FROM CURIOSITY TO CAREER PATH
At 18 years old, Mario Esparza has gone from working in fast food to becoming a full-time Production Technician at Genie Manufacturing, all through a youth apprenticeship program that changed his life.
As a high school senior in Moses Lake, Mario was helping his mother with the bills, while balancing school and work. He learned about career opportunities with Genie when he met Stela Heuschkel, Human Resources Manager, at a job fair. “I saw her sitting under the blue Genie sign, and there was no one else at that table, so I was curious.”
The Genie apprenticeship opportunity was facilitated through AJAC – Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships. It would be Genie’s first youth apprenticeship cohort, and Mario wanted to apply. He received support from SkillSource with interview preparation, and received essential resources like steel-toed boots and gas cards, which made the journey possible.
“SkillSource is a great option when you need help getting up on your feet,” Mario reflects. “They helped me with work-related clothing and transportation, which made starting my apprenticeship at Genie comfortable. They also motivated me to finish school, and I earned incentives when I graduated.”
Today, Mario builds manifolds and preps engines, having learned skills in his apprenticeship that have become second nature. Working four 10-hour shifts gives him a coveted three-day weekend, and he especially enjoys the camaraderie with his coworkers. Upon completing his apprenticeship in January, he’ll earn a Production Technician certificate and become a full-time team member with benefits and potential pay increases. Says Stela Heuschkel, “It’s been a great experience. To be given the opportunity to grow the skills for a great job and the resources to get ahead, it really is a cool thing. Thank you, SkillSource.”
The apprenticeship with Genie has given Mario a solid start to a bright future, demonstrating how targeted workforce development transforms lives, turning curiosity at a job fair, into a promising career path. Congratulations Mario!
