‘A Phenomenal Hire’

Oren Rogers’ high school education put him in an ideal position for a hands-on career in the skilled trades. A 2022 graduate of Heard County High, Oren built a solid foundation through Instructor Brian Long’s construction program. He gained practical experience by competing in SkillsUSA TeamWorks contests. And thanks to Long’s industry connections, he scored an offer for a full-time job that would begin shortly after his graduation.

Oren is an Industrial Mechanic/Technician with Interface, a global manufacturer of commercial flooring with headquarters in Atlanta and manufacturing operations in LaGrange and West Point. He joined the company as a third-shift Mechanic and today works on the first shift, where he continues to thrive. Chris Duck, Interface’s Global Director of Engineering, says Oren “was a phenomenal hire. I wish we could clone him.”

Long remembers Oren as “an exceptionally motivated student” in his construction class. “It was often challenging to find enough work to keep him engaged, because he was always ready to take on more. Not only was he a diligent and hardworking individual, he also possessed competency that set him apart from his peers. Oren served as the team leader for my SkillsUSA TeamWorks team, which went on to compete at both the regional and state levels.”

Oren shares more of his story in the following Q&A.

How did you get interested in construction?
Growing up, I had always done construction with my dad – a lot of work on our house and things like that. Construction always interested me. Brian Long really helped me get to where I am now. I took all the classes in his program, and then I became an assistant to him. I enjoyed being able to help the younger students understand construction and get through the program.

Talk about your experiences in SkillsUSA and how it has helped in your professional career.
It was me and three other guys. We had a carpenter, an electrician and a plumber, and we all worked together to build, basically, a shed. I was the team leader, and I did a little bit of everything – the construction, a little bit of plumbing, some electrical, some masonry. It definitely helped me. It taught me how to work well with others and not get frustrated.

How did you learn about career opportunities at Interface?
One day some ladies from the company came down to the high school. Brian Long threw my name out there, and he said, ‘Hey, you need to look into this and see if you might want to do it.’ I started about a week after I graduated high school. I worked about a year on third shift, then moved to a split shift between second and third. I worked about a year on that, and then at the beginning of this year, I got moved to first shift [7 a.m. to 3 p.m.], and that’s where I’ve been ever since.

What kind of work do you do, and how did your high school construction classes help prepare you for it?
I do a little bit of troubleshooting on heavy equipment, all kinds of conveyors, and [other machinery]. I fabricate a lot. I do a lot of machine work. Basically anything mechanical. I like working with my hands and doing something different every day. I don’t like to be repetitive, so every day is a new adventure.

My career now is more on the mechanical side [rather than construction], but my high school classes really helped with the fabrication aspect. I’m always having to fabricate something at work. So coming in with that knowledge of construction and fabrication has been a big advantage.

You’re also attending technical college. How will that help advance your career?
Yes, I’m studying Precision Manufacturing and Maintenance at West Georgia Technical College. It’s a two-year associate degree. After I get done with school, my plan is to become a multi-craft, which will be mechanical and electrical, and it will come with better pay.

What would you tell a teenager or young adult with an interest in pursuing a career in the skilled trades?
What really got me was, honestly, the money. Any kind of skilled trade you work in, you’re going to make good money, and it’s a lot cheaper than going to college and getting into a bunch of student debt.