Arc Labs Welding Education, Equipping, and Training in South Carolina
Arc Labs Welding Education, Equipping, and Training in South Carolina

Welding education, equipping, and training in south carolina

Facts & Figures

SECURITY: Automation is less of a threat to welders and welding machine operators than to other manufacturing occupations. Welding machines must still be operated by someone who is knowledgeable about welding and can inspect the weld and make adjustments.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

ADVANCEMENT: Welders can advance to more skilled welding jobs with additional training and experience. For example, they may become welding technicians, supervisors, inspectors, or instructors. Some experienced welders open their own repair shops.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Welding schools report that graduates have little difficulty finding work, and some welding employers report difficulty finding trained welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

FINANCIAL GOALS: The range of earnings of welders reflects the wide range of skill levels. Income in welding directly relates to your level of skill and training. In 2006, welders earned on average between $17.75 and $25.44 per hour.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Welders have excellent job opportunities as some welding employers report difficulty finding trained welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

SECURITY: Welding skills are the same across industries, so welders can easily shift from one industry to another depending on where they are needed most. For example, welders laid off in the auto industry have been able to find work in the booming oil and gas industry.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Employment of welding, soldering, and brazing workers is expected to grow about 5 percent over the 2006-16 decade.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Welding has grown significantly over the long term because of advances that have allowed it to replace other joining technologies in many applications. Thus, demand for welders is increasing in the construction, manufacturing, and utilities industries.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: The outlook for welders in manufacturing is far stronger than for other occupations.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Two of every three welding jobs were found in manufacturing. Jobs were concentrated in fabricated metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, architectural and structural metals manufacturing, and construction.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

SECURITY: In custom applications, much of the work is difficult or impossible to automate. This includes manufacturing small batches of items, construction work, and making repairs in factories.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Retirements and job growth in the oil and gas and other industries are expected to create excellent opportunities for welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Arc Labs Staff

Gene Crook, President, Co-founder

Mr. Crook has a long history in the welding trade. Gene is a graduate of Virginia Tech, a member of the American Welding Society, has served on the national committee for the NTMA (National Tool and ion Machine Association) and is currently the vice-chair for the Welding Advisory Committee at Greenville Technical College. In 1975, he founded Task Industrial as a precision machining and fabrication company. Over the proceeding years, he grew the company to over 100 employees with annual sales more than $10 million dollars. Task quickly became one of the largest metal working job shops in South Carolina. In Addition to his role at Arc Labs, Gene owns and operates Metalskills Resource Group, a recruiting and staffing service for certified welders and other metal working tradesmen. Gene’s unique industry perspective has lead him to the conclusion that there is a severe shortage of highly skilled welders available to meet business demand. His entrepreneurial skills combined with a vision to be able to provide welders with enhanced skills training have been a key component in the formation of Arc Labs.

Harrell Waldrop

Harrell is the Vice President of Finance at Arc Labs. He has thirty-five years of experience in management, sales, operations, consulting, technical services and information technology with industries focused on manufacturing, maintenance, plant processes, equipment and facilities management. He was the founder and president of AssetPoint, LLC in 2002. In the past Harrell has worked for Flour Corporation, Canron Railgroup and Cryovac. Harrell has continued his education working toward his PhD in operations research. In his free time, Harrell enjoys playing golf, working in his garden and traveling.

  • B.S., Clemson University, 1968
  • M.S., Operations Research, Clemson University, 1969

Bob Fellers, Site Manager & Principal Certified Welding Inspector

Mr. Fellers manages our welder testing and training services. He is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector and is the primary contact for all of our services. Bob has a long history in the welding trade and was president and primary owner of a steel erection company prior to joining Arc Labs. Mr. Fellers serves as the treasurer of the Western Carolinas chapter of the American Welding Society (AWS-Section #195) and was also a key contributor in establishing an AWS scholarship fund that benefits students in welding programs at 3 South Carolina technical colleges.

Steve Wheat

Steve started in the welding industry in 1986 after he got out of the army. Steve has worked for Thermo Kinetic, Sanders Brothers and Gloenco. He has training and certified all types of welders and welding operators, developed welding procedures, processes for companies. Steve enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren, working in his garden and riding his Harley.

  • Certificate, Certified Welding Instructor, American Welding Society, 2001
  • Certificate, Certified Welding Educator, American Welding Society, 2002
  • Certificate, Certified Welding Supervisor, American Welding Society, 2008
  • Certificate, Level II Liquid Penetrant Inspection, American Society for Nondestructive Testing, 2009
  • Certificate, Industrial Welding Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010
  • Certificate, Pipefitting Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010
  • Certificate, Core Curricula Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010

Jerry McCarter

Jerry has worked in the welding industry since 1994 after he completed his associate’s degree at York Technical College. He has worked as a pipe welder, lead maintenance technician, foreman, combo welder, and industrial pipe and tube welder. Jerry has a proved success record as a pipe welder and fitter and possesses great leadership skills. He has worked for BE&K Construction, Aggressive Energy, Day and Zimmerman, Carolina Energy and Fluor Daniel. He likes Racing, Harley's and spending time with his family.

  • A.S., York Technical College, 1994
  • Certificate, Fluor Daniel Management Training, 2008
  • Certificate, Industrial Welding Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010
  • Certificate, Pipefitting Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010
  • Certificate, Core Curricula Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010

Michael Coleman

After Mike graduated from high school, he joined the United States Navy. After basic training, he trained in all aspects of welding. Mike also trained in plate welding, pipefitting, high pressure pipe welding, and nuclear welding. Mike has worked for Thomas Manufacturing, Creative Wire and Tube, Volvo, Global Energy Group and Propak Logistics. Mike has supervised all maintenance and welding operation, trained welders and supervised welder operations. He is also certified in Lean management, 5s, Kaizan, ISO9001, ISO14000 and Six Sigma. In his free time, Mike enjoys riding is Harley, playing golf and spoiling is dog.

  • Certificate, Industrial Welding Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010
  • Certificate, Pipefitting Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010
  • Certificate, Core Curricula Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2010

Christopher Lane

Chris is an assistant NCCER certified instructor in Piedmont. Chris has been working in welding since 1975. In Chris’s welding career he has worked for Fluor Construction, Yeargin Construction and Freeman Mechanical. Chris is dedicated to working with the students to help them reach their full potential.

  • Certificate, Welding, Pickens County Vocational School, 1977
  • Certificate, Industrial Welding Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2009
  • Certificate, Pipefitting Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2009
  • Certificate, Core Curricula Instructor, National Center for Construction and Research, 2009

Heidi Bray, School Administrator

Ms. Bray is a magna cum laude graduate of North Greenville University where she earned a BA in Business Communications in 2004. While attending NGU, she was a campus ambassador officer, member of the business society, and part of the praise team. After working as a Human Resource Manager for several years, she went back to Graduate school to pursue her MBA. She graduated from NGU in December of 2008. When she’s not helping others pursue their dreams, you can find her baking, bargain shopping, or spending time with her family and friends.

Beth Campbell

Beth is the accountant for ARC Labs. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Winthrop University where she earned a B.S. degree in Interior Design in 1999. She earned her master’s degree in Interior Architecture from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro in 2002. Beth has been working in accounting for 12 years. She is the mother of four who enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

  • B.S., Winthrop University, 1999
  • M.S., Interior Architecture, 2002