MEET THE PRO: Terry Owens, Skilled Maintenance
By Arkansas Next on Thursday, September 15, 2022
Hometown: DeWitt
Age: 31
Where I Trained: DeWitt High School, Army Reserve
What I Earned: High school diploma, military training and certifications
Job Title: Skilled A Maintenance
Employer: Riceland
Terry started his career while still in high school. He knew that he wanted to pursue a full-time career in skilled maintenance after graduating, so he decided not to take the traditional college route. Instead, he got a head start on his training and jumped into the workforce. He believes this better prepared him for success in the industry.
“I was able to get much more involved in the working field and gained quite a bit of working knowledge at a much earlier age,” Terry said.
While most of his peers were heading to college, Terry progressed in his career and established a work-life balance while training on the job and serving in the Army Reserve. He enjoyed being able to earn and invest money without having to worry about student loan debt.
Terry enjoys the environment at Riceland and looks forward to working alongside his team to ensure things run smoothly. He helps install, maintain and repair all milling equipment at the plant.
He says that time plays a large role in his job. Occasionally, a task comes along that is more difficult or time-consuming than anticipated, but thanks to his training he can get the job done safely and efficiently.
WHAT DOES A SKILLED MAINTENANCE WORKER DO?
Skilled maintenance workers repair, install and complete work orders and comply with rules and policies while maintaining safety.
Education needed:
Skilled maintenance requires a high school diploma or GED, and workers often gain experience on the job. They start as general maintenance workers and perform simple tasks while watching and learning from experienced employees.
Job Outlook
►14% projected job growth in Arkansas by 2028
►690 annual projected job openings in Arkansas
This option is for you if
- You are detail oriented
- You work well with others
- You enjoy learning
- You are a skilled communicator
- You enjoy solving problems
High-end earners (top 10%) make
$76,600
Median wages in Arkansas
$48,390 Annual
$23.27 Hourly
START YOUR TRAINING
- Arkansas Northeastern College
- Arkansas State University-Beebe
- Arkansas State University-Mid-South
- Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
- Arkansas State University-Newport
- Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus
- Business and Industry Training
- Camden Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program (CMAP), Lockheed Martin and SAU Tech Partnership
- East Arkansas Community College
- Lexicon Inc.
- Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control, Camden Operations
- Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
- Southern Arkansas University Tech
- Tyson Foods Inc.
- University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
- University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
READY TO HIRE YOU
- Business and Industry Training
- Camden Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program (CMAP), Lockheed Martin and SAU Tech Partnership
- Central Moloney Inc.
- Hytrol
- Lexicon Inc.
- Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control, Camden Operations
- Pace Industries
- Riceland
- Tyson Foods Inc.
- Welsco
Sources: bls.gov
*When employment projections were not available for Arkansas, U.S. projections were used
