RCS STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE STRONG WORK ETHIC
TCI’s paid internships lead to promising careers
The TCI – RCS Team: Becky O’Neil, Kameron Gonzalez, Nate Cary, Megan Keir, Roberto Gonzalez, Jr., Brett Margiasso, Hunter Pike, Caleb Foronda, Sam Kostue, John Barr, Brian Hemlock
“We believe people are our most important asset. We are a family-owned business committed to our employees and our community. We provide a positive work environment, good jobs with benefits, worked based learning opportunities for students, and the opportunity for people to advance.”
Brian Hemlock, President, TCI of NY
John Barr, Operations Manager (standing by the dedication plaque to Gaby Newmark, TCI’s co-founder)
“We can teach skills, but if you come with the work ethic that is the key. At TCI we are not only teaching work skills but life skills.”
Caleb Foronda, Truck Unloading Specialist, Class of 2021, Started January 2020
“I like the people. Everyone is nice and friendly. The hours are flexible. Sometimes I come in at 5 am and sometimes at 7 am. What they care about is getting the job done.”
Brett Margiasso, Truck Unloading Supervisor, Class of 2019
“My senior year, BOCES brought me down for a tour. I was fascinated and started my internship. It was the best decision ever. I moved into a full-time job and have been lovin’ it ever since. I learn something new every day.”
Hunter Pike, Production line intern, Class of 2021, Started October last year
“I started as an Intern working half the day. Learned a lot. Responsibility. Showing up on time. Now I’m full time. There are a lot of things you can do here. Hours are good and I’m making good pay.”
Megan Keir, Administrative Assistant Intern, Class of 2021
“I’m training in the transportation and oil departments. I like the variety, multiple responsibilities, learning new tasks and just like the environment. I will be working here full time after graduation.”
Kameron Gonzalez, Production line intern, Class of 2021
“My paid internship couldn’t be better. I’m deconstructing transformers. It’s fun because of the variety of things I’m doing. I put the money into my savings account. Pay for gas. Occasionally go out to eat.”
Roberto Gonzalez, Jr. Production line intern, Class of 2022
“I started 3 months ago and do a little bit of everything. I got certified and can drive the forklift. I will work at TCI full time this summer, but I want to join the union for electrical through the BOCES program to be an electrician.”
Nate Cary, Paid intern in phase 3 (pad mount section), Class of 2021
“I’m taking the transformers apart and I like what I’m doing now. There are also opportunities to grow. I hope to get certified in forklift. After graduation I’m looking to go to work full time here.”
When you talk with the graduates and current students from RCS who are working at TCI there is a common theme that runs through them. These young men and women get it. It’s a strong work ethic. They understand hard work and discipline. The importance of family. The value of money. They are intelligent and respectful.
“I just bought an engine for my car from the money saved by working at TCI,” said Megan Keir. “In July, I’m taking my mom to Florida for a week. She has done so much for me. This definitely is a place to be if you want to get far. When I came here, I really didn’t have much and now I’m working towards a lot so if that’s something someone wants to achieve, I’d definitely apply here.”
Brett Margiasso started three years ago at TCI. He was TCI’s first paid intern. “This place gives you the option to have benefits at a young age. I learned about the 401k plan. At first, I was like ‘what you want to take my money from me’ but I researched it and talked to people. Saw what they’re matching. I started saving for retirement.”
Brett now supervises the offloading of trucks.
“When I started, I was taking apart the transformers and working inside the big green pad mounts you see at places like the mall. It was very physical,” said Brett. “My section now is offloading the trucks. We need to write up every piece of equipment that comes in, record the gallons of oil and weight. Note the manufacturer. My writing has improved. It requires good judgement. What needs to be instantly scrapped or put aside to be refurbished and put up for sale. It’s a lot. It’s more mental now than physical.”
John Barr says, “It is a lot of responsibility. Making decisions where this equipment goes. He runs the section at 20 years old. One thing we preach here is we promote from within. I see great things for Brett.”
TCI employs a reverse manufacturing process that prepares mill ready materials that are refined according to stringent specifications from the mills. The materials need to be at the same high standards as other manufacturing suppliers to the mills that are producing materials.
Caleb Foronda started out as an intern on the assembly line showing up for work at 5 am until heading off to school. Then Covid hit and he was unable to continue his internship. Then around July 2020 he came back and was able to take his online courses at TCI. He now works full time in surplus operating a 5-ton crane that takes the transformers off trucks and puts them on the assembly line.
“TCI has a tradition of promoting from within. Brian Hemlock started on the road. ‘My first job was working on a transformer with a core weight of approximately 500,000 lbs.,’ he said. ‘It took us about 3 weeks, but that is fast. They were out of the power plant and undressed already. We also had some big equipment to help us. Typically, it takes about 3-4 weeks per unit in the field.’”
“I’m proud that this material is either re-purposed or recycled,” he says. “I’m not planning to go to college and see opportunities for advancement here. Brett already runs his own section at 20 years old. The pay and benefits are great. I’m working on getting a new car. Going on vacation. Before I had a cell phone and couldn’t pay the bill. Now I can.”
John Barr, “Caleb was the first intern to take his online classes at TCI. He would come in at 5 am to work and then do his classes. He graduated 6 months early.”
TCI goes to the utilities with specialized trailers to pick up transformers and then off loads them at the plant where they go onto the highly modernized production line to separate the materials and prepare them to be mill ready.
Brett goes on to say, “If you genuinely pay attention and want to grow and build with this company, there is no reason you can’t. It is truly a great place to work. I wake up every day and enjoy coming to work. I’ve learned a lot with engines and maintenance. It’s cool there are opportunities for growth and advancement here. I was one of the youngest to be certified on the forklift. Sometimes, I’ll stick around and hang out with the truck drivers. I learn a lot from them. Who knows maybe I’ll get my CDL license some day and drive a truck.
“Did you know all this material use to go into landfills? Through an innovative and environmentally focused approach, more than 99 percent of the material processed today is salvaged for beneficial re-use rather than landfilled.”
Kameron Gonzalez adds, “I enjoy working with the people here. It is a fun environment. Every job here is important. Constantly learning how to problem solve. The transformers are all different. I would like to drive the bigger machines someday and believe there is the opportunity to grow. I plan on coming here full time.”
All materials from the transformers are separated according to different categories based on what is reusable or scrap. The reusable parts are prepared according to specifications for sale to the mills. Materials are transported throughout the plant on forklifts operated by trained and certified employees. Truck operators are certified commercial.
Roberto Gonzalez, Jr. says, “We take apart the transformer starting with the top. Then drain all the oil out of it. Dry it up and bring it out to disassemble and crush. I am super glad to be able to have this paid internship that has allowed me to help my mom and help pay for my truck that always has problems.”
Lisa Patierne, Principal at RCS, said, “Not every student will go onto college. TCI provides students with paid worked based learning opportunities that can lead to a promising career. I’m comfortable with sending students to TCI because they really are a family organization with a positive culture. The students that work there love it.”
Brett says, “I definitely would recommend this place for people with a good work ethic. It is hard work and you really do need to work. But every year we are working to make it safer and more efficient. Finding ways to protect the guys. I’ve seen the investment into making it safer.”
“I’m studying welding at BOCES,” says Nate Cary. “I go to the Albany campus every other day. TCI is a good place to start. They offer flexible hours to work around my schedule. I’m happy with the pay. Everybody is cool. Work keeps me busy. I like it. I’m putting some money away to buy a new car.”
Megan says, “You have to know what you are doing. Weighing trucks in, doing paperwork, sending paperwork to buyers, running paperwork out to drivers. It’s a busy department. I like bigger responsibilities and can take on a lot.”
“In addition to rewarding paid internship opportunities, TCI awards scholarships to RCS High School Seniors.”
Not all the interns will go to work at TCI after graduation. Hunter Pike says, “Overall, it’s just fun, but I do want to go to college and looking at Hudson Valley, but for now, I’m happy working here. I’m going on vacation in two weeks with my family and the money I make here is going to pay for it.”
“This private-public partnership between TCI and RCS is a perfect example of career exploration and readiness that is paramount to developing a skilled workforce” states Brian Williams, Executive Director of the Capital Region Workforce Development Board. “Exposing youth to different careers allows them to develop the workforce skills they need to be successful.”
Brian Hemlock says, “This is a great group of young folks who are doing a great job. The partnership with RSC has been outstanding. We couldn’t be happier with the work they are doing.”
TCI's first plant in Coeyman’s was built in 2014. Last August TCI opened their new expansion facility a 35,000 square foot, state of the art addition that added new capability to the existing plant. This expanded services to their customers the power companies and utilities throughout the Northeast. New jobs were created. Jobs that used to go out of state were brought to Coeymans.
TCI of NY is one of eight members of the G&S Family of Companies with 600 employees across America, all devoted to the environmentally safe processing, recycling and repair of transformers and other oil-filled electrical equipment, and the safe processing and re-use of electrical oils. The company recycles and repurposes 99 percent of the material in the transformers received, providing a great environmental benefit as just a few decades ago, this material was put into landfills.