Brooke Hernandez knew at a young age that college wasn’t for her but wasn’t sure what that meant for her future. She ended up in an elective welding class during her senior year of high school as a last-ditch effort to uncover a potential career path.
“Welding came so naturally to me, I got really into it and decided to pursue a nine-month pipeline welding training program at Hobert Institute of Welding Technology in Ohio,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez grew up in the Quad Cities. Living in Ohio was a long way from home and her tight knit family. She knew she would need to work hard and stay focused.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do after my program wrapped up, so I stayed in Ohio working on welding Airstream trailers. I very quickly learned that was not a type of welding I saw myself doing for the long term.”
Sometimes life comes with surprises and Hernandez was connected with Lee Eilers of Marion Process Solutions (MPS). Eilers was President and CEO of the organization at the time, who also happened to instruct at the University of Iowa in his spare time.
“My friend was in his class when he happened to mention that they were looking for welders at Marion Process Solutions. She told him all about me and he reached out. At that time I was still in Ohio, unsure of what my next steps were,” shared Hernandez.
The pull of family and being homesick drew her back to Iowa.
“I made the call to Lee, asking if he was still looking for welders, and now I’ve been here for over four years!”
Hernandez loves the Marion community and being close enough to visit her parents on the weekends.
It is no surprise that the welding industry is male dominated. In fact, over 93% of welders are men nationwide. Brooke Hernandez is proud to be a female welder and feels like the men who are in roles similar to hers at MPS are like family.
“I’ve proven myself by working hard and I’m never afraid to ask for help.”
Marion Process Solutions specializes in the design and manufacturing of custom horizontal mixers in support of the food, chemical, mineral, plastics, and biomass markets.
“Right now, I am working on a mixer that makes mulch. We make the mixers start to finish and it’s amazing to see something I made all together once finished,” said Hernandez.
She even signs the machine in pink, signifying she was the one who created the product.
“My mom always told me ‘If you believe, you can achieve’ and that got me through so many hard days. To be successful in this industry, hold your head and shoulders back and just go for it,” shared Hernandez.
Learn more about Marion Process Solutions and what a future in welding at this organization may be like by reading the Community Promise job profile.