Bernardo Burgos knew he had it in him to get to the top of the manufacturing industry. As a machine聽operator, he was used to handling the pressures of production expectations and hard deadlines. But he wanted that top spot; responsibility for keeping all the machinery ready to meet those production goals. Bernardo wasn鈥檛 a dreamer鈥�.he was a planner. He knew 黑料不打烊鈥檚 accelerated Maintenance Technician program was his way up.
What lit your fire to make your move up?
When someone at work took out a motor or put a new piece of machinery together, I was always interested 鈥� and I like getting my hands dirty. I was a machine operator for a manufacturing plant for 7-years when a promotion came up for maintenance. But they didn鈥檛 take me seriously until I signed up for school.
How did you find 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Maintenance Technician (MT) program?
I searched online, but a lot of schools didn鈥檛 have hands-on experience 鈥� and that鈥檚 what I needed. And Community College was set up to take two years. Carrington gave me all the information I wanted to hear, and I knew it was what I wanted. And it would only take as few as 8 months.
What pushed you to make a commitment to college and the Maintenance Technician program?
My wife, Neidy, and my daughter, Leia (due soon). I鈥檝e always had that instinct to do better. I never grew up in the best neighborhood; always had to watch my back. I learn from other people鈥檚 mistakes, so I do the opposite. I never really had my father around. I pretty much just wanted to be a better man.
What is one of the most important things you learned in your Maintenance Technician program?
Definitely, PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). Just knowing how to hook up motors and general electrical knowledge is very valuable in my work. And when I learned to hook up a motor 鈥� Phase I, Phase II and Phase III, I realized that I got it! The very next day at work 鈥� with all three of my bosses looking at me 鈥� I fixed a motor on our conveyor belt. There was a little bit of pressure on me.
Did you fit in with other Maintenance Technician students?
If one guy doesn鈥檛 get it right away, we help each other out. I鈥檓 28, so the most important thing for me is to take notes. One guy in class is nineteen and he鈥檚 like a sponge remembering everything! When you鈥檙e young, everything sticks. There are two or three around my age and a guy in his forties. It鈥檚 never too late to work on what you want to do鈥ut I鈥檇 rather do it now.
Was there anything you didn鈥檛 expect in your Maintenance Technician program?
Soft skills, like emotional intelligence. You鈥檝e got to know how to act with people; you can鈥檛 overreact or argue (at work). Never belittle someone, if they鈥檙e not doing something right. Sometimes it鈥檚 better for someone to learn by failing 鈥� unless it has to get done鈥hen step in.
What has been your greatest struggle?
Just trying to keep a fresh mind. I sometimes work 12-hour days, then go to school right after work. I鈥檓 in bed by 11:30 PM and up at 3:00 AM. I do it because I want a better future for our family and future children.
Do you have the support in class that you need to succeed?
Mr. Como (instructor) is a great guy who鈥檚 been through it all. Whatever question you had, he had the answer. He made sure that, at the end of the day, you understood whatever you didn鈥檛 get. He wouldn鈥檛 give up on you. All of our instructors have hands-on experience and share everything they鈥檝e done. Our lab work, it鈥檚 very hands-on, and we talk and give each other feedback. You鈥檙e not always going to understand something, but they take the time to show us how something works.
How did the Maintenance Technician program impact your job?
My boss had hired two new maintenance guys that didn鈥檛 work out. He decided to give me a chance in maintenance. It鈥檚 funny that so many times whatever I just learned in school, the next day at work, I鈥檓 doing it!
Is your boss happy with your progress?
He gave me the raise I was supposed to get after I earned my certificate (Certificate of Achievement for MT program) 鈥� five months ahead of time. I鈥檇 pretty much started at the bottom here and worked my way up. And I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am now without the program.
What does your future look like in this industry?
The PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) knowledge will change my job description, and in a couple of years, I will, hopefully, be ready to take my boss鈥檚 position as Plant Engineer. In another 15 years, I want to become Plant Manager. I think I can handle it.
What advice would you give to someone considering the Maintenance Technician program at 黑料不打烊?
Don鈥檛 give up on your dreams. I knew if I didn鈥檛 do this, I鈥檇 regret it later in life.
