The nonprofit BlueForge Alliance, which seeks the revitalization of the defense industrial base, was looking for a “manufacturing hero.”
BlueForge reached out to the Far Northeast-based Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, which seeks to boost manufacturing in southeastern Pennsylvania.
DVIRC had a nominee in mind – Joe Williams, director of the Connolly Welding Lab at Father Judge.
Williams’ reward? He got to attend a NASCAR race – the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware. And his name was printed on the passenger side of the No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com car.
One of BlueForge’s focuses is connecting the U.S. Navy with qualified job seekers to, as the car says, “build submarines.”
Williams was proud to represent Father Judge, its welding graduates and the current welding students.
“It was a wonderful experience,” he said.
Williams was accompanied to the race by his son, Joe Jr., also a welder. They got to meet Brad Keselowski, who drove RFK Racing’s Ford Mustang with Williams’ name on the side of the car. Keselowski finished 10th.
Williams was treated like the manufacturing hero that DVIRC had in mind when it nominated the welding instructor. For example, he got to sit in on a pre-race driver information session that outlined things such as track conditions and even honored former boxing champion Bernard Hopkins.
Tens of thousands of fans were in attendance, more than 2 million watched on TNT and there was an Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy flyover.
“Everything was VIP,” he said. “I got to sit in the pit and see the technology, which is amazing. It was a great experience. It was just awesome.”
Williams thanked DVIRC, which had its logo on the hood of the No. 6 car and a couple of representatives at the race.
The NASCAR experience was the latest recognition for Williams and Father Judge welding, which began in 2019. The welding program has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on CNN, Fox Business and Good Morning America and, most recently, on Oprah Winfrey’s podcast.
Williams thanked school president Brian King for his vision in creating the Career Pathways Academy building, which houses welding, automotive (which began last year) and HVAC (which kicks off this fall).
Over three years, welding students complete 1,080 hours of study and learn the four common welding processes. To be considered, students must have good grades, conduct and attendance.
The reward is great, Williams said. Welding is a high-demand, high-wage career, he said. Graduates receive job offers that start with a high annual salary that climbs to six figures in a few years and ends later with a nice pension and early retirement.
Williams is happy to see the success of the school’s welding program receive so much recognition.
“Father Judge welding is now known in the manufacturing world,” he said. ••
