TMC Maintenance Tech, Jeff Marshall, Places 3rd in SkillsUSA Contest

on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 in Awards & Recognition

TMC’s Maintenance Technician, Jeff Marshall, recently participated in the 2016 SkillsUSA Iowa State Leadership and Skills Conference competition and placed third under the Diesel Equipment Technology category.

Going into the competition, Jeff had no doubt in his skills as he was fresh out of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)’s Diesel Technology Program and had ample hands-on training at TMC.  “I applied my everyday skills and experience, and that for me was the most valuable,” he explains.

The competition allowed Jeff to test his capabilities and compete with other graduates and students. “I got a better understanding on the areas that I need improvement and it also allowed me to evaluate my techniques among my peers,” Jeff explains.

Jeff has been with TMC since the fall of 2013. He started out as a part-time Technician in the Ankeny Truck shop while attending classes at DMACC before pursuing his current full-time position.

Mike Duffy, TMC’s Corporate Maintenance Manager has been with Jeff since the beginning. “We all know that a full-time occupation coupled with a full-time college schedule takes a high level of commitment, and Jeff excelled at both,” says Mike. “It is no surprise that Jeff placed well in the SkillsUSA competition. The SkillsUSA Mission Statement and Jeff’s work ethic and professionalism go hand in hand.”

Jeff has nothing but appreciation for Mike’s understanding and accommodation. “Mike had helped me with my schedule, making sure I had my hours as well as plenty of time to sleep and get my assignments done,” says Jeff.

Jeff chose to attend DMACC’s Diesel Technology program to expand his skill set and gain valuable knowledge. “I wanted to learn from the best instructors and all the instructors had lots of field experience to apply to classroom teaching situations,” explains Jeff.

The SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.