Success Stream
Rick Mayes
I would like to let the public know about a wonderful program offered by North West Arkansas Community College-Corporate Learning. The program is the Electrical Apprenticeship Program offered at the Shewmaker Center in Bentonville. This Program truly changed my life and I have seen it positively impact others as well.I had grown up around the construction trade in Northwest Arkansas because my father was a Building Contractor and a Master Electrician. Since I was a young child, I helped my father almost daily. It started out with picking up trash and tagging along with him to pick up materials. It evolved into playing a major role aiding him in everything from hiring sub-contractors to doing electrical work. Everyone assumed I would take over his business of building custom homes. After graduating high school, I thought, like most people, College would be right for me. I pursued an Education degree starting at the University of Arkansas and eventually winding up in Missouri at a small College.
Getting away from home helped me grow up in some ways, but I was still immature and without direction or focused in others. I dropped out of school and returned to Arkansas only to find myself flipping burgers, doing warehouse work and occasionally helping my father. For years I continued living life with no true direction or ambition. I even went into private investigations for several years, allowing me to travel and do some soul searching. I “grew up” somewhat when I got married in my late 20’s but continued to be away from home on the road working.
After the birth of my first child, I realized this was not the way I wanted to live. I needed to be at home to watch my son grow up. I got out if the investigation business and started searching for a career I would enjoy, allowing me to be home every night. I knew I had the talent to do a variety of things. I just needed to commit myself to something I liked. My father suggested I look into starting an Electrical business, since I had helped him all those years and knew it was something I enjoyed. What I discovered was a person could no longer claim to be an electrician based on helping out a Master for years. State laws now required a person not only work under a Master for four years, but attend an approved Apprentice Program for four years as well.
NWACC-Corporate Learning offers a State approved Apprenticeship Program in a state-of-the-art facility, the Shewmaker Center. The instructor really cares about each student and their development in becoming a well rounded, educated, skilled tradesman. I gained employment with a local Electrical Contractor and learned the “hands-on” aspect of the trade, working every day in the field. One night a week, I attended the Apprenticeship Program, gaining knowledge of the theory, ethics, safety, and code. After 4 years, the Program had me well prepared to pass the State Journeyman’s exam. An electrician with a Journeyman’s license can find work anywhere and demand a salary typically offered to college graduates.
I took the necessary steps to having my own electrical business and being my own boss. Self employment has many benefits, but it’s also a lot of work. I was asked by my old instructor and the administrator of the Program, if I would be willing to teach Apprentice Electricians at NWACC. I felt it was a great opportunity to give back to the trade that had been so good to me. The instructors at NWACC know their trade. NWACC has professionals who train the instructors how to teach. I found teaching so rewarding; I did it for 4 years.
When the opportunity arose to join NWACC-Corporate Learning as the Coordinator over the Apprenticeship Programs, it was a dream comes true. For the first time, I felt a true peace in my heart that this was my calling.
