Big equipment propels bigger dreams

More than 1,000 students from across the metro region gathered at the Tulsa Tech Heavy Equipment Career Showcase to explore job opportunities with the City of Broken Arrow and other heavy equipment operators.

Held at the Tulsa Tech Broken Arrow campus, 4000 W. Florence St., the career fair focused on skilled automotive and mechanical positions.

City of Broken Arrow Maintenance Services Director Ryan Baze coordinated the city's participation and emphasized the importance of building strong community relationships.

"We were excited to be part of Tulsa Tech's first annual Heavy Equipment Showcase and to talk with students about what our mechanics do for the City," Baze said. "It was fun to see their interest as they explored the equipment."

Baze's department maintains all city vehicles, heavy equipment, and facilities.

"There's much more to this work than big engines," he said. "Our team also works with electrical, cooling, hydraulic, hydronic, and air systems. We want students to see the opportunities in this career and know that Broken Arrow is a great place to live, work, and raise a family."

Adam Griel, Tulsa Tech's Transportation Program Coordinator, came up with the idea for the showcase. In his role, he connects students with industry opportunities and helps them secure employment after graduation.

"We noticed that about half of our students are starting to work on equipment right out of our Diesel Program," Griel said. "So, I thought that if we bring equipment here, it might inspire students to work on heavy equipment as well."

To demonstrate the complexity and skill required to service and maintain the city's equipment, the City provided three large pieces of equipment for the event, including a hydrovac truck, a gradall, and a motor grader.

Griel continued, saying he envisioned these opportunities for his students after noticing how much heavy equipment operates across various projects along his route home to Claremore each day.

"You see equipment everywhere, and someone has to work on all that," Griel said. "Most of the new mechanics in the area are coming through Tulsa Tech; we have almost 500 students coming through the Mechanics class. I think this is a need that hadn't been met."

As a result of the collaboration that stemmed from the showcase, Baze, Griel, and several of Tulsa Tech's diesel instructors are discussing a possible city-sponsored internship program that would give students the opportunity to work alongside city mechanics.

"We're hoping to launch in January," Baze said.

In addition, the City of Broken Arrow and several companies represented at the event will now be represented on the Tulsa Tech Advisory Board, helping guide course offerings so students are prepared to meet workforce demands right out of school.

"We can train them, but if there's no place for them to go, there's no reason for us to do what we do," Griel said. "So having these connections and places for students to work is great."

"I was honored to be invited by Tulsa Tech to join its Diesel Advisory Board. Our mechanics work on everything from police vehicles and fire apparatus to heavy equipment, so I can share a city perspective as the school develops its curriculum," Baze said. "I'm looking forward to building relationships with instructors and other businesses in the industry and to helping students see the career opportunities with the City of Broken Arrow."

Baze sees real benefits from collaboration for the city, Tulsa Tech, and, most of all, for the students, who will receive a more well-rounded education.

"A big thank-you to Tulsa Tech for inviting us and to City Manager Michael Spurgeon and Assistant City Manager Kenny Schwab for supporting our participation," Baze said. "Our team enjoyed meeting the students and showing them some of the major equipment they could work on in a city career."