EP 22: Welding and Virtual Reality Technology Meet at Tulsa Welding School, with Chris Schuler

It may not be a surprise to know the oil and gas industries are major employers for students of the Tulsa Welding School, but what about wind and solar companies and SpaceX? 

We really loved hearing these stories from Chris Schuler of Tulsa Welding School and how his love of video games aided in the implementation of a new virtual reality simulator program.

If you're ever in the Tulsa area it's got a great music scene, fantastic places to eat and you may even see Chris tailgating at an Oklahoma State game or watching the Tulsa Oilers play hockey!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Chris Schuler’s backstory and how he came to be a welding instructor at Tulsa Welding School
• What inspired Chris to pursue a welding career
• What sort of companies are hiring Tulsa Welding students?
• How Chris’s love of video games helped shape their welding trainers, using virtual reality technology 

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• LinkedIn

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Transcript

ITT E22 Chris Schuler of Tulsa Welding School

[00:00:00] Chris Schuler: You know, you can, you can make good money. It's steady. It's in demand, um, in the skilled trades and there's so many different outlets. You know, one of the things that I've realized after I've worked here over a course of time is we get all different types of students and they come from all types of different academic levels.

[00:00:16] Like we've had students that were valedictorians of their class could have probably went to college anywhere that they wanted to go, but they chose to come to school here and learned how to weld because they saw that it was a realistic outlet for them to provide a good life for themselves. And, you know, at a later date, if they didn't already have a family provide for their family as well, think, I think that's important

[00:00:34] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603:

[00:00:34]

[00:00:34] All right. Well, welcome back to inside the trades.

[00:00:37] We've got another great episode for you today. And our guest is coming out from the Heartland and is a, uh, not only is he, a welder and an instructor, but, uh, turns out he is also hockey fan. So we, uh, wanna hear a little bit more about that and, Welcome to the show, chris Schuler.

[00:00:57] Chris Schuler: Thank you guys. Well, thank you guys for having me on, [00:01:00] um, excited for this opportunity. Excited to get our story out there and uh, let

[00:01:03] folks know what we got going on. So thank

[00:01:05] you guys for having.

[00:01:06] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Now we're happy to have you on today. Could you, uh, start off, just give us, uh, give us the origin story of Chris Schuler. And. what what's bringing you on here today to inside the trades and, and what you're doing and what your organization's doing to help close the skills

[00:01:23] gap.

[00:01:24] Chris Schuler: Sure. So backstory on me. Uh, I come from 10, 3000 people, uh, in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Oklahoma. And uh, got outta high school. I was almost dreading graduation day cuz I didn't know what I was gonna do whenever I got out. I got out, uh, worked with my dad in the oil field for a little bit, worked for a couple years as an electrician apprentice.

[00:01:42] And then, um, he approached me because he was a Tulsa welding school graduate and actually worked as a welding instructor for some time after he got out of our program and said, Hey, there's a welding class going on up this road. Would you be interested in doing it? And I said, not happy with what I got going on.

[00:01:57] And. Yeah, I'll be happy to give it a [00:02:00] shot. So I did it, um, liked it got out of that school, went to work in the industry, working in shops and stuff for about six or seven years and, uh, kinda got to a lull in my career and saw that Tulsa welding school was hiring instructors and was familiar with the place because like I said, my dad went to school here.

[00:02:18] And anyway, I sent an application and thought I was gonna teach welding for the rest of my life and came to work here, enjoyed it, loved seeing the student progress, everything that, that the place brings and some opportunity presented itself. And I got promoted to lead instructor and then I managed the night shift for a while and then director training, regional director training.

[00:02:37] And then now I'm still a regional director of training, but I also manage the student services department. You know, short story, I guess I was in the right place at the right time and, and, and where I'm supposed to be. And it is turned out to be a really good thing. But, you know, as far as what our organization is trying to do to fill the skills gap, uh, you know, we train welders, we train electricians, we train inspectors, we train HVAC technicians. , [00:03:00] we've got numerous outlets that folks can go whenever they're looking for a lucrative career and skill sets that are in the band. So that's, that's where our, uh, that's where our efforts are focused.

[00:03:09] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Can you talk a little bit about your, where you're living to in Oklahoma? I mean, the oil and gas industry is obviously prevalent down there. What are some of the things that are unique about your area that are lending itself to the trades and also some things that people wouldn't really know about.

[00:03:28] Chris Schuler: so, you know, as far as the industry, you nailed it. Oil and gas are, are very heavy here in Oklahoma. Uh, there was a statistic that was thrown at me one time and don't, you know, you guys can fact check me on this and Google it, but this was, it makes sense. They, uh, they said. There was two leading consumers of welding consumables in the United States.

[00:03:48] And it was Houston and Tulsa, you know, that's because we're such heavy hubs for the oil and natural gas market. So, you know, that kind of gives, you know, an idea of where a lot of the employers that we're working with. That's, that's the type of work that they're doing. [00:04:00] But yeah, I mean, there's, there's been increased emphasis in the, uh, you know, clean energy and things like that.

[00:04:04] And that's starting to pop up around here too. We've got a few companies, you know, that work, uh, building light poles, uh, train cars. Different things. That's got an overview of the industrial aspect. Um, Things that that folks might not associate Tulsa with is kind of the music scene. I've I've heard folks are comparing Tulsa to Austin.

[00:04:24] Now they're saying this is kind of the new Austin we've got, uh, the BK center, fantastic concert venue, uh, event venue. It's one numerous awards. Um, you mentioned that on a hockey fan. So most folks probably would not associate Oklahoma with hockey, but we've got a minor league hockey team and they are affiliated with the Anaheim ducks and they play in that arena.

[00:04:42] And I frequent those games. Take my. It's one of my favorite things to do and, uh, you know, major college football, we've got Oklahoma state, which I am a, uh, hired cowboy fan that probably takes precedence over hockey. Uh, but you know, we got Oklahoma state OU Tulsa's right up the street from our campus. So a lot of stuff [00:05:00] going on in Oklahoma that I don't think folks realize and, uh, needs to be looked at.

[00:05:04] There's a lot going on here.

[00:05:05] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: No, that sounds great. And I'd love to get myself down there for a tailgate cuz uh,

[00:05:09] I, I, I live for a good tailgate.

[00:05:10] Chris Schuler: There you go. I, I know, I know where they're at, so yeah, come.

[00:05:18] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: so what are some of the problems that you're seeing in your area that are related to the trade skills gap and.

[00:05:27] So what problems have you seen in your community that are result of the skills gap and how are you addressing them or how, or how's Tulsa welding school

[00:05:36] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: addressing them?

[00:05:37] Chris Schuler: biggest issue I've seen, I think is the same issue that everybody's having. Uh, and I don't think it's just our industry. I think it's every industry right now. Nobody has enough employees. And, you know, I mean, they I've, I've spoken to folks that are having to turn down work because they don't have enough people to fulfill the customer's request.

[00:05:55] And I mean, when you're in a situation like that, where you're turning down jobs, I mean, that's detrimental to your [00:06:00] bottom line. That's detrimental to everything. That's detrimental to the infrastructure that you're providing resources for. I mean, it's a, it trickles way further down the line than folks.

[00:06:10] and that's what we're seeing. Be it locally or from other companies, you know, I, I speak to people, uh, other companies around the United States. I think I told you guys when we were talking before this, that I had spoke to general dynamics and they were looking to hire some of our students. And I told the lady that I was on the phone with, that we had.

[00:06:25] 450 people or something like that at the time. And she told me she would hire every single one of 'em where I could get 'em to her. So, I mean, that's a pretty big Testament to the demand that's out there. I have heard some folks try to debunk the fact that there's a skilled trade shortage. And I think those folks are crazy because I see it every day.

[00:06:40] And, um, anybody wants to talk to me about that. I can explain specifics, you know, but it's, uh, it's real and it's going on and, and we're trying to. You know, mentor the next generation, uh, fill the shoes of those that are going to retire. I don't know that we can do it fast enough, but we're doing the best that we can.

[00:06:58] And that all starts with a proven curriculum and a [00:07:00] proven program. And we've been in business since 1949. And you guys know you don't last that long in any industry, if you don't know what you're doing. So I think we've proven that, and I think our graduates continue to prove that that we've got a really good program and it, it provides good training for folks who are willing to.

[00:07:15] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Now you you've bring up a couple of good points there too. Um, one of the things I'd like to know about it regionally too, is. What are the conversations that are like with kids that are coming outta high school that are faced with all the choices that kids across the country are being faced with is what's my next step.

[00:07:35] After I graduate, we know we say it all the time is we're not dissing college, but what are the options that kids are being presented with? Or what are the conversations that you're hearing about that are steering students down there one direction or another.

[00:07:53] Part B to that is the ones that are coming to Tulsa, welding school.

[00:07:58] What is helping make [00:08:00] them come to that, decision.

[00:08:02] Chris Schuler: I, you know, I think, I think you kinda hit on it that, that in the, in the past there's been so much emphasis on college degrees. That that's what everybody thought they had to have in order to be successful. And you almost felt like you were. I don't know if it's unqualified or what term I'm trying to use there.

[00:08:20] If you didn't have one, you know, and I'm not trying to not traditional school. I, uh, I've got a four year degree, uh, that I got after I, after I got outta the skilled trades, you know, I still end the skilled trades, but after I worked as a, as a welder and, uh, you know, I, I make the joke that I went to school to learn how to weld, so I wouldn't have to go to college.

[00:08:36] And then now I went to college so that I don't have to weld anymore, and I can work in administration here, but. I think that's the deal is I think, I think kids have been forced by the fact that you need to go to college in order to be successful. And that's not the case. And I think there has been increased efforts such as the show that you guys are doing right now to try to show the emphasis that there is lucrative careers and other outlets that don't require you investing a hundred thousand dollars in a college degree.

[00:08:59] [00:09:00] You know, you can, you can make good money. It's steady. It's in demand, um, in the skilled trades and there's so many different outlets. You know, one of the things that I've realized after I've worked here over a course of time is we get all different types of students and they come from all types of different academic levels.

[00:09:16] Like we've had students that were valedictorians of their class could have probably went to college anywhere that they wanted to go, but they chose to come to school here and learned how to weld because they saw that it was a realistic outlet for them to provide a good life for themselves. And, you know, at a later date, if they didn't already have a family provide for their family as well, think, I think that's important.

[00:09:34] You know, luckily we have got a team of, uh, admissions representatives and that's all they do. They travel high schools across the United States and they meet with kids in their lunchroom, in their classroom. And, um, you know, they explain what we've got going on here. They explain the opportunities that are available whenever they get outta here, as long as they apply themselves and just make sure that people know that there's there's options out.

[00:09:57] Matt Consigli: Chris. I'm really glad you shared [00:10:00] that story. Cuz I think a lot of kids. Kind of get pitch and hold into what they're quote unquote supposed to do with their life. Right? So if you're a valedictorian of your class, you're supposed to go to college, you're supposed to go be a lawyer or a doctor or whatever, but like you mentioned, it's a lot more complicated than that.

[00:10:20] And none of us can really help what we're interested in, what we're passionate about. Right. That's just one. Component of everyone's life. So, so I, I, again, I think it's about getting the exposure out there to say, you can come from any educational background. You can come from any kind of economic background or, or, you know, societal background.

[00:10:43] This is what you enjoy doing. You should do it.

[00:10:48] Chris Schuler: Yeah, and there's nothing wrong with it, you know? And I think that's the thing is it's, like I said, Folks that have folks that choose to put a welding good on every day or, you know, put a tool belt on every day have [00:11:00] kind of been frowned upon. And it shouldn't be, you know, if anything, it should be the other way around.

[00:11:03] I mean, you know, I, I know lots of guys that, that went to school for a four year degree, and then now they don't even use it, you know, they may have got out and then they went into the skilled trades because there was more opportunity there, you know? And I mean, that's, to be honest though, you, if anybody's ever seen a skilled.

[00:11:19] and the work that they do or watched a fitter and a welder work together to build some kind of an intricate structure or something like that. If somebody was to take the time to watch and see all the knowledge and skill that's involved in that they would realize real quick that that's not something you can learn at a four year degree in a four year degree.

[00:11:34] Anyway, you know, that's gotta be taught, learned hands on, hard work. Now those guys are talented and, and skilled at what they do and should be in a separate class of their own, you know, in my opinion. But that's kinda my background too. I'm a little biased on that.

[00:11:47] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: No it's 100%. And to that point, I we've had conversations with people that are working within the aerospace industry and a couple of notable projects though. Parker, solar probe, which is currently flying around the sun [00:12:00] is building the transom for, I think it's the transom part. Botch that one, my apologies, um, that attaches the heat shield to the probe itself, which is protecting it from the millions of degrees that are coming off the sun.

[00:12:16] And. He was saying is like the welding is it's, it's almost like an art is like, it is some of the most incredible work you've ever seen anybody do. And having that direct relevance to something that is just so critical, um, for having space vehicles, um, that are doing missions. I mean that, and with the, the, uh, James Webb, uh, Space telescope that's, you know, flying up there right now is, I mean, the, the countless parts that go into that, or even, um, and, and jet engines and, and, um, aircraft, I mean, these are all things that it takes a real special talent to be able to do that.

[00:12:57] And I'm glad that you [00:13:00] did bring up that you've had valedictorians that are coming through the program that recognizing that this is the path that they want to go in, and it's a much more lucrative one for.

[00:13:10] Chris Schuler: Absolutely. You know, I, to kind of, to kind of sound off on which we were talking about, the aerospace and stuff. I met with a recruiter from SpaceX, um, probably been a couple of months back and they reached out to me on LinkedIn and just asked if we had any graduates that would be interested in coming to work out there.

[00:13:25] And I'm just like, yeah. You know, I bet we do.

[00:13:28] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: One or two

[00:13:28] Chris Schuler: It's a SpaceX. Yeah. So I'm sitting here having a conversation with this guy, and I said, give me a little bit of insight, kind of what they'll be working on whenever they come to your location, you know? And he said, well, they would be working on

[00:13:39] the. Um, project that we're doing right now that will currently take folks to Mars.

[00:13:44] And I'm just sitting here, like, you know, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in my office, talking to a guy from SpaceX about sending some graduates to build a structure, that's gonna launch a shift. That's gonna take people to Mars. So, you know, I think lots of people, whenever they think about SpaceX and stuff, they're thinking engineering and, you know, science [00:14:00] and, and all this different stuff.

[00:14:01] Nobody thinks about what goes into the structure, what goes into building the ship, the launchpad, all of that stuff. But, you know, I mean, there's not much cooler than working on stuff. That's gonna send people into space, you know? So.

[00:14:13] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: absolutely not. And we've, we've had conversations with, SpaceX alums and they said the same thing too is, you know, the engineers are obviously a critical part to their success. But the number of skilled crafts, people that make up all of the workforce that actually put these launch vehicles and, and other, space vehicles in the air is like, it's, it's incredible.

[00:14:36] The work that they do. And they actually helps them. Learn better on how to create these systems because the practicalities that go into the Wells that go into wiring casings and you wanna make sure that things are also compatible. So you've got parts that are coming in from different parts of the world that are all going into these systems.

[00:14:57] And you've got all of these skilled folks that are [00:15:00] looking at that, putting it together and having to account for all of these different components. And they're helping inform the engineers and the project managers and all the people that are up the food chain on how to do that. And I mean, that's something that really says a lot about the skill. And it says a lot about the intelligence that these folks are bringing into it.

[00:15:19] Chris Schuler: Absolutely whenever RA first got in the industry. Uh, you know, I, I was amazed at the fact that a guy could just take a piece of paper, you know, with a drawing on it and go start cutting parts and start putting stuff together. And, you know, weld this, tack that, and build a structure basical. From the ground up, you know, and I think that's, I think that's something that's admirable, you know, somebody that somebody that can do things like that.

[00:15:40] So.

[00:15:41] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah, it definitely is. Can you, uh, can you talk about some of the success stories of folks that have come through Tulsa welling?

[00:15:47] Chris Schuler: Yeah. Uh, you know, we have, as I've been here for almost 10 years, so I've got, I talk to a lot of folks, you know, and,

[00:15:54] uh, you know, the younger kids are always a lot of fun because they come in, you know, and they've got [00:16:00] expectations and, uh, you know, they got an idea of exactly where they're going and then you'll see.

[00:16:05] As they kind of progress through the program, their mind might change, you know? Cause I tell 'em all to come in with an open mind because there's so many different outlets in the industry right now. Don't make your mind up that you're gonna go to one single area, you know, make yourself you'll be at hand.

[00:16:16] You don't wanna be just somebody that can only work in one spot. So, uh, but they'll go out, you know, and they'll come back a couple years later and they may have a $70,000 truck that they're driving with a brand new welding machine in the back of it. And, you know, showing you pictures of their new house.

[00:16:30] Whatever it was they're able to do. And you know, some of these kids are young, you know, really young, you know, that's one of the, one of the things that I like to see another, you know, we get adults that may have tried. Several things during their career that may not have been as successful as they hoped that they were, and they're coming to us to figure something else out and they may not have their site set on new trucks and stuff like that.

[00:16:53] They just may wanna be able to provide a better living for their family and some security and, uh, you know, better options. And that's one of the thing that I speak [00:17:00] to folks in orientation about is if anything, these industries that we're training for will provide security and lots of 'em kind of look at you crazy, cuz like, what are you talking about security, but you know, If I was to, you know, God forbid lose this position here because I love what I.

[00:17:15] I'm not worried about a paycheck because I can still put a welding good on and I can go find a job somewhere else, you know? And that's the type of security that I'm talking about. You know, they've been laid off before, uh, you know, the, the, the world tells you that you're supposed to work really hard, get a good job and then keep it and then try not to mess up and stay there for the rest of your life and then retire for 15 years and die, you know, with the type of stuff that we're doing.

[00:17:36] We're creating a lot of opportunity for folks because they can go work somewhere and have a great job, you know, that. Available. But if somebody wanted to buy a truck of their own, be it an electrician, an HVAC tech, a welder, the sky's the limit, you know, you can start working for yourself, you can design something, manufacture it, you can, you know, travel the world and go make money.

[00:17:54] I mean, there's the, uh, status quo that everybody says that you're supposed to follow is irrelevant. When it [00:18:00] comes to the skilled trades, you can, you can literally do whatever you want to, as long as you're willing to work for it.

[00:18:04] Matt Consigli: Yeah. I mean, the world around us is manufactured, right? And I think people have forgotten that a lot of people have forgotten that, but if you learn that manufacturing skill, that industrial skill, it's gonna be relatable to almost anything in our surroundings. And that's why these kids that go off and learn these skills, they have something for life.

[00:18:25] And that that is true security. It's job security. It's income, security. It's life.

[00:18:32] whereas,

[00:18:34] Chris Schuler: Yeah.

[00:18:35] Matt Consigli: you know, a lot of other skills that you may pick up that are intangible have value as well, but they're, they can be pigeonholed into specific things and they're, and they're maybe not as transferable. I think we've forgotten about that.

[00:18:51] Like the world is manufactured. We need people who know how to manufacture things. Um, it's time to really [00:19:00] kind of bring that back on.

[00:19:03] Chris Schuler: Well, and being able to pivot too, you know, kinda like you were saying, you gotta be able to go different directions. I was having a conversation with a student a couple of weeks ago and, uh, you know, he was working a lot of hours. He was tired. He was spit us in, you know, in his day working at the same time.

[00:19:18] More out. And he said, you know, I think I've already learned everything that I need to learn here. I'm never gonna go do this. I think it was T he said he was never gonna do. And I said, man, you're telling me that you're never gonna T in your life. I said, the minute you get that tick torch you in your hand.

[00:19:30] You're gonna be able to go work on field jobs. You're gonna be able to withdraw top wage in shocks. I mean, it's gonna open up so much more area for you and he's like, no, I'm just gonna run stick. That's all I'm ever gonna do. And I said, you're handicapping yourself. You know, because there may be a situation like whenever I was working welding, I didn't ever think that I was gonna need to run any, uh, run any sticker on I was gonna ti and flexcore everything I was ever gonna work on.

[00:19:51] And then opportunity showed itself and I needed to learn how to run some sticks. So I did it and I went and worked on this job and I ran stick. I got proficient. It's a few years down the road. [00:20:00] When it came time to come to Tulsa, welding school sticker, rod was one of the welding tests. If I would've handicapped myself and I never would've learned that process, I never would've got this opportunity and it never would've flourished into what it has.

[00:20:10] So you never wanna, you know, hone in on one specific skill. You always wanna keep learning and make yourself a very, you're very marketable.

[00:20:18] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah, totally. And that's one of the things that, I mean, even, even for college too, is you're trying to build your talent stack. So if you're going in for marketing, you're going in for economics or going in for whatever your specialty is, there's still a host of other skills that you need to be layering into, that they're gonna make you a relevant member of society, whether it be analytics, communication skills, written skills, um, knowing how to present cogen.

[00:20:44] Any of that stuff. And this is directly applicable to that too, is you wanna be able to come out of this with whatever your certifications are as a welder, and to be able to look at any of these areas and be like, I can qualify for all of this and I can fall.

[00:20:59] I [00:21:00] can find work in any of these capacities. And even if I don't use it for a few years, I at least have that in the back of my head. So muscle memory can bring me up to speed on a time when that

[00:21:08] opportunity does arise.

[00:21:10] Chris Schuler: Absolutely. I.

[00:21:11] Matt Consigli: Yeah, it's all, it's all about investing yourself. Right? I, I, I read a quote recently that was, and this isn't specific to welding, but I think it applies the, the quote was if you're a gym rat, you should think about picking up a book. If you're a book worm, you should think about working. , if you can do both, you can do whatever you want in life.

[00:21:34] Right. And, and that, that, that obviously applies here. You know, it like if you, if you have the handy work skills, the craft skills of welding or any trade, but you also pair it with. communication skills, critical thinking skills, analytical skills. You can literally go do anything that you want. It's about investing in yourself.

[00:21:56] And a lot of times, I think we've only looked at one [00:22:00] half of the equation, right? Regardless of what, half you're on a, a lot of young people and adults, they really only look at one half of the equation and they ignore the other. They say, maybe I'm not good at that, or I don't think it's valuable or society doesn't people tell me it's not important.

[00:22:18] Well, it is. I promise you both halves are important. Um, and, and those who focus on both are gonna end up to be incredibly successful.

[00:22:31] Chris Schuler: Absolutely. And that's, you know, that's something that's becoming more evident on our end, since there is such a labor shortage. As employers are asking more and more people, you know, we have program advisory committee meetings twice a year. And basically this is the opportunity for employers in each industry to come in and share their thoughts on what they're seeing.

[00:22:48] They review our curriculum and make, make sure that things are still current so that we're still training folks to, you know, meet the requirements that are out there. And one of the things that we've been seeing more and more of this folks are. Improve soft skills, [00:23:00] you know, improve communication skills, just making sure that the person meets the company culture.

[00:23:05] You know, if a company's got a set of core values, they wanna make sure that that person's, you know, ethical is, is gonna make right decisions. It's gonna show up every day. And that's the biggest thing that I preach to these, uh, students is attendance. Because if, if the student won't show up, there's not much opportunity out there for 'em.

[00:23:21] I tell 'em all the time that I would rather take an average welder with perfect attendance versus a perfect welder with average attendance any day of the week. Because if I can get 'em to show up, I can teach 'em how to do what we need 'em to do. And when you're showing up to work, the employer's making money and that's, that's the most important thing, you know, your obligation is to the company and make sure that they're profitable and then they'll take care of you.

[00:23:40] So something we try to instill in these guys and girls, every.

[00:23:44] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: No, thank you for doing that. I think one of the, one of the things that call it, my pet theory is [00:24:00] I don't know how much is really being invested in looking at the trades is actually status career. and I'm, you know, I'm going back, you know, I'm a, I'm a child of the, uh, child of the eighties and you've got the posters of, you know, the Lamborghini and the mansion and, you know, the, the, the decked out, uh, you know, the tricked out truck all jacked up.

[00:24:22] And, and that was, that was what the, the, the picture of success was back in the day. And it was always associated with somebody that was on wall street, somebody that was an investment manager, somebody that was in business and, you know, fast forward to the nineties and then early. Is, you've got all the, you get the tech boom and the.com.com boom.

[00:24:42] And all the tech people are considered the sexy, luxurious careers and those in the money makers. Meanwhile, you know, you bring up this great example of, you know, 22 year old kid pulling up at a $70,000 truck with a welding machine in the back. I mean, that [00:25:00] is that, that is the embodiment of success right there.

[00:25:03] And they don't have the over.

[00:25:06] Chris Schuler: Exactly. It's they, they can, they can go out and make money with that. And they're not, they it's, you know, it pays for itself. I, I think status. Is definitely something that's not emphasized. And, um, some kind of examples. I have made a couple of contacts outside the us. I know a couple of guys from Europe and I've met a guy, um, from Australia and I've spoken with both of 'em because we tried to, you know, collaborate on some efforts.

[00:25:29] And, uh, that's what they've told me is the welders in the United States. Are not looked at the same as they are in these other countries. They say over in Europe, over in Australia, welder is looked at through the same eyes, if not more important than a doctor or something like that, because the killed skilled trades are held to such a higher standard.

[00:25:48] And I mean, who, who makes that, uh, emphasis on those? I mean, I probably the media, it's probably just the attention that's been paid. By the people that they're raising their kids and they have placed that emphasis on that [00:26:00] to where they, they hold it in higher importance. And I think that's what needs to be done around here.

[00:26:04] People need to realize what kinda shape we would be in if we didn't have skilled trains people. And if we didn't, they would find out really quick. You know, when the lights start going out and the bridges start breaking and you know, we don't have oil because nobody's keeping up with refineries and you don't have natural gas to heat your house because nobody's building equipment to process.

[00:26:22] It would open a lot of eyes real fast and they would realize that those people are just as important, if not more important than those people that are, you know, lawyers and all this other stuff. So anyway, it's, it's definitely there. The status situation's evident.

[00:26:35] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah, it it's crazy. It's crazy. How, when you just think of all the trade schools and all the vocational programs that are just. All built within the education structure in Europe, like Germany comes to mind, it's just all hardwired in. And it's like, yeah, I'm gonna become a welder. I'm gonna become an electrician or a plumber. And it's like, and I'm gonna make bank. And this is gonna be awesome. And they're all regarded [00:27:00] as valued members of society. And you're like, come to the us. And you're like, oh, only idiots going to trades. You're like, no, no, no, that is not the case.

[00:27:08] Chris Schuler: Yeah, definitely.

[00:27:11] Matt Consigli: Yeah, you men, you mentioned media. I do think media plays a big role. Like wherever Hollywood wants to. Their investment dollars tends to drive the public consciousness. And so you do see movies about tech, moguls, and billionaires and hedge fund managers, and they make it sexy. Right? I like, I can tell you most of the time, it's actually not sexy, but they make it look sexy.

[00:27:37] So people think it is, and they're attracted to that. They think that's what I need to do to make money and drive nice cars and have nice houses and, and all of those. Well, you're talking about such a slim minority of people who have reached that threshold. And for whatever reason, that story hasn't been told for the trades.

[00:27:59] But [00:28:00] again, I promise you those people are out there. I promise you, there are people living on yachts and big houses and beautiful cars, and they're doing whatever they want because they've, they've found such incredible success. But no one told that. So no one, there, there isn't that goal line to strive for, but if someone did have the clout and the platform and the reach to tell that story. Yeah, I do think things would look a little bit differently.

[00:28:30] Chris Schuler: And on the status thing, you know, I don't think, and I've thought about this, cuz I think about stuff probably way too much. But anyway, I think on the status thing, people look at an expensive vehicle. They automatically think of Mercedes or they think Lexus or they think of Ferrari or something like that, unless you're into trucks and.

[00:28:48] They don't know how much a three quarter ton Ford, loaded up truck costs. You know, when they, if they were to do some research on that and they see those things are running 85 90 gram, then it puts things in [00:29:00] perspective. And it lets you know, how much of a status that is because you can go buy two Lexus for the price that you pay for one truck that one of these students is throwing a welding machine on the back of,

[00:29:08] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: And you're probably gonna get a lot more use out of the trucks than you are the Lexus too, in the mercedes.

[00:29:12] Chris Schuler: and you're gonna make money with it. You know, it's not just a status symbol, it's a legit tool, you

[00:29:16] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah.

[00:29:17] . So Chris, one of the things that we've noticed a lot in our conversations with guests is that technology is becoming a much larger driver in the skilled trades than years before. And Tulsa welding school is getting involved in this in really innovative ways. And I was hoping you can elaborate on that for.

[00:29:37] Chris Schuler: Yeah, definitely. So, uh, you know, when the pandemic began, it impacted us big time, just like it did everybody else. And, uh, our CEO, uh, called me one. and said, Hey, what do you think about virtual reality simulators for welding? And I was very skeptical because I had seen some that had been used in the industry and they were a little bit, uh, you know, I think more of like a [00:30:00] recruiting tool.

[00:30:00] That is much of a learning tool. And I said, well, you know, I've got some concerns, but I'm definitely willing to listen. What do you got in mind? And she had a contact at a developer, uh, for FX and, uh, put me in touch with the guy there. Uh, Greg and we had a meeting for about an hour and she said, you know, basically throw something at him that you think would be a good, uh, starting.

[00:30:21] And something to symbolize, whether we should invest and go forward with these guys, because they're gonna be capable of creating what we need. So one of the things that I had never seen done virtually was a TIG open, root pass. And, um, I met with the gentleman and I showed him exactly what I was looking for.

[00:30:37] I shared some videos. I shared some still pictures and, uh, you know, they took what I gave them in about an hour, hour and a half meeting, put together a demo and shipped it to me. And I played with it. And. I was mind blown by what they were able to do with the little amount of information that I gave them.

[00:30:53] We sent it back to corporate, they played with it and they said, all right, we're ready to pull the trigger on this. And, uh, that's where our simulator [00:31:00] titled OCU weld was, was born. So, um, we shipped, we, we, uh, flew their guys out to our Phoenix campus and myself and the director of training out there, Alex.

[00:31:12] Uh, worked with these guys, put 'em through some training, showed 'em different welds. They took video, tons of pictures, got some hands on experience, so they could kind of see what was going on. And, uh, anyway, they took it back. And from there we had weekly calls and they would send us updated versions of the simulator.

[00:31:26] And we would say, tweak this, change, this, do this until we got it where we wanted it to be. And, uh, you know, it contain. The majority of our welding curriculum. And it's in a situation where a student gets their Oculus headset. Whenever they get their gear kit, whenever they come in on the first day of campus and they download the app, they go in with their login information and they can weld every process that we teach here in real life, in a virtual setting.

[00:31:52] At their leisure. Once the program is installed to their headset, it's not reliant on a wifi connection. Uh, they can use it wherever they want to whenever they want to. [00:32:00] And you know, one of the things I advertise to whenever they come here in Oklahoma, like today, whenever it's a hundred degrees outside is, you know, you get done with your class and you don't wanna sweat anymore.

[00:32:08] Go home, take a shower and chill in the AC and practice, whatever you were doing in class with your VR and send it home. So that's a pretty good. I think selling point and also, you know, some of them may have transportation issues or they may not be able to stay up here all day long. And it still gives you the opportunity whenever you can't be at the campus to continue practicing what you're, uh, what you're trying to learn.

[00:32:28] So it's, you know, I think it's, I think it's definitely groundbreaking and it's a situation where we can reach the masses with it. And lots of simulators that I've seen in the past are tied to just an individual person, you know, with Oculus quest two and every student that we have getting one, we can teach lots of.

[00:32:44] With that tool. So it's pretty sweet,

[00:32:46] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: No, that's incredible way. You're get, you know, I mean, you, uh, you bring that one to, uh, market. You're just gonna be pushing Fortnite and legal legends

[00:32:53] off the, uh, off the shelves. And suddenly it's gonna do welding simulator.

[00:32:56] Chris Schuler: yeah. Yeah. I, I'm a, I'm a video game nerd. So, you know, whenever [00:33:00] she approached me with this project, I was super excited because I played video games since I was a little kid and, uh, Alex and I, that, you know, we worked on the project together. We were laughing that we could call it, you know, kind of EA sports has got mad in 22, 23 and all that we.

[00:33:13] OK, well, 22 Orwell, 23, you know, and we would've an updated version every year and everything. So we've had some fun just kind of

[00:33:19] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: You, you can do it. You can do a throwback. Uh, you can do a throwback simulator where you're actually welding the Titanic.

[00:33:24] Chris Schuler: There you go. Yeah. Yeah. That would be super cool.

[00:33:27] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: You get a world war II, one where you're actually doing the, uh, Sherman tanks.

[00:33:30] Chris Schuler: Yep. Yep. Absolutely. Absolutely.

[00:33:33] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Oh, that's

[00:33:34] Chris Schuler: no, that's definitely, definitely something that we are, uh, that we're proud of. You know, I've got nothing but positive feedback on it. I tell every student, whenever we give it to 'em, you know, come and tell me what you think of this.

[00:33:44] Let me know how it's going. Let me know if you like it. Uh, you know, we've showed it to some, some big time employers and stuff have gotten their hands on it. And, you know, guys that really know what's going on in the industry, because, you know, whenever we started this project, I told 'em, I said, this is the deal.

[00:33:57] We, we have to be able to appeal to our [00:34:00] customer base, but this is the thing you take somebody off the street. That's never welded before. And you throw 'em in a virtual environment and you give 'em a VR. Welding simulator. They're gonna think it's cool just because it's cool, you know, but you wanna be able to appeal to that guy that does know what he's doing.

[00:34:14] That sended his daughter, who son there to get the education that has welding before. And you wanna get that same reaction from that person, because if they pick it up and they don't see that it's legitimate and it actually simulates a welding process, then they're not gonna buy into it. And then their kid, or whoever's not gonna buy into it.

[00:34:29] And we have been able to appeal to that market because I've seen numerous people be it instructors, be it welders up, you know, out in the field, whoever that have gotten hands on with this. And they're amazed at how realistic it is. So very proud of, very excited to see where that takes us.

[00:34:41] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah, that's a great conversion tool for you.

[00:34:44] Chris Schuler: Yeah, definitely.

[00:34:45] Definitely.

[00:34:46] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Uh, I love that. Thanks for sharing

[00:34:47] Chris Schuler: Absolutely. Thank you guys for letting me share.

[00:34:52] Matt Consigli: So, so Chris, you know, one, one last thing, obviously this is a heavily male dominated field. But [00:35:00] being in your position, are, are you seeing more and more women express interest or maybe getting involved in the school? Has there been any growth there?

[00:35:10] Chris Schuler: Definitely. There's definitely been a lot of growth. Uh, you know, I I've been here since 2013, so almost a decade now I've spent. And, um, when I first started, you know, one of my favorite things to do was look at orientation. We had incoming students and just see. You know, diversity of the group of people that were coming, were they all adults? Were they younger folks? Were they male or female? And whenever I first started there, wasn't a tremendous number of females that came through the program. But as the years progressed, and I think there's been more emphasis on, you know, letting people know that there's tremend the same opportunities available for females as there is for males in this industry, it started to grow.

[00:35:43] So it's not uncommon to see multiple female students in an orient. And I mean, they're, they're, they are a, uh, you know, a, a good portion of our population and continue to grow, but there's, there's multiple efforts out there right now where people are trying to get that word out and it kind of goes back to what we [00:36:00] were talking earlier status or whatever, you know, I think it's always been advertising.

[00:36:04] The guys are the ones that are supposed to be going out and getting their hands dirty and. That's not the case. You know, I've seen, we, uh, we give away a welding machine, every, uh, every end of the program for the seven and a half month program, the student that graduates that has the best overall attendance and the highest overall GPA, they actually went a welding machine.

[00:36:21] That's donated to us by Miller. And, uh, the last two that we've given away has been to female students. So anybody that wants to say that, not a spot into skilled trades for females needs to come to Tulsa welding school. Cuz recently the females have been putting it on the males. Lots of lots of opportunity out there for women who wanna work in this, in these

[00:36:37] Matt Consigli: That's so good to hear. Yeah. I, I mean, I, I think, I think I've seen that. It's what 90%. Male dominated, something like that. If you can get the forget 50, 50, even if you can get that to like an 80, 20, or 70 30, you're going, you're moving so far towards closing that skills gap. It's, it's virtually an industry almost forgotten by females [00:37:00] today.

[00:37:00] So, uh, there's clearly some work that needs to be done. Build that interest. But if you can do that, I mean, that's just a ground swell of new talent coming in to close the skills gap.

[00:37:15] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah. And when you're talking about. The average age of a professional welder today is like, what is, I think it's like 54 and they're, they're aging out. I mean, you can't, you can't turn away half the workforce or half the population, um, when you're trying to replenish those ranks, because you're gonna be running it to really sad situation real quick. If you're doing that.

[00:37:35] Chris Schuler: well, and one of the things that's, that's kind of cool too, to me, you know, as I've just observed over the years is we get lots of, uh, you know, we'll get lots of, um, husband and wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, kind of tandem groups that come through and go to school together. And they've. Goals. When they get outta here is they're gonna travel the world and they're gonna go work together and they're gonna make lots of money.

[00:37:53] And that opportunity's there. And I don't know that many other industries where somebody can do that. You know, you think if they're gonna go to medical [00:38:00] school or something like that, and they're both gonna be a doctor or whatever, then they drive back and forth to the office every day. Somebody wants to be a welder.

[00:38:05] I mean, you could be in who knows Hawaii working together. I mean, that'd be pretty cool to be with your wife and travel the world and go make some change while you're doing it. You know?

[00:38:14] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Hey, those that well together stay

[00:38:16] Chris Schuler: That's it, that's it. I maybe I'll fix that to marketing. Maybe that'll be our new slogan. that's good stuff.

[00:38:23] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Turns out to be a new, uh, turns out to be a new groundbreaking therapy, uh, tool as.

[00:38:27] Chris Schuler: yeah, yeah. Maybe we can do kind of like the, uh, you know, like they do the wine and the paintings or whatever that people go to or whatever. Maybe we can do

[00:38:34] like a

[00:38:34] Matt Consigli: There you go. Yeah.

[00:38:37] Chris Schuler: I don't know how safe, uh, alcohol and power tools and fire and stuff would be though. We might have to do a, uh, maybe we'll do it with the simulator. There you

[00:38:44] Matt Consigli: Oh

[00:38:45] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: he did get the ACU well, didn't,

[00:38:49] Chris Schuler: yep. Good stuff. Good stuff.

[00:38:52] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: uh, well, Chris, this has been a great conversation. I mean, we, we learned a lot today and, um, it it's, it's [00:39:00] so great to just to hear what you are bringing into this and what Tulsa, welding schools bringing into helping close the skills gap. And, uh, we, we wish you the best of luck. Uh,

[00:39:11] you know, what are, what's the school working on right now?

[00:39:14] What are some things that we can do to, to, to help promote.

[00:39:18] Chris Schuler: Man, I think just, you know, get the word out and keep doing what you guys are doing. You know, whenever you, whenever you guys reached out and, uh, talked about this and I kind of asked what the objective was, and you said that that's the biggest thing is you wanting to get it out to the masses, that there's opportunity for young people ready to come into this industry, keep doing that.

[00:39:33] I mean, that's what we're trying to do. That's what we're trying to make people aware and parents, especially, you know, There's there's schools like ours out there for about every industry. Obviously I'm biased. I think we're the best. Um, if, if a parent, you know, wants to reach out to me and say, Hey, I'm considering sending my kid to your school.

[00:39:51] What separates yours from others? Call me, let me know. Um, I'm always available. I make myself available to every student. I give them multiple means of, uh, communication to get a hold of [00:40:00] me. They can text me 24 hours a. And if I can't get the answer, I'll find somebody that's got it. And we're here to take care of 'em.

[00:40:05] I know lots of kids, whenever they go to college, they're nervous because they're first time away from the house and they may not have a support system out here, but they do because we're here, we support my staff is good. They support. And they've got a full blown support system here in Tulsa and we'll take care.

[00:40:20] Of'em make sure they get what they need. So you guys get that message out for me. That's all I need from you. So

[00:40:24] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: Yeah, happy to do

[00:40:25] that for you. All right. Well, Chris of Tulsa welding school, thanks so much for being on inside the trades today. And, uh, we, uh, look forward to seeing all the great work that you're doing out.

[00:40:36] Chris Schuler: Absolutely. Thank you guys for having me. I enjoyed it. And, uh, and looking forward to hearing this. So thank you.

[00:40:41] Matt Consigli: Thanks a lot,

[00:40:41] derek-cameron_2_08-25-2022_130603: take care