North Seattle Community College

Jim Grace

Before NSCC

Before he discovered the Power Program at North Seattle Community College, Jim Grace worked for Zales Jewelry Stores for ten years, from 1977 to 1987. During those years, his closest brush with electricity came when the beautiful diamonds in the store sparkled brightly in the display lights. He enjoyed the merchandise and the customers, but realized he was seriously missing the outdoors.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Having no background in electronics, it took him several conversations with instructors and counselors at North to discover that there was a branch of the industry that would provide that outdoor experience he wanted was well as a decent paycheck. The Industrial Power Program involves larger applications of electronics principles: it deals with hydroelectric power generation, dams and substations and regional power transfer. It was a long way from the jewelry counters of Zales to servicing substations and making his rounds in a three-quarter ton truck over miles of highway, but it was just what Jim needed.

Step by Step Progress

He loved every minute of his training at North and took to the subject matter with gusto. His first job after graduation was a one-year position troubleshooting industrial control systems. The job wasn't as stable as he wanted, so when a position opened up at Seattle City Light, he jumped at the chance to test for it. It took him a year to do it, but he got on with the city in 1991. He was hired as a Junior Non-Attended Station Operator (NAS), worked up to a Non-Attended Station Operator, then became a HydroElectric Operator and finally attained his present position of HydroElectric Operator/Constructor.

Advice

Jim's advice to prospective Industrial Power students is to "Go North!" He feels that North has great instructors and a great cross-section of instructional equipment to learn on.

There isn't a lot of new heavy-duty equipment out there. On the job at City Light, we use a variety of vintage equipment that has never gone out of date. North has it all: great examples of many different technology "periods" for students to learn basic principles on. You can't get that just anywhere.

Jim Grace

Steve Villa

Before NSCC

Steve Villa graduated from high school in 1988 and went to work as a delivery driver for an auto glass company. After a year of full-time driving, he realized he wasn't going to be happy driving a truck for the rest of his life. During his high school years, college prep requirements had discouraged him from aiming for a four-year university and he wasn't seriously thinking of college until he realized community college was a great entree into a higher education. A high school counselor had recommended NSCC because the college offered practical job-oriented instruction in addition to advanced college prep math and English. You could train for a job and lay a foundation for a future in a four-year institution at the same time.

Going North

Always one to hedge his bets, Steve took classes in several fields to enhance his employability while at North. He took general electronics classes, AutoCAD and assorted others for a broad general education and a look at many different aspects of the electronics industry.

Graduation and the Job Market

Graduating from North in 1991, he discovered employers weren't hiring inexperienced personnel and uncertainty about the Gulf War was dampening job prospects across the board. He finally got a job in 1992 as an electrician apprentice with the Bon Marché (now Macy's) Department Store chain. He worked about three months before receiving a phone call from his Industrial Power teacher, recommending him for a great job with his present company.

Programmable Logic

His present job draws upon the variety of experience he acquired taking a cross section of classes at North. He is currently a project engineer, on his way to becoming project manager, for a company that designs and implements electrical control systems utilizing programmable logic controllers (PLCs). They design, test, integrate, install and troubleshoot all aspects of the systems they sell. Steve is involved with oversight of the whole system. He was asked to try his hand at sales for a time, but returned to a project-centered focus as soon as possible.

Returning to North

NSCC opened further doors for Steve, this time into advanced study at the University of Washington in Electrical Engineering. He returned to North in 1996, received his AA degree and a scholarship for further study, easing the burden of four-year degree costs.

Advice

Think beyond the present. Think ahead and always consider your next move. Spend time in the library, North has an excellent one, and get an idea of starting salaries and skill standards in your field. North has a great electronics lab, great teacher-to-student ratio and great learning systems in place. Get that education and get out there!

Steve Villa