After high school, there are many paths a graduate can take as they move towards their first career. While higher education may be the right path for some, it may not be the best for all. For those interested in kickstarting their career, Indel Power Group’s Technician Apprentice Program offers the opportunity to “learn as you earn.” Through the program, apprentices are taught introductory-level diesel technical skills while getting paid a salary. This is the path Chris Quinn, a Technician at Johnson & Towers in Mt. Laurel, NJ, chose to launch his career.
Chris had always been interested in pursuing a career that allowed him to work with his hands. Since he was young, Chris enjoyed tinkering with vehicles in his home garage. After taking an auto technology class in high school, Chris knew he wanted to pursue diesel technology following graduation. Tony Williams, recent retiree of Johnson & Towers and a member of Chris’s family, recommended he consider the apprentice program over the traditional technical school route. “When I heard about the program, I figured it was perfect. I could learn and get paid to do it, instead of paying to go to school and having to find a job to pay bills in the meantime,” says Chris.
He quickly applied and came in for an interview with Dillon Boyle, Service Manager at Johnson & Towers, and Brandon Larney, Technician and Chris’s soon-to-be mentor in the program. “At this level, I tend to focus on the interviewee’s personality traits and ask about their hobbies and experiences. When they’re just starting out, entry-level employees don’t have much technical experience so you’re looking for characteristics that would translate to a great employee,” Dillon explains.
When asked what stood out to Brandon about Chris in the hiring process, he said, “Chris reminded me of myself. I loved to fix things and wanted to turn my hobby into a career. Chris wants to do the same and has the willingness to succeed in this industry.”
Chris got the position and began working as an apprentice under Brandon in September 2022. “Whenever I have a question or get confused, Brandon always explains things in a way that makes it easy to understand. He doesn’t sound like he’s quoting an instruction manual. Brandon could teach anyone; I was lucky to be paired with someone like him,” Chris says of his mentor.
Today, a year into the program, Chris’s skill set has grown exponentially. “Chris has taken on some incredibly challenging things that even a veteran tech would have trouble with. He learns fast and overcomes issues with the resources we provide him,” says Dillon.
Chris is focusing on Detroit Diesel online training and will begin instructor-led training soon. When asked of his career goals, he said, “I just want to be the very best I can be, and I think this program will help me do that.”
The Technician Apprentice Program was designed in response to a shift in the workforce, providing prospects a quicker path to success through its hands-on learning environment while earning a salary. “Through this program, you get to start training in the real world right away. You get to learn in a one-on-one environment surrounded by veteran technicians that have years of experience instead of sharing your learning experience with twenty other students,” Dillon adds about the program.