Sitting inside this John Deere is Jimmy Anderson. He’s sitting there because he is a highly paid,. Well trained heavy equipment operator. He applies his skills for Merritt & Sons Construction in Brunswick, Georgia. The particular machine he is using in the picture is the 892D – LC excavator.
Jimmy had a great career for twenty-five years before pursuing his heavy equipment interests. He operated a paper machine for Durango Paper Company. A somber day in November of 2003, Jimmy was informed that his 25 years of service were being rewarded with a boot. Actually the Durango mill closed and Jimmy along with many others found themselves to be unemployed. Jimmy saw the end coming and took some bold steps to insure the continued security and comfort of his wife and two kids.
Jimmy enrolled with National’s Heavy Equipment Operators Program after seeing our display at a job fair near his home. He talked with one of our admissions representatives about our program. Jimmy liked the enthusiasm our enrollment counselor displayed and, based on that, decided to enroll. Jimmy had heavy equipment in his blood. His dad had a logging business when Jimmy was growing up. Jimmy was around the big machines most of his childhood. Naturally then, when the mill closed, Jimmy returned to his first love.
Jimmy enjoys being a heavy equipment operator because he gets to be in his favorite place, outdoors! It sure beats standing behind a machine all day watching it crank out paper goodies. Jimmy also likes being out doors when not working. He likes fishing and hunting and will occasionally take the boat out and just go swimming on the lake.
When Jimmy arrived at National Heavy Equipment Operators School he was trained on a variety of heavy equipment machines. We asked him what the most challenging part of the training for him was. Jimmy told us that the hardest part of the training was learning to drive a truck in order to earn a CDL Class A. Jimmy took advantage of our other major training program and combined heavy equipment and truck driver training together. Jimmy knew that the most marketable equipment operator also has a Class A commercial driver’s license. Jimmy really never has to worry about another mill closing the rest of his life. He will always find work in heavy equipment and/or trucking if he wants it. And, he wants it. Jimmy’s future plans include learning all he can about as many pieces of heavy equipment as possible. His desire to establish a secure career in this field is superseded only by his indomitable spirit.
We here at National Heavy Equipment Operators School are proud of Jimmy for doing what ever it takes to provide for his family. He proved that the end of a job is not really the end but the beginning of a new chapter in life. A life now rich in experience, fun, opportunity, and challenges, that we know Jimmy will enthusiastically embrace.
Jimmy Anderson…
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