Genny

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT OPTIMAX?

Four years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I love making. I love at the end of the day having a thing to show for all my efforts. It's so much fun. I'm actually making things that are going into crazy stuff. Some of this is getting shot into space, some of it's used for the medical field, some of it for defense. It has a real value to it.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PATH AT OPTIMAX LEADING UP TO THE POM PROGRAM?

It's been a strange one. It hasn't been textbook. I've done retail, food service, railroad; but I decided I needed something bigger. I heard of Optimax from word of mouth and so I applied and I could never imagine a better fit.

WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL DAY LIKE AT OPTIMAX?

It's more or less just figuring out how we're going to get our parts from being just a completely brand new material and surface to how we're going to shine them and then how we're going to actually get them to what the customer wants them to be.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF OPTIMAX?

There's still so much to learn. There's always new things every single day that I don't know yet but am eager to learn.

Lindsay

WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN JOINING THE PROGRAM?
I wanted the opportunity to work in each area. Staying in one place for too long can give you tunnel vision, I think it's important to learn from different people, see different points of view and techniques.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PAYOFFS BY COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM?
Advanced skills and knowledge that will help greatly to further my career in manufacturing.

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAM?
Make sure that you can be flexible. Balancing school, work, and home life can be a challenge. You may be moved around unexpectedly, or be expected to switch shifts on short notice.

WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

If you are unsure of where your career to Optimax to take you, then you should definitely apply. The apprenticeship program will give you the chance to “try on” different roles.

IN ONE WORD, WHAT DOES OPTICS MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?
Auspicious

Jake

WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN JOINING THE PROGRAM?
Going through all of the different rotation areas.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PAYOFFS BY COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM?
Learning from all of the areas of the company.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS AN APPRENTICE AT OPTIMAX?

Tuition gets paid for completely and books and parking are covered as well.

WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

You get to learn so much.

IN ONE WORD, WHAT DOES OPTICS MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?
Success

Kyle

WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN JOINING THE POM APPRENTICE PROGRAM?

I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about this amazing technology field. I didn't know much about optics – I’ve been a fabricator and I like to make things. I wanted to be better versed in it – not only for work performance, but also to progress my career and open up new opportunities for myself.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PATH AT OPTIMAX LEADING UP TO THE POM PROGRAM?

For 8 years, I was on a journey to become a professional blacksmith. Eventually I realized that the more I worked with it, the less I began to like what I used to have a passion for. I knew I needed to move towards other goals in my life. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING AN APPRENTICE?

My favorite part is getting to experience a full overview of the business and the way it works, as well as optics in general. You get a lot of background knowledge and details beyond the specific job. You understand, at least at a basic level, how everything is done.

WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY AT OPTIMAX LOOK LIKE?

Usually I know what projects I will be working on, or who I’m working with…but as an apprentice, you are going into a brand new area frequently and trying to fall into the rhythm of that area to make sure you can learn it as best as possible. A typical day is only as typical as the area I’m in.

DESCRIVE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT OPTIMAX IN ONE WORD.

Empowering.

Travis

WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN JOINING THE (POM) APPRENTICE PROGRAM?
Mainly the opportunity for growth and advancement as an employee. I get the chance to see all the different processes that Optimax is capable of and it gives me a better understanding of the company as a whole.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY AT OPTIMAX LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
I usually work with a journey worker to learn what they do on an everyday basis.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE SCHOOL AND WORK?
I usually have to coordinate and work an odd shift to make sure I can get my 40 hours and get the classes I need.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PAYOFFS BY COMPLETING THIS POM APPRENTICE PROGRAM?
I will gain my journeyman’s papers and ultimately I will be able to see all the different areas and find potential job opportunities.

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT APPLYING FOR THE POM APPRENTICE PROGRAM?
Be a sponge. Absorb as much of the information as you can from the guys with up to 40 years of experience that you’ll be working alongside.

IN ONE WORD, WHAT DOES OPTICS MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?
Exciting

Ben

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS AN APPRENTICE AT OPTIMAX?
The main opportunity that I like about the program is being able to interact and meet everyone in the company because you can really see how much people love to work here as you rotate through the areas.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY AT OPTIMAX LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
An average day for me at Optimax varies because of the fact that we rotate areas and each area is a little bit different.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE SCHOOL AND WORK?
I balance school and work just by scheduling it accordingly. I usually take all night classes so my work won’t interfere with my school and vice versa. I don’t take a full schedule because I know I would run out of energy. The key is to know your limits and not try to push yourself too much with everything.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PAYOFFS BY COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM?
I hope that when I am done with the program, I will be more of a “floating technician” out on the floor who helps and solves tough jobs.

WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?
I think people should apply for this program because of the fact that you learn something new every single day and that is “lifelong learning”, which is something Optimax strives for with all their employees.

IN ONE WORD, WHAT DOES OPTICS MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?
Challenging

Jeff

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PAYOFFS BY COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM?
I have the opportunity to continue my education and find different opportunities in the company. I will also gain more experience and ultimately be a go-to person when in need.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY AT OPTIMAX LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
A day at Optimax is never average because I am always doing something different. I spend some days in one area of the company and then move on to another. I really enjoy working in all the different areas because it allows me to get to know all of my fun co-workers.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE SCHOOL AND WORK?
A simpler way to balance the two is to keep the course load down (1 or 2 classes a semester) and make sure to work on homework right after class.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS AN APPRENTICE AT OPTIMAX?
I see the whole program as an opportunity because all of the schooling is covered from tuition, books, and parking. In addition, we get to see all of the working parts that make up Optimax through the rotation.

WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?
I think this is a great way to learn about the company start to finish. It’s also great to keep going to school and learning more.

IN ONE WORD, WHAT DOES OPTICS MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?
Progressive

Steve

WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN JOINING THE PROGRAM?
I was intrigued by the accelerated training program, which gets you familiar with every aspect of the precision optics manufacturing process. The 100% college tuition coverage was also a big factor for me.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY AT OPTIMAX LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
My days are ever-changing. Apprentices rotate through almost every area of the company, which allows for a wide range of skills to be learned in a relatively short time. My days are primarily spent working alongside a journey worker, who demonstrates the skills necessary to complete manufacturing operations in each area.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PAYOFFS BY COMPLETING THE PROGRAM?
A more developed understanding of the precision optical manufacturing process, becoming a New York State certified journeyman in precision optics, obtaining my associate's degree in optical systems technology, and accelerated career advancement.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS AN APPRENTICE AT OPTIMAX?

There really is no limit to the opportunities that will become available to you at Optimax. The most important of these are opportunities for accelerated career advancement and wage growth. As you rotate through all of the different areas of the company and learn each aspect of the manufacturing process, more and more career opportunities become accessible.

WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM?

Precision optics is a rapidly growing industry looking for competent, well-trained individuals with the skills necessary to excel in this industry. Anyone interested in learning the ins and outs of the field and is looking for accelerated career advancement should apply.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE POM APPRENTICE PROGRAM?

The people. As you rotate through, you get to meet a lot of incredibly knowledgeable people who are always willing to go above and beyond to make sure you have a good understanding of the wide variety of manufacturing concepts and processes that are integrated here.

IN ONE WORD, WHAT DOES OPTICS MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?
Science