Arturo Martell: A 20-Year Journey, a Lifetime of Lessons — and a Degree Earned on His Own Terms

Western Nevada College News

When Arturo Martell II walked across the commencement stage as a 2025 Western Nevada College graduate, he didn't look like the typical student - and he had no interest in pretending otherwise.

Arturo's path to an Associate of General Studies degree has been long, winding, "backwards," as he puts it - and exactly what he needed.

For nearly 20 years, the Carson High School Class of 2004 graduate took classes at Western Nevada College, not to earn a degree, but to fuel his evolving career at Click Bond, the Carson City-based aerospace fastener manufacturer he joined in 2006. Certifications, hands-on experience and curiosity were his guiding priorities.

A degree? That could wait.

But when Jennifer Gledhill, director of Supply Chain and Materials Management at Click Bond, encouraged him to finish what he'd unknowingly started, Arturo discovered that the nearly two decades of courses he'd taken had brought him within reach of a formal degree.

"Arturo's accomplishment reflects the spirit of lifelong learning that is at the heart of WNC," said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. "He returned to complete his degree after many years, bringing with him experience, maturity and an unwavering commitment to bettering himself. His story shows what is possible when perseverance meets opportunity."

Working with WNC Access Program Coordinator Adrian Barrera, he learned that an Associate of General Studies required just a few more classes.

So, after years of building skills, raising a family, and climbing through six different positions at Click Bond, Arturo resumed his college education - older, busier and more focused than ever.

"I'm happy I did things backwards because it gave me a different perspective," Arturo said. "I came into the workforce first and gained years of real-world experience. In class, I could connect the dots. I could apply what I was learning - and I could speak to it."

A journey that sarted with responsibility - and reinvention

Arturo's adult life began abruptly when, at 18, he learned he was going to be a father.

"I told my dad three things: I got a girlfriend pregnant, she's undocumented and I found a job at a factory that makes airplane parts," he recalled. "I got scolded on all three."

His childhood dream of joining the Air Force - inspired by a summer spent on a base with his older sister Yeri Martell Deluca - suddenly collided with real-life responsibility. College plans were put on hold. Arturo needed steady work, and Click Bond became the place he would grow up, professionally and personally.

He started on the factory floor as a press operator and remained in that role for a decade.

"I used to come out of work every day covered in oil," he said. "Those machines would splash oil all over me, but I loved it and I learned machining, punch-and-die machine setup, and without realizing it at the time, began practicing Root Cause Analysis.

Arturo Martell I, II and III

"It was all trial and error back then," he said. "I was solving problems every day, but I didn't know there was a name or method for it. I didn't connect the dots until I went through MT1."

When he completed WNC's Manufacturing Technician (MT1) certification led by instructor Emily Howarth, he became the first Click Bond employee to do so - and helped bring the program directly to the company.

"That program changed my life," he said. "Lean manufacturing, visual management, statistical process control - I didn't know any of that before WNC."

His first improvement project at Click Bond - installing shadow boards so operators could instantly locate tools - became a turning point. A simple fix eliminated wasted time, raised safety standards and caught the attention of leadership.

"That shadow board got more visibility than I ever expected," he said. "It opened the door to everything that came next."

Climbing the ladder, one skill at a time

From that moment on, Arturo's career became a case study in intentional growth. His résumé reads like a tour through an entire company:

• ICOP (Independent Cam Operated Plunger) Press Operator - 10 years
• Manufacturing Engineering Technician - 2 years
• Continuous Improvement Specialist - 2 years
• Inventory Control Supervisor - 2 years
• Salesforce Administrator & Price Analyst - 2 years
• Inventory and Logistics Manager - 2025

Each role expanded his understanding of aerospace manufacturing - from tooling and automation to pricing and distribution. Along the way, he earned additional certifications, including Lean Green Belt training through the Nevada National Air Guard and University of Nevada, Reno; AS9100 Internal Auditor; and Automated Industrial Technology (AIT) through WNC.

"Arturo has modeled a smart way to pursue one's future," said Ryan Costella, Click Bond Vice President of Organizational Development and Strategic Management. "It makes good sense to join an employer that values learning and has a willingness to make the investment in your growth. That way you can make a living, gain rich experience early on, and fund your education without accumulating debt. Arturo's story showcases the value of pursuing work experience and education in tandem to achieve a career path rich in options for growth and long-term success."

Arturo's work extended beyond Carson City. After Click Bond acquired a closing deep-drawn metal plant in Watertown, Conn., and transformed it into Click Bond Watertown, Arturo regularly traveled to help share best practices, integrate processes, strengthen operations and build relationships with skilled eyelet operators whose roots went back generations.

"I align myself with Click Bond because we're the same age - the company started in 1987, and I was born in 1986," he said. "We've grown together."

He even helped build an airplane for a national STEM program supported by Click Bond - an experience he calls one of the proudest of his career.

A lifelong learner - in more ways than one

Despite his progress, Arturo remained humble about returning to WNC as an adult learner. He embraced being the oldest student in the classroom.

"I liked sharing my experience," he said. "There's a misconception that college is only for young people. I met students of all ages who were discovering themselves just like I was."

His educational roots stretch back even further. Born in Mexico, Arturo immigrated to the U.S. at age 2. His parents held a deep respect for learning and personal growth. His mother was an accountant and his father a banker who was also involved in politics from his passion in civic systems, leadership and a deep desire to serve others.

"My parents always believed in opportunity and took an enormous risk leaving a pretty good life in Mexico and starting over from zero. The language barrier and necessity to survive did not permit their careers to transfer to the U.S., leaving my parents to mainly work in manufacturing and more blue-collar work, which was a shift from their white-collar work in Mexico," Arturo said. "They were willing to risk their success for their kids."

Another source of inspiration was his sister, Jassmin. Like Arturo, she started a family at a young age and entered the workforce out of necessity, beginning as a front desk clerk at Sierra Nevada Health Center while attending WNC. She earned her Associate of Business degree, and over time worked her way up to become Vice President of Operations for Nevada Health Centers.

"Watching her journey was incredibly motivating," Arturo said. "It showed me what was possible if you kept going. Seeing her balance family, work and school pushed me to continue my own education."

Education and the Air Force weren't Arturo's only interests growing up. His first love as a teen was lowriders - customizing interiors and painting (his first class at WNC), a passion his parents didn't understand but one that taught him engineering concepts long before he realized it.

"That path could've taken me in a very different direction," he said. "But looking back, even that hobby was preparing me."

Setting an example for his family

Now that he and his wife, Yesica, are parents to three children, Arturo sees the impact of every choice he's made.

"My son and my wife changed my whole life," he said. "Yessica has been my rock and my inspiration. Her strength, patience and unwavering support have shaped not just our family, but the person I am today. The path we've been on has been a whirlwind, but intentional, and I wouldn't trade a moment of it."

Arturo II and Arturo III nearly shared the graduation stage last spring. Arturo III took his last class to complete an Associate of Arts degree during fall semester after taking advantage of WNC's Jump Start program while attending Carson High School.

Finishing his degree at WNC also served as a message to his children, his co-workers and the community.

"Arturo's journey is a powerful reminder that education does not always follow a straight line," President Dalpe said. "His perseverance over nearly two decades shows extraordinary commitment, resilience and belief in the value of learning. We are incredibly proud to celebrate Arturo's achievement and the example he sets for our students, our community and his own family."

There, however, may be another degree in his future. Last fall, he had planned to register for WNC's online Bachelor's degree program in Organization and Project Management. But family, his devotion to Click Bond and the restoration of a 1978 Cutlas Supreme sitting in his driveway just might delay his next step in higher education. But it will eventually happen, and it won't take another 20 years.

"There's no direct path. Everyone has their own journey," he said. "Mine just happened to take 20 years - and I wouldn't change a thing."

Discovering what he was meant to do

Today, Arturo has a clearer sense of his calling.

"I really believe my heart is on the shop floor," he said. "I want to work with people, develop processes, change the perception that manufacturing is a dead-end job. It isn't. It's full of opportunity.

"I remember when I first told my dad that I had found a job in manufacturing. He said, 'We didn't come to this country for you to work in a factory - that's what we did.' To him, it felt like a dead-end job."

Over time, Arturo has been able to change his parents' entire perspective on manufacturing. What they saw as limitation was really fear - fear that the work wouldn't lead anywhere.

"Manufacturing has done so much for me," Arturo said. "It gave me a solid foundation, opened the door to multiple career paths, helped me resolve my wife's immigration status, and ultimately allowed me to directly serve the aerospace industry I once dreamed of joining. That's why I still have so much passion for the work I do today."

With years of perspective and experiences, Arturo's mission is to draw more people - especially young workers - into manufacturing. That purpose is one of the reasons he chose to return to the shop floor after spending time in sales.

"When I'm out there, I always see the 19-year-old version of myself," he said. "I try to nudge them - to go to school, to keep learning and to see the many paths a career in manufacturing can take. "

For Arturo, manufacturing is not a single job but a gateway. It offers multiple career trajectories, opportunities for growth and a chance to make a real impact. Through his work, he contributes directly to the aerospace industry and helps others realize that manufacturing is a launch pad to a meaningful and impactful future.

Learn more about WNC at wnc.edu. Spring semester just started and there are many opportunities to become part of the semester.

When Arturo Martell II learned that his dad dreamed of becoming a pilot when he was younger, his son made that dream come true. For Father's Day, Arturo presented his dad with a Click Bond boarding pass so that he could fulfill his dream of piloting an aircraft at age 76.