BY SUSAN FERRARO, APR
Director of Media Relations
According to American Welder Magazine, approximately six percent of the welders in the United States are women. Kali Wealch, an occupational studies student at Washtenaw Community College, is one of them.
She’s putting skills honed at WCC to practical use in a paid internship at the Toyota Technical Center in Saline.
“Not once have I been treated differently in my welding or automotive classes because I am a woman,” said Wealch. “I don’t act like a guy, but I can’t act like a delicate flower either.”
Wealch arrived at WCC in the fall of 2014, as a senior at Whitmore Lake High School. As a dual enrolled student, she was able to combine her high school studies with classes at WCC. Her first class was an introductory psychology course. However, a WCC academic advisor convinced her to follow her passion and take courses in welding and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning).
Then, a friend told her about WCC’s automotive services program and Wealch was on her way to building the foundation of her non-traditional career path. Using her welding skills, she eventually wants to work in a skilled trades position in the automotive industry. To date, she’s navigating the career path with finesse.
At Toyota, Wealch is the first intern to work on the welding line at the company’s North American Research and Development Monozukuri Prototype Center. The center tests car parts to ensure they perform correctly as they were designed.
According to her supervisor, Jeffrey Ellis, Wealch’s on-the-job training, combined with her academic studies, is a solid investment in her automotive-focused career path.
“Automotive manufacturing careers have changed significantly over the past 15 years,” said Ellis. “Manufacturing technology, vehicle complexity, customer expectations, and an extremely competitive marketplace have driven companies to place much greater responsibilities and expectations on incoming employees. Kali’s education and formal training will give her the skills and abilities to meet those expectations.”
Wealch will receive her associate degree in May and plans to continue her studies at WCC. She wants to add degrees in both powertrain development and welding and fabrication, citing the changing nature of the automotive industry as one of her reasons for broadening her education.
“Research and development is so important and technology is changing rapidly,” says Wealch. “You can’t go into the automotive world blindly, you must know the basics and be aware of the swift changes in all areas of manufacturing. I have a specific interest in powertrain development, so the more education I get, the better off I will be.”
Allen Day, chair of the automotive services department at WCC, says Wealch is part of a growing population of WCC students focused on applying their knowledge and skills toward a job in the advanced transportation industry, which focuses on what the car is made of and how it is built.
“As our students progress through our degree programs, they are challenged to develop a strong electrical background, and to focus on specializations ranging from welding to dynamometer operations,” Day said.
“Kali’s successes in her welding courses, including being a recent recipient of a Skills USA medal for her TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, reflect her enthusiasm and passion for developing her skills in her chosen career path.”
And those skills have already reached a high level, something that Wealch is excited to continue.
When asked for the best welding advice she’s received, she smiles quickly and says, “measure twice, cut once.” She notes that a good welder understands the importance of that approach.
“I’m most excited about the impact and results of my work. Some of my welds are being evaluated by high-level executives who find them of great value,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here without the help of so many people — my advisors and instructors — it’s a real team effort.”
Kali’s legislative lowdown
The state Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on community colleges chose Washtenaw Community College as the location of its March meeting so members could become more familiar with the college’s Advanced Transportation Center (ATC). WCC, in turn, asked Kali Wealch to share her story with the subcommittees.
Following a tour of new ATC equipment purchased with funds from the state’s Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program (CCSTEP), WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca began the hearing portion of the afternoon with an overview of the college and its many successes. Wealch then provided testimony about her experience as a WCC student and her internship with Toyota.
“It’s affordable, the quality of my education is the best I know, and it’s a very welcoming environment,” she told members of the subcommittees, later adding: “From my math professors, to my welding and automotive instructors, they all have done everything to see me succeed and make the most of my time at WCC.”