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Still Building America—Thanks, friend

Quinton Smith job site.

Quinton Smith can thank a friend for leading him down the path to becoming a highly paid combo welder. When Quinton was in high school, his buddy Ryan recommended that he give welding a shot and, in his own words, “I tried it … and enjoyed it enough to learn more about it.”

After high school Quinton spent two years at a vocational school, which prepared him for Skills USA, where he competed at the state level. At this point, he attended Missouri Welding Institute. His course work included “strict” welding practices focused on pipe. Those stringent exercises paid off. “(They) prepared me for what I would experience in the field I’m in now,” said Quinton. I was certified for structural stick welding in all positions and received multiple pipe certifications.”

Quinton graduated from MWI a week early to begin welding full-time for Gulfspan in Oklahoma. He has worked for several companies since then, and says the daily challenges that come with the territory are what he enjoys. “You have many obstacles to work around, from wind to pipes and beams in the way of your welds.”

One day he’d like to own his own welding business and to get a degree in business. He’s working on paying off his house and truck.

“My advice to anyone considering welding as a career path is do it! It's an amazing trade you can always use and will always land you a job, whether you're welding at home in a shop or in a different state on a multimillion-dollar plant.”

All images courtesy of Quinton Smith.