S1: E26 | Earn While You Learn: Inside the Dow Apprenticeship

In this episode of Gator Bites, we celebrate ahead of National Apprenticeship Week with a deep dive into the Dow Apprenticeship Program and its impact on students and the Southeast Texas workforce. Host Daniel McLemore is joined by Dow representatives Larry Spears and Milton Briggs, along with LSCO student Gabriel Torres, to discuss how apprenticeships allow students to earn while they learn, gain real-world experience, and build lasting careers.

From classroom concepts to hands-on application in the field, this conversation highlights the power of industry partnerships and how programs like this are creating opportunities that don’t just change careers, they change lives and communities.

About Lamar State College Orange:
Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is a two-year, state-supported institution located on the banks of the Sabine River in Orange, Texas. As part of the Texas State University System, LSCO is committed to transforming lives and communities through the continual pursuit of academic, professional, and personal excellence. Serving more than 5,500 students, the College offers associate degrees and certificates in academic, technical, and workforce fields, providing new and unique opportunities for growth and success. With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and innovation, LSCO serves a diverse student population, including a high percentage of first-generation college students. Through strong community partnerships, dedicated faculty and staff, and innovative student support services, LSCO is the bridge connecting those it serves to a bright, Orange future.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:05

Hello and welcome back to Gator Bytes, the official podcast of the large state of Georgia, where we give faculty, staff, and students to give the community an inside look into life here at LSEO. So today's episode is a rather special one as we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. It's a nationwide effort to highlight the power of apprenticeship programs and the opportunities they create for students entering the workforce. So we're joined by representatives from Dow and one of our very own LSEO students to talk about how the Dow Apprenticeship Program is really helping students gain real-world experience while building a pathway into high-demand careers. So to get us started, uh could each of you briefly introduce yourselves and just tell our listeners maybe a little bit about the role that you have with Dow and with the Apprenticeship Program?

SPEAKER_00 0:52

All right. Well, I'm Larry Spears Jr. And I uh currently am working on my 25th year with Dow here in Orange, Texas. And I have the pleasure of working as the uh site operational excellence specialist. So I get to work with, yeah, I get to work with everyone across the site to help make everything better. Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 1:12

Yeah, so I am Milton Briggs. I am the early career programs leader. Uh the apprenticeship program falls under that umbrella. I will be 15 years uh on site this month. So been out there a little while, and uh I work with Mr. Spears daily. Uh we sit in the same hallway and again are able to kind of have impact across the site.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Awesome. All right. Uh I'm Gabriel Torres. I'm currently a process operator apprentice in the Dow Apprenticeship Program. I work in the Beaumont Aniline operations plant and I'm a LSCO student. Awesome. And so you uh how long have you been at Dow and LSEO?

SPEAKER_02 1:50

Uh I'll make a year in June. A year in June. Awesome. Yes, sir. Okay. So for someone that's just hearing about this for the first time, um, how would you describe this Dow internship program and why is it unique?

SPEAKER_03 2:03

So it's a really unique opportunity because you get quite a few benefits from it. One, you get to earn while you learn. Who doesn't want to do that? Make money while you're going to school. Uh we pay a very uh nice wage for um college-age students. We um we pay you to go to school. We pay for your school, we pay for you to go to class, we pay for you to study for those classes, and then we pay you to come on site for the remainder of your 40-hour week. So you're able to get a 40-hour check the entire time that you're seeking your college degree. And what really makes it unique is because you're going to school and you're learning whatever trade you're in, whether you're in gonna be in a maintenance or electrical or in uh Gabe's situation, an operator, you're taking these classes, and a lot of folks have said they have a hard time really understanding what they're doing because they don't have anything to compare it to. Well, in our program, because you're on site every week, you're able to take what you're learning in the classroom and immediately apply it. And so the connection is really increased on what you're learning. And so the the success rate seems to be much higher.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Yeah, that's awesome. So what uh what are some specific careers that that these um apprenticeships can kind of go into? Where where does what what's the funnel for it?

SPEAKER_03 3:20

So originally it started out, it was uh traditionally just going to be process operators and uh maintenance type roles, so mill write mechanic, um electrical or instrumentation. That's kind of where the program started. It's where it started at for our site, uh, which we have the Sabine site and the Baumont Annland site together. We call them the East Texas Hub. Uh so we did that for quite a few years. Um, but I'm happy to say that this year, through work with uh LSCO and the great partners that we have in the um industrial manufacturing sector at LSCO, we have now been able to build a machinist program that has gone live. And so uh a program where people can go and learn about manual machining, it's really a dying trade uh as far as people that are in it. And we are approaching an age where there's a going to be a lot of turnover uh and nobody to backfill them. So with working with Lamar, uh Claren's been really big uh part of it, and then some other local, you know, privately owned machine shops. We've been able to work with uh Sean McFarlane and and Howard Bailey to get a program built that's gonna really give people an opportunity to step into a field that's not had a lot of uh promotion in the past years. And then uh I'm currently working uh with Mr. Dwayne Shaw from LSCO to build a program for a laboratory technician to work in an analytical lab. A lot of companies have historically used uh people with a four-year degree in chemistry and things of that nature, and it's gotten kind of hard to find uh available personnel.

SPEAKER_02 4:56

And so they're really highly sought after that.

SPEAKER_03 5:00

Because I mean that's it's an old as far as manufacturing goes, I don't care what field of manufacturing, whether you're chemical, whether you're oil and gas, you've got to have these analytical labs so that you can understand your quality. You can do RD. And so it's a it's a huge need, and it's getting kind of hard to do that. And so again, uh LSCO has been so great to work with because they want to provide the need for the area, for local industry, for the community, and then all other businesses in the area. So uh this year for the first time, we will be bringing in uh machinists and uh laboratory technicians in addition to process operators. So that's generally what you'll see. Yeah, that's incredible.

SPEAKER_02 5:39

So um, Gabriel, why don't you tell us a little bit kind of just about yourself? What led you to pursue this apprenticeship pathway?

SPEAKER_01 5:46

All right. Uh so I have a maintenance background. Uh when I was I was in the Marine Corps and I was essentially a diesel mechanic. I worked on like construction equipment and stuff like that. And uh I got out in 22 and I kind of had some irregular jobs, and then I found myself back in the like maintenance sector of the industry. Yeah. And I um fixed and maintained rotating equipment, like pumps and compressors that came out of the uh plants and refineries in the area. And um that kind of scratched that mechanic side for me. But seeing that equipment come out, it kind of put me more in the mindset of this is something that's inside the plants and refineries, you know. Because I'm I'm from around here, so I grew up around here, and you all you can't go around here and not see the plants, right? But you never see people. You never see who's in there. You don't know really what's going on. Yeah. And so seeing this equipment come out of there and knowing like this is something that's kind of playing a role in the process really kind of piqued my interest into operations, you know. And we also worked hand in hand with uh process operators. They would come in and we would tell them, you know, this is what might have led to your equipment failing. And so kind of talking to them, picking their brain a little bit kind of really got me interested in what they do, aside from like maintenance to kind of switch over to operations.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

So yeah, that's a that's a good background to come from that that mechanic side too, to go into the process operating side, because there's only there's only so much your equipment's gonna be able to do, right? Exactly. And as an operator, you want to know what that threshold is, but also what the uh optimum threshold is too.

SPEAKER_03 7:16

So yeah, we we've seen where uh folks that have come out of the maintenance side of things and move into the operations that they make phenomenal operators and vice versa, folks that are operators that go into maintenance because you have a holistic understanding of the equipment, what it's capable of, what you can do, what you can't do. Um and so Gabe was a huge addition to the program with his background moving into that operation side. I think that's why he's been so successful.

SPEAKER_02 7:45

That's awesome. So, what surprises people most when they start working in an industrial, an industrial setting kind of like this with Dell? What do you think surprises them most?

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Well, I think what surprises them the most is they find out that there's so much more to it than just um a company that we end up being like we're family. I spend more time with Milton and others in our hallway. When we get to work at 6 a.m. and we leave at 4 p.m., you know, I've had like 10 or 11 hours in the day, depending on what time we get there. But by the time I get home, my kids are home at five. We're in the bed by 8:30, 9 o'clock. So four hours with my family, 10 hours with the guys. So um, but but more than that, it's a culture. Like we have a great culture out there. Dow has been really good to us. And we're just like, we we really are doing our best to try to make the most of each and every day. And I think that's what shocks a lot of people is when they find out that it's there's so much more to it than just clocking in the gate that you know people do bring their whole selves to work. And it's it's been a it's been an honor.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

Yeah. And Gabe, you've kind of experienced this from the the fresh side of it. You know, you've seen these guys have been here for a while. I assume you work with people that have been at Dow for quite some time. Oh, definitely. So what it what do you see in those group of people that make you want to be a part of something like this?

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Really, the the way they welcome you into the team and make you feel like you're a part of something bigger than just a job. You know what I mean? Like uh their willingness to teach you. If you're willing to learn, they're willing to teach, you know. And that's like really uh something I really like, you know, like being a part of a culture that's just more than the job, like like Mr. Spears said.

SPEAKER_02 9:20

So then uh kind of how do you pair that with the stuff that you're learning in the classroom and then moving that into what you're doing in the field? How do those two things relate to each other?

SPEAKER_01 9:29

Um LSEO has a good program that definitely teaches you like ethics aside from just doing a job, you know, like how to do a job, but how to also get along with your coworkers and how to be a part of a team, you know. If you're not used to being a part of a team, kind of how to get ready to be a part of one, you know. Yeah. Uh and I definitely see that with the team I work with. Everybody takes care of each other. If you don't know something, you're not afraid to ask. They make sure that they tell you that. Like, hey, if you don't know something, you know, reach out to somebody. That way we can get you educated on what you don't know, you know. So uh definitely classroom and real world do go hand in hand.

SPEAKER_02 10:07

And there's that that mindset of, you know, there's only certain things that you can learn in the classroom, and then there's only certain things you can learn on the job, too, right? So talk about that.

SPEAKER_03 10:16

Yeah. So I mean, for example, uh to kind of piggyback off of Gabe and saying how good the program is here, one of the best things that I've I've found that we've gotten out of LSEO um is the fame chapter that we initially started with just the electromechanical program, but it's being bridged across into some other fields now. Um, because there's such a heavy focus on the professional skills, the the managing of schedule, how to speak, how to deliver presentations, those soft skills that really aren't taught anywhere. And a lot of times folks end up in the workplace and have never had any exposure to it or don't know how to interact in those types of situations. And so it's really um been a great blessing to watch these young people and even those of us that are, you know, not quite so young anymore, uh be able to get polished on some skills that that are almost a forgotten skill. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

Yeah, but the other and the other good side of that too is so you have this curriculum, right? You have all these books and you have all this uh agendas and things that you learn, and then you get out there and you find out that kicking that pump twice and doing this or that to it is what makes it actually work better. So it's like there's definitely the part that you have to understand before you go out there, but then they have to understand that that pump's been there 75 years and kicking it, doing this, you know, twisting it backwards two times, that's what makes it pump better. So uh being able to show that to some of the young guys, it's also fun as well.

SPEAKER_03 11:45

Oh, yeah, because there's there's definitely stuff out there that you know you gotta you gotta jiggle this switch and you gotta tap on that gauge, and then you can so there is, and that's the that part that you talk about where you only learn it by being on the job and in the field. And so it the program really does allow you to bridge that gap to where you need to have learnings in both spaces.

SPEAKER_02 12:05

And I think that's the way it it should have been all along with education too, right? That's how it started. That's how absolutely that's how education was really intended to be was that you get on the job and you you learn these things, you you're you're building careers, you're building pathways, these trades, craft skills, all those things, and being able to relate what you've learned in a classroom with what you do on the job. And I think that's uh sometimes where education misses it is, you know, it it's great in theory, but is it great in practice? So um, I love that that's what this apprenticeship does. So um can Gabriel, can you kind of share maybe a moment during this apprenticeship that you've been a part of where you thought maybe um, hey, this is exactly why I chose this path?

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Oh, definitely. I would say when I got to Beaumont and started learning the actual process, like what we do, what we make, and the end result, and learning how to draw out the unit, uh going out into the unit for like field walks and tracing lines and stuff like that, and actually being there and then in that setting, you know, um made me realize like, yeah, I'm I'm glad I'm here, you know, and how quick I picked up on it made me realize like, like, yeah, I got a knack for this, you know. Yeah, I love that. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 13:13

So, Milton Larry, what uh what what excites you guys about the the future of this apprenticeship program the most?

SPEAKER_03 13:20

Uh the fact that the Dow has invested in it and they see the value in it and they want to continue to invest in it. Um it's given us a channel of of bringing people into the company that has provided a really good um and high retention funnel of bringing folks in. So what we've seen is that folks that have come in through the apprenticeship funnel tend to have the highest retention percentage that we've got. Um so that's very exciting in a in a time where, especially in Southeast Texas, where you've got we've got what three uh facilities being built within a 35 mile radius right now. Massive retention is huge. I mean, and so this is a way that we're able to do that. Um, we're able to invest in folks, and because we're investing in them to get kind of get them starting their career, um, there's kind of a bond that's formed there that I think is what holds people uh to stay with the company. So that that's one of the big things for me.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

Okay, can I jump in for a please do? All right, let me like what watch this one-minute segment here. Here we go. So when you when here's what I see, he's not gonna say it, but I'm gonna say it. What I'm proud of is I have a brother here that when you ask what's the apprenticeship program, what does it matter? When I've seen the work that he done that he's done and what he does, when you walk into a local high school and these young adults, these young students, men and women, young men, young women, now have hope and you see it in their eyes. And they know that they have a chance. And they know that they're able to go to a place like LSEO, I call y'all, the generational game changers. But to see these young people now know that it's possible. And to, and and it just it's a feeling that you can't describe because now you're providing them with an opportunity that will change their lives forever, that will give them a better opportunity for their families. If they want to have children, if they want to buy a house, a truck, a boat, a car, or you know, cook all the time, whatever it is that you want to do, they now have that opportunity. And so their parents may have never had a college education, or their parents may never have had a plant job, but always wanted one. And now they get a shot at it.

SPEAKER_02 15:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

That's what I love about this program.

SPEAKER_02 15:34

And it it goes so much about community too. You know, you're building community through this, but you know, you're from this area you talked about, right? Yes, sir. We're all from this area. We're all from Orange. We've all born and raised in this area. And we see people come in from the outside and there, it we welcome them in. We love it. We you become part of the community, but there's something different about being able to work with your neighbors, being able to work with your community because there's a different level of support. And so that's something I do think people do need to be aware of is if you're from this area and you want to stay here and you want to build a career here, there are plenty of places and plenty of areas to do that. And I think this Dow Apprenticeship is one of the best examples of that, is that this is a grow your own mentality, right?

SPEAKER_03 16:13

Oh, absolutely. And that's the intent of it. We, you know, bring people in, give them an opportunity. Um, and and like Larry said, I mean, hit the nail on the head. This is, and it's not just the program, it's LSCO, what it provides, it's the other companies around here that are involved, whether it's through fame or other private uh apprenticeship programs. These these programs can literally change generations of a family. And uh, if that doesn't bring you joy and excitement, then you need to check your pulse because that's huge.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

Yeah, it literally makes my day to walk in the room behind him and see their faces. It's like Christmas. They're like, Milton's here. I love that. You know what I mean? Yeah, because at one time LSEO was just like, I don't want to go to college here locally. Now it's the hottest spot, baby. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_03 17:00

Yeah, I mean, enrollment records have been broken for the last several semesters. Yep. Um, the process technology program, uh, the last semester, I don't know what it is currently this one. I haven't talked to Mr. Ramsey, but 67% of the people enrolled in process technology were dual credit high school students. We've got an opportunity for folks to graduate high school, some of them even 17 years old, to be over halfway complete with their degree to go get their foot in the door at one of our local companies and start contributing not only for themselves and providing for themselves and their family, but to the community and giving back. And so uh I'm just excited to be a part, a part of it. I'm thankful for the apprenticeship program by me being afforded that opportunity. I'm now I sit on every single uh board around here, around Orange, Bridge City, Orange Field, LCM, West Orange for all their CTE programs. I'm able to have uh the opportunity to give insight into what industry is looking for. I'm sitting on the board with fame. So I'm working with other local industry partners and we're all just trying to pour in to the community to give back because it's been so good to us.

SPEAKER_02 18:08

Well, and I think that's also something important to mention, too, is that you know, these programs that are being developed here at the college, they're not just created in a vacuum where it's like, oh, well, hey, this is what the curriculum should be. These are programs that are being developed by uh a board of advisors that are coming in and saying, this is what we need in the workplace and this is what needs to be taught. And so LSEO is turning around and going, awesome, help us build the courses. Hey, do you have somebody to teach it? You know, even that.

SPEAKER_03 18:33

We've had many conversations.

SPEAKER_02 18:34

The majority of our instructors that are here have had a wealthy career in the industry or in that sector that they're they're teaching in. And I think that's something that's incredible that you don't typically find in general education settings.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

So absolutely. Yeah, we we currently have uh a Dow employee uh who's teaching some night classes here as part of their operations program. So it's really neat to see people uh get to get back in all the different ways. I mean, um, I got my associate's degree from here uh quite some many years ago. And uh that's kind of what got me started was doing that. So it's neat to kind of come full circle and and see all that come back.

SPEAKER_02 19:11

So hearing all this, you know, that this is this is something that's new to you, but uh, where do you see yourself, you know, 10, 15 years from now? Do you see yourself sitting in those chairs talking about the same program like they are?

SPEAKER_01 19:22

Uh definitely. This program has not only changed my life, but my family's life, like Milton and Mr. Spears said. Like, I'm so just grateful. Every time I wake up and know, like I get to go to class, you know, and it's paid for by Dow. And when I do go to the plant, like it has always been a dream of mine to be here, you know. Uh so definitely like the loyalty is there with the company. They gave me a chance, and that's all I needed. That's all I ever wanted was just a chance, you know. Uh, so I definitely see myself 10, 15 years, you know, if not moving up in operations, extending somewhere else within Dow, you know, because that's one thing about Dow, they will always give you an opportunity to grow within the company and they encourage it. So it's it's definitely something I would consider.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

So if a high school or a college student is listening right now and they think uh they're thinking about applying, um, what advice are you gonna give them?

SPEAKER_03 20:16

You're too late. So yeah, no, uh, our program is closed for this year as far as the application prox process. Um, but be on the lookout. Uh it's gonna post in January every year. Yep. Um, usually the first Monday, if not the first, then it'll be the second Monday, something around that. Uh we do a big blitz when it comes to um marketing. Um we put it on Facebook pages. You guys have have uh posted it for us, uh, just like we kind of return the favor with the fame program and getting out there. Um but the first thing is do your research, kind of understand what industry is, see if it's something that you really would like to do. Yeah. Um, and if you think it is, then go ahead and enroll. You can start taking classes. I can take people into this program that are up to the halfway mark. So you can go ahead and start classes while you're waiting. Um when we do the hiring, make sure your resumes are up to snuff. There, there's plenty of opportunity and help here at uh the college to get those resumes ready. Participate in every mock interview opportunity that you have. Uh, most of the folks in the that are applying for this program are 25 and under. We we do have some in all demographics, but the majority is that senior in high school up to about 25 years of age. And there's a lot of those folks that have never sat in a room with four or five people staring at you and grilling you with questions. It can be nerve wracking. I remember the first time I did it, I think I was 20 or 21, and it was a culture shock. So take advantage of those opportunities, you know, where you've got the resume writing classes, you've got the mock interview opportunities. When they do site tours, there's a lot of a lot of companies that will allow college students to come on site with the school. Uh Even the high schools, we're working on getting them in here to into the different sites to do that. To go see what it's about. Start talking to people. I mean, the odds are you live in Southeast Texas, you're either a teacher, you're in the medical field, or you work in the plant. That's the top three in the area, hands down. So you know somebody. Start having those conversations. Get some insight. Pick their brain. It's not for everybody. Some people don't want to work shift work. They don't want to do that. Some people are like, this is great. I can go fishing during the middle of the week when nobody else is on the lake. Or I can go play golf when there's less people on the golf course. So have those conversations. Do your homework. Talk to your counselors if you're still in high school. There, when we come to the high schools to talk, um, and it's not just Dow that does it, there's a lot of different groups. LSCO has done a great job for the last year about putting on these CT events where we come in and we talk about all the different career opportunities. Because it's not just operator maintenance. You've got the maritime program. People think maritime, well, that's the big, the big barges out there. Yeah, guess where they come? They come to these plants to get loaded. So it there's a connection there as well.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

And so Well, and Dow's also an ecosystem, too, with it with uh Yeah, we we are a standalone facility.

SPEAKER_03 23:09

We can survive without any infrastructure. We generate our own power, our own water, steam, we do it all. Now we're connected to the grid, and and that's part of our business model. But if we have to, we can go into essentially island mode. Um and there's a lot of companies that are like that.

SPEAKER_02 23:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:24

And they need accountants, they need jargon. Oh, yeah. You need uh communications people nurses, everything, marketing. I mean, we we've got we've got public affairs, we've got um if you basically uh what's the the analogy you use with the city? Um if it inv if uh if it in if the role is within a city, it's within the site or something like that. How do you however was?

SPEAKER_00 23:48

Yeah, it pretty much is the same. It's like people don't realize my fine when you say like what's the realization, because I mean we have our own cafeteria. We have the people that pick up the trash. We have that's why we're overweight. Yeah, but we uh we've got a lot, you know. And so yeah, it's been crazy. You know, my dad worked there before me, so I feel like loyal. I want to be loyal to this place, um, especially being able to serve in the capacity that I have outside of the site. You know, like Haley's is home. And so I'm always gonna push who we are and what we have to offer. And it's just, it's just, it's really been a blessing.

SPEAKER_02 24:22

Yeah, that's awesome. Uh well, apprenticeship programs like this one show just how powerful the combination of education and hands-on experience can be. And we're proud to partner with this organization like with organizations like Dow to create meaningful opportunities for our students and our community. So thank you for sharing your experiences with us. And then be sure to keep up with the latest Gator Bite podcast episodes on the LSDO website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Thanks for tuning in, and we look forward to bringing you another conversation soon.