Featured Professional August, '05 - Counseling Services


			Featured Professional for Summer, 2006
	Counseling Services Home General Information Academic Counseling & Change of Major Admissions Counseling Career Counseling Personal Counseling Disability Services Undecided Student Advisement Parents Contact a Counselor Workshops Featured Professional To Your Health Article Student Employment Services Email - Counseling@midlandstech.edu
			David Trotter, Midlands Technical College Alumni, class of 1992 By Sandy Taylor David Trotter, our featured professional, is an Automation Technician for Michelin Tire Corporation. As an Automation Technician, David performs troubleshooting on machines that manufacture Michelin tires. These machines run 24/7, unless there is an intervention. This procedure may include planned or unplanned interventions, and preventative maintenance. The job atmosphere is very professional, with two-person Automation Technician teams overseeing nine machines on this particular production line. Michelin’s passenger-tire plant in Lexington has five production lines. Processes include tire building, a preparation area for incoming rubber and materials and an area where tires are vulcanized and processed. David says the most rewarding aspect of this work is “troubleshooting a problem and bringing it to a resolution.” David says he enjoys his occupation and values relationships forged with co-workers. The job includes a few challenges. Rotating shifts require adjustments in family time and can make it difficult to maintain a restful sleep schedule. David recommends that electronics students consider this type of job as an option for their future. For readers who may be contemplating a similar career track, David suggests that you “pick your instructors’ brains.” He says, “you are paying good money for an education; please make the most if it. The instructors are there to prepare you for a career or to further your education, please use them.” David remembers that his instructors worked the students hard and really challenged them, but says “on the whole, it was worth it.” To prepare him for his career, David received an Associate Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. He graduated from Midlands Technical College in the winter of 1992. David says, “MTC gave me a great electronics base to start from, and the hands-on experience prepared me for my career. The program at MTC really gave me an excellent foundation.” While attending MTC David was a working student, which meant he didn’t have a great deal of time to socialize on campus. He did, however, take pleasure in the camaraderie with fellow students in the EET program. Of the non-core courses he studied, one that David said he enjoyed and found very practical was Public Speaking. “The instructor let us write and speak about any subject we wanted,” he said. “It was a great!” In addition to his degree from MTC, David’s training included continuing education classes through Michelin’s training program at Greenville Technical College. Finally, Mr. Trotter wants to tell MTC students to plan ahead. “The main thing I would like to emphasize is to find a career you think is enjoyable or rewarding. Always take advantage of opportunities to further your education or training -- it can always open up new avenues in the future.” David is a newlywed, married just over a year ago. His wife’s name is Vicky, and the Trotters live in Lexington, SC. David keeps busy outside of work playing volleyball, jet skiing, and snow skiing.