Tri-County Grads Team Up at Fellers Welding

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 1506

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/30/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

ANDERSON --- As a student in Welding class in the 1990's, Allen Shevey admired instructor Bob Fellers' expertise and attention to detail. Fellers, who taught evening classes at Tri-County Technical College and has owned Fellers Welding in Anderson for a decade, took note of Shevey's willingness to learn all he could about his craft. After graduation Shevey worked as a welder for an Anderson business, but teamed up with Fellers on outside projects any chance he could.

"We complement each other," said Shevey, who, today, is partners with Fellers. "Bob started the business in 1993. I left my job and joined him within a year. It wasn't planned but grew into this wonderful partnership. Things have worked out great," said Shevey. "Having Bob as a partner is like icing on the cake," he added.

"Allen was enthusiastic, and I could tell within the last semester he had bigger goals," said Tri-County's Welding Department Head Bob Humphrey. "He set his sights higher, and it didn't surprise me when they teamed up."

Fellers Welding's clients include industrial plants and general contractors in the construction industry. Materials are fabricated in the shop and later installed or erected. Fellers oversees the fabrication shop and quality control. Shevey is sales manager and handles the public relations side of the business.

Both are grads of Tri-County -- Shevey in 1995 and Fellers in 1980 – and they stand behind Tri-County's program in every way.

"The curriculum prepares you for the workforce. It helped me to get a job as a full-time welder immediately after graduating," said Shevey.

Welders are even more in demand today, they agree. The company employs 20 persons -- 15 in the field and four in the shop.

"We have two graduates working for us now. Every welder in our shop has taken a course or tested at Tri-County. We find that Tri-County's grads are dependable and very safety conscious," he said.

He said a degree helps with advancement and "overall in your career in leadership and supervisory roles."

"Today, there are more jobs than ever in the field of welding, and these jobs specifically require a welder with certification," said Humphrey. "I get calls three times a week from employers looking for trained welders. The best jobs, of course, require a two-year degree."

Most grads are employed in the fabrication shops and pipe welders, Humphrey added. "I placed 100 percent of my graduates in May."

Welders need a lot of patience and tolerance for working outside, said Shevey. "They also must have good hand-to-eye coordination," added Shevey, "and a good work ethic, which is true with any job."

Fellers serves as chair of the College's Welding Advisory Committee and gives valuable input into the curriculum. "He gives advice on what we should be concentrating on to produce better graduates," said Humphrey.

"You have to stay on top of things to be in this business," said Fellers, who recently became a certified welding inspector. "It presents new challenges. Every day you have to keep on learning. After 30 years, it's never gotten old."

Tri-County's Welding program prepares persons for a variety of employment opportunities, primarily in construction or metalworking. Training includes acetylene, arc, MIG and TIG welding, in addition to resistance welding, inert gas dual-shielded welding, plasma and carbon arc cutting.

Day and evening classes are available, and persons may enter any term. Some students may elect to enter the certificate program.
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