Employee Spotlight: Billy McHaffie, Welder/Fabricator

Billy McHaffie, Welder/Fabricator

What do you do at Gilbert Industries?
I work as a fabricator.

What is a typical day like for you at work?
I come in, get started on the tasks for the day—laying out materials, cutting what needs to be cut, fitting parts together, welding, and occasionally grinding, depending on the project requirements.

How long have you been at Gilbert Industries?
2.5 years.

What is your professional and educational background before joining Gilbert?
I started working here part-time during my senior year of high school. After that, I spent some time tree trimming and doing plumbing work before returning to Gilbert about a year and a half ago.

What brought you to Gilbert Industries?
I’ve always enjoyed taking raw materials and transforming them into finished products. I also knew several people who worked here, including my brother, and I used to drive by the facility every day on my way to school. It’s always fascinated me.

What part of the job do you find most fulfilling?
Seeing the tanks completed and ready for shipping is the most satisfying part.

What do you like most about working at Gilbert?
The people here are great. I’ve known most of them for a long time, and it feels like working with family. The location is also a bonus—it’s just five minutes from my home.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I enjoy hunting and fishing.

What’s a project you’re proud of?
We worked on a set of small square tanks where we had to add an extra inch and a half to the dimensions. The challenge was to do it so seamlessly that the modification wasn’t visible, and we accomplished that—it looked like nothing had been changed.

What are you most looking forward to over the next year?