Dec. 11, 2024
Krista Steffens walked into a company on a temp job one day and found herself on the floor of the welding department. The supervisor was aware of her lack of experience, but needed help, and she was there. Steffens dove in to figure it out and, as time went by, managed to learn what she needed to get the specific jobs required by the company done, but she knew she lacked the experience to grow in her field.
Then the company offered her the opportunity to join the Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp at Grand Rapids Community College. The bootcamp is made possible through a partnership with Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands.
“I was already welding prior to the bootcamp,” Steffens said. “The company knew we needed some more skills. I’m always up for learning something new so I was really happy about the opportunity.”
After working for almost 10 years, on the first day of the course, Steffens recognized she had some limitations in her skillset.
“In the classroom, they go really in depth with the fundamentals. Like all the different types of welding, the machines, you don’t really get to learn that on the job. You learn as you go, or they have specifics they use for that particular job,” Steffens said. “The difference with learning in the classroom is it is nice to gain more knowledge to understand the variations between blueprints and different welding symbols. The classroom really helped me be more versatile.”
Steffens found herself moving companies and shifting her focus in 2020 because of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Things became more difficult than they had been in prior years. Steffens wanted to do something more with the talent and skill set she brought to the welding industry.
“I initially took the bootcamp in 2019. I had the opportunity to take it again and finished in August of 2024. The course gave me more precision tools to do what I was lacking in the job field,” Steffens said. “It helped me become much more fluid and versatile. I was able to get an OSHA certificate in my first camp and continued to gain new skills in the second camp since we did different projects.”
After taking the second round of the bootcamp, Steffens knew the course set her up for success to pursue her own endeavors. Last year, Steffens and her husband started their own company called Lynn’s Mobile Repair.
“I was able to take the risk and start our own company,” Steffens said. “My husband is a diesel mechanic and with my experience and skill set as a welder, we can really help the rural communities that do not have a repair shop near them.”
The Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp was a key to inspiring Steffens and her husband to succeed with their own venture.
“The classes have not just been fun, they’ve been enriching and educational. It lit a spark in me. Pun intended. It ignited something in me that has made me very hungry for it. I’m excited to start my own company and have that be my full-time job,” Steffens said. “There’s a huge need for trade work right now. It wasn’t something they pushed earlier coming out of high school. Now that the previous generations are retiring, there is a huge need continuing to come up. This kind of bootcamp helps you get into the industry quickly.”
In partnership with GRCC, the Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp offers opportunities for students of all ages and walks of life to enter the welding industry after the 15-week course. Steffens experienced the benefits of being in the industry on the job and having the chance to get back into the classroom.
“I had been doing welding for a few years,” Steffens said. “But meeting with the instructors, I learned a lot more. Learning in the classroom aspect rather than just the field, it really benefited me to learn the tasks we had to accomplish. I was able to mentor other women in the class while also learning new skills and refining my current abilities. The bootcamp woke me up. It helped me love what I’m doing and not just collect a paycheck. And now, I’m excited to do it with my own company, Lynn’s Mobile Repair.”
The next session of the Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp starts January 9. Learn more about the bootcamp offered at GRCC.
This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell.