can say Miller hires. Well, I can say that.
Speaker 1:Well, they got you.
Speaker 2:Been there a long time. Thank you Language. Been there a long time. I tell you crazy thing when I was interviewing, the average person was there like 20 years. I'm like what People stay here this long? Because when you think about career, they say it's best, better to move because you'll be able to kind of grow quicker. But when you think about I'll take Jessica more, have you? For example, I believe she's been here about 25 years now and I mean she's been from many different divisions within the company and she's been there a long time and she's still happy. I mean that that's a lot.
Speaker 2:It says a lot about the culture, so I'm grateful to be a part of a culture. They believe families first and they I've proven that with this company. So it's a commercial for Miller. Thank you for working on that.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. Well, I really appreciated you being on the show. Are you going to be in Orlando for Fabtech?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:OK, I will be there. Oh right, the podcast machine down there. I'll have my staff and Yala will be down there with me, so we already got the hotel booked and we're ready to rock.
Speaker 1:Perfect, yeah, so I'll see you there if I don't see you before, but I would love to bring you up for one of the Canwells in Canada. We do a Canwell in Canada every year, so kind of like our Canadian one. So maybe next year we'll talk and we should probably get you up and do a session on Miller Education. That would be fantastic up in Canada. Oh, that's a great idea.
Speaker 2:You can write that one down, I'm there.
Speaker 1:OK, it'll be in Calgary next year. I'll definitely put you on the list. I don't know why I didn't think about that till just now, like it's so.
Speaker 2:That thing happens before it's time. It takes a moment Right.
Speaker 1:Max, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2:It was like we ran into each other at the I think it was last year at the CWB conference.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that was that was just. Was that Chicago, was that? Atlanta, chicago, chicago right, yeah, that was nice, it was good it was good, it was terrible. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah. Well, thanks again, Max Awesome. Thank you for having me, thank you for thinking of me and thank you for all that you do. I appreciate it Awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you very much, and for all the listeners that have been following, downloading and sharing the podcast, thank you so much for being a part of us and our team. Keep sending us suggestions, keep commenting on the podcast, keep sharing them. We take everything and we try to answer everyone. I don't think we miss anyone and if we do hit us up again, you can follow us on CWB Group Welding, on any of the socials or myself ask Max75 on Insta. So thank you and I'll catch you at the next episode. We hope you enjoy the show.
Speaker 4:You've been listening to the CWB Association Welding podcast with Max. If you enjoyed what you heard today, rate our podcast and visit us at. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions of what you'd like to learn about in the future. Produced by the CWB Group and presented by Max75. This podcast serves to educate and connect the Welding community. Please subscribe and thank you for listening.