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Ryan Billingsley

Work Smart and Work Safe...You'll Make a Great Living!

KACC 2004 graduate, Ryan Billingsley returned on Thursday, January 29, 2009 to visit welding instructor, Mike Spangler.   Mr. Spangler, as he so often does, used the opportunity wisely by asking the former student to speak with his current students.

Says Mr. Spangler, “They hear from me every day.  It’s got to be nice for them to hear someone other than myself, especially someone closer to their age who, like Ryan, exemplifies what anyone can accomplish with hard work and paying attention.”

Economically speaking, we are currently experiencing one of the biggest pipeline booms since the 1970’s.  There is a tremendous need for welders, especially since there will be around 30% of the current welding workforce retiring in the next few years.   “There screaming for people,” stated Ryan.

Students appeared very interested and asked questions of Ryan as he talked about how he has become so successful in the past 6 years.    Ryan shared with the students that he attended Kankakee Community College’s welding class held in the evening while in the Career Center Program.  During the summer between his junior and senior year, he attended the advanced welding class and then finished the KACC welding program here his senior year.

Ryan was not yet 18 years old when he interviewed with the union and took the required written test (and drug test).  Ryan finished 3^rd in all of Kankakee County and was able to begin working with through the union as soon as he turned 18.  He began his career locally at Bunge Oil.

Since then, Ryan has worked hard, been a reliable employee wherever he has been assigned and now earns $36 per hour.  He also receives an additional $11 per hour toward his pension and has healthcare benefits equating to about $9 per hour, which is paid on his behalf.

There’s lots of travel, Ryan admits.  He will go for 6 to 7 months on a job and be put up in a hotel.  He has a $50 per diem rate to help offset the costs of being out of town and is paid for drive-time too.

Ryan spent quite a bit of time explaining the various types of welding he has performed.  The students knew what he was talking about and asked many questions.  As the old saying goes, “It was all greek to me” as this reporter had no idea about the angles, temperatures of welds, metal types, rod sizes, of which they spoke.  Talking about performing x-ray welding on the pipeline sure sounded interesting.

Most importantly, Ryan spoke with students about work ethics required to be a success in the field of welding.   He talked about how, when he was a student at KACC, Mr. Spangler would get on him if he did not have his safety glasses on, and things like that which he thought was small potatoes.  “If you don’t abide by all the safety rules,” according to Ryan, “including safety glasses, protective gloves, tying off, you’re gone.  It costs companies too much money if you put them in a position where people can be hurt on the job.  I’ve even worked in a chemical tank,” continued Ryan, “where we were entirely covered in a protective suite and special helmet, and we were allowed to work 30 minutes in the tank and then stay out of the tank for 45 minutes, in for 30 and out for 45.  That’s how volatile it can be!”

“If you work safely and complete your work in a timely fashion, you’ll be able to go far in this business,” stated Ryan.  As a young man, he has already purchased and paid for a motorcycle, new truck he’s already paid half on,  and is now going to be purchasing his first home in a couple of weeks.  Quite the start for a young man!

Working hard at the Career Center, paying attention to his classes at his home school certainly prepared him well for success.