SmartWorks

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From daydreaming

D ylan England was like many high school students — school was OK and he always passed his subjects, but it sure wasn’t his passion. But unlike many high school students, Dylan knew what he wanted to do and was provided a pathway to explore that career interest. “I was always interested in becoming a lineman and through the 12 for Life program, I jumped at the chance to co-op at Carroll EMC,” he explained. Dylan attended Temple High School and as a junior participated in Southwire’s nationally acclaimed cooperative program that provides students a place where they can mix classroom time with time on the floor at a real manufacturing plant, gaining an education, a paycheck, key work and life skills, and a diploma. “I was working at the 12

Cover photo and feature photos courtesy of Carroll EMC and Aislinn Rain Photography Lineman Dylan England, second from left, knows the value of teamwork and appreciates those who enhance his role at Carroll EMC every day, including, from left, Tommy Cook, construction manager; CoreyWebb, foreman; andDavid Huddleston, purchasingmanager and liaison for 12 for Life program.

CEO began as co-op student

“Co-ops allow you to seewhat you like andwhat you don’t like about an industry,”he said.“People gaveme a chance and I’mglad to return the favor bymaking sure Carroll EMC supports education. I am thankful our Board of Directors is so supportive—we’ve had student workers here for years.” Martin said it’s awin-win situation.“We get the advantage of having bright young minds among us and the students have an experience they can take into any industry.” And for Martin, it was a doublewin-win. Another co-op student was working at Carroll EMC at the same time hewas—his future wife!

Carroll EMC is a company committed to co-operative education. It is awin-win proposition—students receive career training with pay as they work with professionals in the career pathway of their interest. Employers often fill their newhire vacancies with students from their own co-op programs since they already know the capabilities andwork habits of the students they have trained. One personwho is“forever grateful”for the hiring potential of a co-op experience is Carroll

EMC President/CEOTimMartin. He started with the company in a co-op positionwhile he was an engineering student at GeorgiaTech. “When I graduated in 1992 therewere no openings at the time at Carroll EMC so I went intomanufacturing for a few years,” Martin said.“But I circled back and grewup professionally with this company.” Martin confessed that he didn’t have a clue what hewanted to dowith his engineering degree prior to the co-op experience.