Jeffrey Zellner knows how to build almost anything. His knowledge wasn’t learned overnight, but his aptitude provided him with the skills needed to land a good job. Following his December 2014 graduation from the Engineering Technology program with a concentration in Construction, Jeffrey found himself in Chicago with a job offer from ThyssenKrupp, the number one provider and installer of elevators, beginning January 2015. “This is my first engineering job outside of Chattanooga State,” shares Jeffrey. He was accepted into a six-month superintendent training program at ThyssenKrupp. Skills he will be honing include employee safety, work quality, timeliness and cost containment. He will eventually be leading safety trainings and audits, providing technical input to sales staff on the scope of work and materials for the job and learning safety standards of the company. Jeffrey cites Engineering Technology faculty and staff for his success; “The program provided me with the resources and knowledge I needed to perform well and beyond my job description.” His lead professor, Caitlin Moffitt, also served as his advisor and was always available to answer questions. Dean Tim McGhee and Charles Weathers helped him better visualize what he wanted out of the program. “If you enjoy working with people, being outside, working with your hands and feeling like you contributed to something while feeling a real sense of accomplishment when you see a finished project, then I highly recommend a career in construction,” states Jeffrey. “While in the program I also encourage students to acquire a construction job to take what you are learning in the classroom and apply that newly found knowledge into the field. Take in as much information as you can and don’t be afraid to try new things … it will pay off in the end.”