Alumni help build stronger future at TSTC WorkSITE

(WACO, Texas) - The WorkSITE (Skills, Innovation, Training and Education), Texas State Technical College 's workforce training facility under construction on Wycon Drive in Waco, is made of more than steel and glass.

The $17 million building, a partnership between TSTC, the city of Waco and McLennan County, is also made with the hands of alumni who have put in hours of work. More than 80 TSTC graduates working in various technical fields have been or are being guided by the staff at Mazanec Construction Inc. in Waco.

"It is fulfilling to see TSTC alumni and former students working to build a facility, using the skill sets they learned at TSTC to benefit future students of TSTC and industry," said Michael Schumacher, TSTC's senior construction project manager. "I am excited to see the building complete and to see it be used for its intended purposes, which is to benefit the employers and residents of McLennan County."

Andy Sonnenberg, a job superintendent at Mazanec Construction, grew up in Graham and has associate degrees from TSTC's Building Construction Technology and Computer Networking and Systems Administration programs.

"I had a good foundation and a lot of good instructors," he said.

Sonnenberg said one of his main tasks is to interpret what the building's architects want.

"I like the hands-on part," he said. "I enjoy working with different trades."

As the general contractors, Mazanec Construction manages subcontractors to do technical work.

Stacy Drayton, a commercial service technician at Capstone Mechanical in Waco, is a graduate of TSTC's HVAC Technology program. The Copperas Cove resident worked early in the project on starting up the building's rooftop air conditioning units.

"It feels full circle," he said. "When I first started at TSTC, I did not think I would be working on a building for the school. It feels like the schoolwork I learned has gotten me here, in a sense."

Drayton decided to pursue the HVAC field when he was working in a family appliance repair business.

"Air conditioning was one thing that stood out a little more because it is the same system as a refrigerator, but different applications and more money to be made," he said.

Rudy Ochoa, of Waco, is an electrician at Lochridge Priest in Waco. He graduated from TSTC with the "triple crown" consisting of the Associate of Applied Science degree in Solar Energy Technology and certificates of completion in Electrical Construction and Energy Efficiency Specialist. He also has an Associate of Applied Science degree in HVAC Technology.

"I just enjoy learning new stuff and anything that I have not messed with before," he said.

The WorkSITE is the third TSTC construction or renovation project that Ochoa has been part of. He spent a recent day installing and troubleshooting a lighting system in the building's office area.

"I like seeing it go from nothing to what it becomes," he said about being part of work projects.

The WorkSITE is scheduled to open for classes in February 2025. TSTC will own and operate the building. The training facility's purpose is to increase access to customized training and build a skilled workforce in the county. Prosper Waco will help recruit unemployed or underemployed people who need training to earn credentials for jobs that require technical skills.

Some of the certifications that the facility will offer include NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) Core, OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 training, along with mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, and forklift certification. Specialized training can be developed to meet the needs of companies.

For more information on The WorkSITE, go to tstc.edu/worksite.

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