Sometimes the smallest decisions are the ones that end up changing your life. That is exactly what happened to Matthew Thacker, now a Technician Apprentice in South Charleston, WV, when he decided to compete in a Skills Competition while in technical school. Little did Matthew know, this decision would lead to him meeting his future employer 3 years prior to starting his career.
In 2019, Matthew Thacker attended Putnam Career and Technical Institute in Eleanor, WV for Diesel Equipment Technology. His instructor selected him to compete in a local skills competition where Matthew could put the skills he was learning to the test. From the event, Matthew’s contact information was passed along to Derrick Bennett, Service Manager at Western Branch Diesel, South Charleston, WV. Derrick reached out to Matthew to introduce himself and the company, and to let him know there was a possible opportunity for him after he graduated in June 2020.
Unfortunately, by June, many companies, including Western Branch Diesel, were not actively hiring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult for Matthew to find a job. He, ultimately, took a position working at an engine plant as an assembler. The engine plant allowed him to get accustomed to working with parts and using his hands every day, but after a year, Matthew felt unfulfilled in this role. He wanted to start his career servicing diesel equipment.
Matthew remembered from his initial conversation with Derrick that Western Branch Diesel had an apprentice program, where Matthew could dive deeper into diesel technology and service alongside a mentor to develop and hone his skills.
“Technical school was a good way for me to get a basic understanding of diesel systems and working at the engine plant also allowed me to easily identify parts and know how they fit together. I still felt like I had a lot to learn about the specifics before I could be comfortable working on my own, which is why the program appealed to me,” says Matthew.
Matthew called Derrick and was brought in for an interview. “When interviewing an entry level technician, you ask a different level of questions compared to a more experienced tech. You look for excitement in the interviewee’s answers and the drive behind their words. You look for someone that wants a career, not just a job. I could tell when I met Matthew that he had that,” Derrick recounts.
Matthew was hired shortly after and paired with Gary Patton, Technician A in South Charleston, as his mentor. “They couldn’t have paired me with a better technician than Gary. He has taught me so much over the past year,” says Matthew.
“I could tell immediately that Matthew wanted to learn. When someone’s as interested as he is, it makes my job easy. He has been a pleasure to work with and is a quick learner,” Gary explains when asked about being Matthew’s mentor.
Over the past year, Matthew has grown significantly in his field and is now working on his own to troubleshoot and fix transmissions and engines. He has completed his Allison Transmission certifications at the maintenance level and can perform external repairs on Detroit equipment. Matthew is on track to receive Cummins training by the end of the year so he will be certified to work on in-warranty engines. In early 2024, Matthew will complete his Detroit training.
“It’s a good thing for us that Matthew came on board. He’s a great employee. I don’t need to hold his hand through every little thing. He takes charge and gets things done on his own,” says Derrick.
When asked about his future in the diesel industry, Matthew says, “I want my work to hold value. I want to continue to do good work, earn more certifications, and be a well-respected technician.”
