A Manufacturing Day presentation at Riverside Beaver High School helped two cousins see futures they had not considered before.
The visit was part of a broader Manufacturing Week effort coordinated by Lawrence County School-to-Work in collaboration with Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition, which brought manufacturers into classrooms across the region to help students connect what they learn in school to real workplace expectations.
When Hall Industries’ Operations Manager Dave Douglass wrapped up his presentation as a guest at the school, a small group of students stayed behind to ask more questions. Their curiosity stood out to Douglass, especially when cousins Shain Andrews and Addison Creese stepped forward to learn more. He shared his contact information and encouraged both to call if they ever wanted a tour.
Andrews called the very next morning. Within hours, Creese reached out as well.
A Phone Call That Set Everything in Motion
Andrews told Douglass how much he enjoyed the presentation and asked if he could come in for an interview. Creese made the same request later that day. Both interviews went well and Hall Industries hired the pair. Andrews started immediately while Creese will begin her shifts once she recovers from an injury.
Andrews’ family background in manufacturing and his own early work experience helped him feel at home on the shop floor.
He has now been at the company for about a month, working from four to five hours each weekday while he finishes his senior year in carpentry.
“This place honestly beats any other job I’ve worked,” he said. “Everyone helps each other and it feels like the kind of place you want to stay.”
Learning the Shop One Task at a Time
Andrews begins each shift by clocking in, changing his boots and getting right to work. He sweeps floors, cleans scrap chips, wipes down machines and runs the parts washer, all vital tasks to keep production moving safely and smoothly.
He also gets occasional opportunities to shadow machinists, aiming to expand that time in the future as his experience grows. One session with his teammate Thomas was especially meaningful.
“I actually learned a good bit that day,” Andrews said. “I can read calipers and micrometers pretty good now, a lot better than I could.”
As his confidence builds, Andrews is beginning to understand the real-world impact of the parts he helps wash and prepare. Some components may go into giant electrical breakers while others connect to the tow bars that move jets at the Pittsburgh airport.
“That’s one thing that drew me in,” he said. “The work here connects to equipment people rely on every day and that’s exciting to me.”
A Young Worker With the Right Mindset
Beyond his skill development, Douglass values the attitude Andrews brings to the shop.
“He listens, he takes it in a positive direction, he asks questions,” Douglass said. “He wants to learn.”
Shain’s drive also showed in simple decisions, like coming in on a teacher in-service day to spend extra time learning the machines.
Those early steps are already building a foundation for long-term success. And soon, Creese will have the chance to begin gaining those same real-world skills.
Together, the cousins’ paths show how early exposure can spark interest, encourage confidence and guide young people toward meaningful opportunities in manufacturing.guide young people toward meaningful opportunities in manufacturing.
