Mission Valley ROP students visit Component Repair Shop at BART’s Hayward Maintenance Complex
On Dec. 9, about 30 students from Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program (ROP) visited the Component Repair Shop at BART’s Hayward Maintenance Complex.
Mission Valley ROP, a technical career training program for adults and high school students in Fremont, Calif., brought its high school seniors to the maintenance complex to give them a glimpse into what their bright futures might hold.
The students were joined by Mission Valley ROP faculty members, including their auto shop teacher, Joshua Finley, as well as a host of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) employees, who took time to explain what was happening at each stop along the tour and to answer questions.
“BART is facing workforce challenges along with other transit agencies across the nation,” explained Prem Bajaj, manager of workforce development at BART. “There is a renewed focus on promoting transit careers to youth through workforce development programs and community partnerships to create a pipeline for the future generation of skilled workers.”
BART Director Liz Ames also joined the group tour for the rare look into the maintenance complex. She said she is incredibly “inspired by the youth wanting to come into the trades.”
“It’s inspiring to see these kids with so much hope and excitement for the future,” Ames said.
Marlon Lewis, component repair maintenance shop superintendent, and Jose Cuellar, assistant component repair maintenance shop superintendent, slowly led the group through the complex. They stopped along the way at the HVAC workstation, the indisputably cool fabrication shop, the wheel press and more. Electromechanical Repair Shop Senior Engineer Kent Van answered any technical questions as the group wove through the complex.
“I want to give you insight into the people working here, and how they got here,” Lewis told the students. “Everyone here has a story.”
Lewis started at BART more than 20 years ago as a utility worker cleaning trains. He studied to earn an Associate in Science degree and became a transit vehicle electronic technician. From there, Lewis has risen quickly in the ranks at BART.
Nick Grucza, a transit vehicle mechanic in the shop, strolled past the tour while working and commented, “I went through the same program!”
The students described the field trip as “fun,” “cool” and “interesting.”
After the tour was completed, the students gathered in a conference room, where three recruiters from BART discussed the application process and offered insight, including Alaric Degrafinried, assistant general manager, administration, at BART.
“Don’t think there’s only one way to get these jobs. You’ll find life takes you left, right, backwards and forwards,” Degrafinried said. “There’s always a path to get to BART.”
