LBWCC welding instructor David Brawner said he started welding in the early 1970s.

“When I got out of high school, I went to work in Evergreen where they made UPS trucks and other route trucks,” he said. “I got interested in welding.”

In 1976, he started working at Dorsey Trailers in Elba as a welder.

He spent 13 years in the construction industry as a pipe welder and supervisor.

He’s been working at LBWCC since 2009, passing along his knowledge to the next generation of welders.

He estimated each semester they have between 40-65 students, and have about 10-12 graduates each semester.

Those graduates are getting out of school and going to work in a variety of locations.

“Some are going to our local manufacturers like Dorsey or Clark Trailers,” he said. “Some work shut downs and do plant maintenance. Others are in new construction and some work on the shipyards.”

Brawner said there is no experience needed to participate in the program.

However, a suitable student will need a good work ethic and a willingness to learn and listen.

“We like to teach them the skills ourselves,” he said

Welding is ranked as a high-demand occupation for the State of Alabama Department of Labor.