Trevor Hardway Champions CareerTech Around the World

By Lisa Riley

In the early 90s, Oklahoma’s CareerTech education taught Trevor Hardway how to work with his hands and with people—skills that would take him around the world.

Today, Hardway manages the Eastern Hemisphere Operations for Wood Group Surface Pumping Systems based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. There he coordinates and oversees system designs with engineering firms throughout Europe, Russia, Africa, the Middle East and the Asian Pacific. In 1993, as a junior at Bethel High School, Hardway admits he had a lack of confidence and focus. That’s when he became interested in Gordon Cooper Technology Center’s Small Engine Repair classes. He was hooked. The next year he followed up with an Automotive Electronics class. While at GCTC, Hardway was also active in the student organization affiliated with his courses known today as SkillsUSA. There he learned to deal with pressure and to be confident, taking first place at the SkillsUSA Leadership Conference Power Equipment Technologies competition at the state level and placing fifth nationally. “Auto electronics taught lessons in strategies for trouble-shooting which later helped me when working on oilfield pumps and other high-tech devices,” Hardway said. “I also learned how to keep focused on the work to meet tight schedules.”

Trevor Hardway

Hardway acknowledges CareerTech for playing a major role in his successful and fulfilling life and career. That is why he is being recognized as an Oklahoma CareerTech Champion, according to state CareerTech Director Phil Berkenbile.

“CareerTech Champions are people who are successful today and attribute much of that success to their CareerTech experience, Berkenbile said. “Champions may have come through a program or one of the seven CareerTech student organizations located in high schools and technology centers across the state,” Berkenbile said.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without getting the start at Gordon Cooper,” Hardway said. “I applied what was learned at the technology center to the job. CareerTech taught me to work with my hands and that turned out to be a good fit for me.”

Following high school graduation Hardway worked in the lawn and garden department at Sears in Bartlesville, Okla. After only a few months, he was promoted to department manager.

While he was employed at Sears, and only three days after high school graduation, GCTC’s Business and Industry Services and Adult Education Director Brian Major took a chance on Hardway, hiring him as an instructor.

“It may have been risky hiring someone right out of high school to teach a class with ages of the adult students ranging into the 50s,” Major said. “But, through the years I had watched him grow from a youngster who took things apart, putting them back together so they worked to excelling in state and national competitive events while in high school.

Hardway coupled excellent technical skills with a positive and encouraging attitude that spans generations. 

“The proof of his abilities was in the final class evaluations,” Major said. “The biggest compliment an instructor can receive is for the class to ask for him to teach their next class. Trevor’s classes were always full.”

Hardway taught at Gordon Cooper for two years until he was hired by the Wood Group in the mechanical maintenance department.

“Mr. Major took a big chance on hiring me right out of high school,” Hardway said. “Some of the students in my class were my grandfather’s age. I had to earn their respect. Then, it was a blast.”

After only one year with the Wood Group, Hardway drew the attention of company administrators and was promoted to Quality Control and Night Shift supervisor in the production facility.

Continuing a steady pace up the workforce ladder, Hardway was promoted to the position of International Test System Specialist responsible for the design, installation and training for automated maintenance procedures.

“My new position called for lots of traveling, but it was an opportunity in my eyes. I traveled to Russia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Germany and Canada before being promoted in Jebel Ali,” Hardway explained. “I have been on every continent except Australia and I’m only 34 years old.

In Jebel Ali Hardway coordinated the installation, commissioning and data integration ranging from down-hole sensor equipment to surface transfer and booster pumps. In 2007, he was again promoted to Surface Pumping Systems Operation manager.

Hardway cautions students to take their education seriously.

“Education is the one thing students should appreciate and always take full advantage of,” Hardway explained. “There is no option for vocational (CareerTech) education in many places in the world. Skilled people are hard to find.

“CareerTech education helps prepare people with skills that will open doors,” Hardway said. “And, don’t be afraid of technology. A person invented it and a person can fix it. To be a good systematic troubleshooter, you don’t have to know everything. You just have to know where to find information – in books.”

Major continues to enjoy watching Hardway succeed professionally.

“Trevor bridges generational and cultural differences,” Major said.  “Watch out Oklahoma, he’s not done yet.”

For information about Oklahoma's CareerTech Champions visit http://www.okcareertech.org/pio/champs/champ.htm

For more information about Wood Group visit www.woodgroup.com

Posted June 21, 2008

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