Jace Ewing completing technical training at Hugg & Hall- Fort Smith
Jace Ewing, a student in the Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) Technician Training program at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, is completing part of the program requirements at the Hugg & Hall Equipment Company (Hugg & Hall) branch in Fort Smith, Ark.
Students enrolled in the Western Equipment Dealers Association Technician Training program spend half their time on campus for technical instruction and the remaining time acquiring real-world, on-the-job training at member dealerships, according to the program’s website.
The purpose of the program is to upgrade the technical competency and professional level of incoming industrial and farm equipment service technicians, according to the website. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter the workforce as trained service technicians adept at diagnosing problems and performing factory recommended service procedures.
Ewing, a native of Waldron, Ark., is completing the program’s on-the-job training requirements at Hugg & Hall. Recently, Ewing spoke on what convinced him to enroll in a technical program.
“I chose this field because I didn’t want to go to college to get the traditional four year degree,” said Ewing. “I wanted to learn a skill that I like to do and can carry with me anywhere. I’ve always been interested in anything with an engine, and figured out that I wanted to do this for a living in my automotive class in high school.”
The Western Equipment Dealers Association strives to deliver dealership owners, managers and employees the information and skills they need to serve customers and grow business, according to their website.
The challenge of, and the satisfaction from, repairing construction and industrial equipment attracted Ewing to the trade.
“My favorite thing about working with machines is the feeling of accomplishment I get when I fix something that didn’t work,” said Ewing. “I like the challenge as well, because these machines aren’t the easiest to work on.”
Hugg & Hall appreciates Ewing’s hard work and encourages the advancement of technical training and support.