Generator Technician at Ring Power
Former Coast Guard machinery mechanic fixes a new course with Ring Power, one of America’s largest Caterpillar® equipment dealers.
by Warren Duffie
For Patricia Warren, engine pistons and turbines encompass more than a hobby or job. They represent a strong family legacy.
Her grandfather spent decades working as an auto mechanic; and her father served for 24 years in U.S. Coast Guard as a machinery technician. Following in her dad’s footsteps, Warren did her own four-year hitch in the Coast Guard as a machinery technician.
Nowadays, instead of fixing the engines on a cutter or other type of boat, Warren helps ensure the longevity of massive generators manufactured by industry giants such as Caterpillar® and Zenith. She’s a technician in the Power Systems Division of Ring Power, one of America’s largest Caterpillar® equipment dealers.
“I work in the generator shop at our St. Augustine [Florida] headquarters,” says Warren, 23. “I fix large generators that are sent out around the world, many for use at concerts, hospitals, and outdoor construction sites.”
Good with Tools?
Warren, a former petty officer second class, is in Ring Power’s Apprentice Program – a two-year “learn while you earn” initiative designed to attract and train individuals wishing to become technicians while receiving a wage. Participants are given a toolbox containing about $5,000 worth of tools and receive “tool credits” every trimester, which are redeemed upon completion of the initiative. Through mentorship and instructor-led classes, the apprentices acquire basic safety knowledge and technical skills.
“I’ve been in the program for four months,” Warren says. “It’s been great and very interesting. We mostly do repairs – equipment failures, replacing parts, and testing out the generators.”
Ring Power is one of Florida’s premier Caterpillar® dealers, headquartered in St. Augustine. It is composed of eight divisions and has more than 45 years of experience selling, servicing, and supporting Caterpillar® and allied equipment. Ring Power’s territory encompasses 44 counties throughout Florida — with 2,200 employees nationwide — making it one of the largest Caterpillar® dealers in North America.
Ring Power employees enjoy competitive pay and benefits – including profit-sharing, 401(k), annual bonuses, and health, dental, and vision insurance. They also receive corporate discounts to theme parks and sporting events, to name a few.
The Daily Grind
Warren begins her workday at 7 a.m., when she checks with her supervisor regarding her projects. She works on those until around 9 a.m., when she attends class. Lunch is eaten at 11 a.m., and Warren spends the rest of the day on repairs before leaving at 3:30 p.m.
“Although the mechanical skills I developed in the Coast Guard are vital, the most important skill I learned in uniform is safety,” she says. “HAZMAT and workplace safety – those come into play every day here.”
In Uniform
Warren joined the Coast Guard in 2003 after graduating from high school. She initially wanted to drive boats, but when she learned she qualified to work on engines, she jumped at the chance. After basic training in Cape May, N.J., she attended her “A” school in Yorktown, Va. From there, Warren served on the cutter USCG Maple in Sitka, Alaska; at Coast Guard Station Brunswick in Georgia; and at Coast Guard Station Mayport in Florida.
The Transition
Warren began preparing to leave the military in late 2006 — taking a variety of résumé -writing, interviewing, and transition classes. It was at a TAP class where she met her civilian destiny. A Ring Power recruiter was giving a presentation about the company. Warren had never heard of Ring Power, but when she learned that it sold and maintained Caterpillar® equipment, she was immediately impressed.
After a 45-minute conversation with the recruiter, Warren filled out an application and later interviewed with several Ring Power representatives, including the head of the Apprentice Program. On Feb. 1, 2007, Warren was offered a job, two weeks before her separation date.
“I took a small pay cut, but the benefits are great,” she says. “Besides, the training I’m receiving now will jump start my career and lead to fantastic opportunities.” [After her apprenticeship is complete, Warren will be classified as an entry-level technician II. If she had started out as a technician III without entering the program, it would have taken her longer to reach the technician II level.]
Warren’s Advice
Know what you want to do. “Don’t just take a job for the money. Make sure it’s something that you’ll enjoy.”
Have a budget. “The pay structure in the civilian world is different from the military’s. You also might need to take a pay cut. Make sure you have a good budget and that you stick to it. It could be the key to survival.”