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know how to use a tape measure,” he said. Tve seen guys that couldn’t cut you two pieces of steel that same length if they had all day.”
Ross Industries
Our next stop was Ross Industries in Midland, Virginia, about 10 miles outside of Warrenton. Ross fabricates food processing and packaging equipment. Diane Roteman, Director of Human Services, and Joe Cowman, Head of Operations, gave us lunch and a tour. First we saw their latest product, a shiny, new $240,000 meat processor. Ross’ customers include big names like Tyson, Smithfield, and Outback Steakhouse. They manufacture 72 percent of the parts that they use and they ship the finished products - hundreds each year - - all over the world.
Next, we donned safety glasses and toured Ross’ immaculate, state-of-the-art welding and machine shop. Ross employs over 130 people as welders, machinists, designers, salespeople, and technicians. Their workers are highly skilled and all the training is “on the job.” The RCHS students were impressed with the “Solid Works” design software and the CNC machinery, million-dollar computer-controlled machines that transform blocks of solid aluminum into highly detailed trays.
Mr. Cowman said, “We are looking for dedicated workers with initiative, mechanical aptitude, maturity, and math, especially trigonometry.” Mostly, he wants to see someone with a desire to work hard. “We hired a young man who had worked a year at Subway,” he said. “He is
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