Workforce Development Center provides convenient training that leads to career advancement

In late October of 2020, Jerry Whitaker, the Assistant Business Manager for Cincinnati State’s Workforce Development Center (WDC), received a call from Zac Ledyard, a young man who was living in Chicago and planning on moving to Cincinnati. Zac was interested in attending the CNC Machine Operator 1 Program offered at WDC and wanted to start his career in a Machine Shop.

Mr. Whitaker contacted Molly Fender in the HR Department at Monti, Inc. in Cincinnati regarding open positions. Zac was interviewed and hired as a Saw Operator on November 5, 2020. 

On April 5, 2021, Zac started in the Machine Operator 1 Program, attending school in the evening on two nights a week while continuing to work full time during the day at Monti. As Zac learned more about machining from his WDC training and on-the-job experiences, his responsibilities and compensation increased.

Zac quickly progressed from the saw to operating machine tools, and then to programming and running CNC machine tools. In his most recent work transition, Zac is programming and working with Cobots (Collaborative Robots). Monti uses Cobots and other high-tech manufacturing solutions to automate hard-to-staff tasks such as machine tending, assembly, and product inspection. Using Cobots helps to optimize production and provides a better work environment. Working with Cobots, as well as CNC machine tool programming and operation, is giving Zac a great career with a promising future.  

Zac likes his job, earns a competitive wage, and feels appreciated. He continues to impress the management at Monti. The only thing missing for Zac is a student loan– not something he needs to worry about since Monti, Inc. paid his tuition. 

Kudos to Zac for maintaining a straight A average while working full time!