Zach Darr graduated in May 2015 from Ranken’s Precision Machining Technology

Zach Darr graduated in May 2015 from Ranken’s Precision Machining Technology program. Zack is deservedly proud of the path he has taken and the skills he’s acquired in the field. “The machinist certificate gave me a foundational skill set that got my foot in the door. My on-the-job training has led to an excellent career in the industrial maintenance mechanic field,” he says. “Before coming to CBRE (Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis group) I was a machinist apprentice for Hydromat, building, installing, and servicing machinery. I'm currently a Service Technician 3 for facilities, robotics, and machinery at CBRE St. Louis. I’m a millwright, experienced in electrical, fabrication and control systems, and this all began with making the decision to have a trade skill as my foundation.”

Wayne Perkins, Maintenance Manager STL 9, CBRE, explains “I have been working with Zach for about 6 months. He is one of my Tech 3’s, which is a Lead. Zach loves challenges and does a great job. He learns very fast and picks up skills very quickly. Zach has been a great asset to the team and works well with others. I am very pleased to have Zach as one of my Team Leads and see him advancing into management.”

Zach tells us one of his favorite memories while at Ranken was “Seeing the CNC machines generate their own tool paths for high-speed machining profiles. That was really awesome.”

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/
https://www.cbre.us/people-and-offices/corporate-offices/st-louis

Comments

Ranken helps most students obtain a sense of a scheduled, orderly life with rules you must follow no matter how ridiculous students may think they are

“Ranken helps most students obtain a sense of a scheduled, orderly life with rules you must follow no matter how ridiculous students may think they are,” says Colton Knowles. “The classes were very balanced in ratio of students-to-instructors, which alleviated the challenge of receiving instructive, one-on-one clarity when you simply asked for it.” Students in the St. Louis campus Construction Division programs use their skills to build houses in the neighborhood through our nonprofit Ranken Community Development Corporation (RCDC). They receive construction training in a “learn by doing” style, supervised by our faculty in every facet of construction. Colton enjoyed plumbing those houses with his class during the winter of 2019. Most of his classmates had never been a part of a “build” before and he enjoyed seeing everybody’s reaction to the physical demands and know-how required when piping a house together. He says, “You learn a lot about the people you thought you knew when yo...

Matthew Mays graduated with a Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Technology in May 2018

Matthew Mays graduated with a Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Technology in May 2018. He acknowledges, “I was able to change careers while attending Ranken’s welding program, which put me in a position for a more hands-on approach in my trade with more upward mobility. I believe going through the welding program gave me an advantage over others when I applied for a position at Airgas.” Airgas is an Air Liquide company, a leading single-source supplier of gases, welding equipment and supplies, and safety products. Matt was hired as an Inside Sales Associate at Airgas (Pacific location) in October 2017. His prior welding experience and being enrolled at Ranken made him top pick. January 2021, he was asked to join a new Airgas team as an Outside Sales Support Specialist. Matt oversees sales operations at five locations, “from soup to nuts.” Debra Alexander, Outside Sales Support Manager for Airgas, tells us “I refer to Matt as a rock star! He’s always on time, fully loaded and read...

Ermin Velagic graduated in 2020 with an Associate Degree in Network and Database Administration

Ermin Velagic graduated in 2020 with an Associate Degree in Network and Database Administration. He immediately took a position with TekSystems. Last winter, Ermin joined IMPACT Strategies, a full-service commercial builder as a Computer Support Specialist. Ermin tells us his parents emigrated to the United States “seeking a better life,” making him a first-generation college graduate. His academic journey faced serious challenges. Ermin and his fiancé both worked full-time while he attended classes at Ranken to build a more secure future. While juggling this schedule, he distinctly remembers the support he received from Ranken IT faculty member Ashley Reddick, who spent many hours before and after class mentoring and motivating him to pass demanding certification exams. In a personal letter to Mr. Reddick, Ermin’s emotions were clear, “[You] created a never-forgetting impact I will carry with my heart and soul heavily for as long as I will be able to remember it.” Mr. Reddick says, ...

Ranken Technical College

Search This Blog