Meet Edward Rella Jr., a Drafting Program alumni, and currently the General Manager of Merts, LLC, a company that has been designing, manufacturing, and building custom ready-mix concrete batch plants and components since the 1950s. He joined the team in the summer of 2023 as a Mechanical Designer after winning SkillsUSA Georgia and SkillsUSA Nationals in Drafting and Design while at SRTC. Leveraging his background in welding and structural design, he spearheaded the transition from 2D legacy drawings to full 3D models, weldments, and assemblies. Within his first six months, he designed the concrete industry’s first staircase connecting all levels of the plant, including the top of its 40-foot tall silo. His accomplishments, initiative, and eagerness to learn about the business has led to his continuous success.
We asked Edward a few questions about his time at SRTC.
1. What inspired you to join the Drafting Program at SRTC?
The thing that inspired me to join the Drafting Program at SRTC was the dream of doing more and being more for my wife and my future family. I spent several years in the blue-collar workforce doing everything that I could to stand out, and hopefully to get recognized for that effort. When I began to realize that my attempts were in vain, and the workplace I was employed with was unwilling to promote, I went to Southern Regional after work one day, on a whim. I had taken a couple of Drafting classes during my Welding and Joining degree to familiarize myself with blueprints and drawings, and I really enjoyed that technical side of the job, understanding and interpreting technical drawings. When the admissions office asked me what I was signing up for, it was for Drafting. I felt at that time that having the hands-on experience of welding, combined with the technical skills and knowledge for drafting and design, I would be a very attractive candidate to companies in the area.
2. What was your favorite thing about the program?
My favorite thing about the Drafting program was the ability to work as independently or as assisted as we needed. Yes, there were some difficult projects and classwork, just like any program. What set that experience apart was being able to seek assistance when you needed it but could work very independently otherwise. This gave me a long-term advantage of being comfortable and confident in working independently and problem-solving for myself. This is greatly valuable in the educational setting, but even more valuable in a professional one.
3. Did the program prepare you for real-world drafting work? If yes, explain why.
Yes, absolutely. This program was a great entry into exactly what drafters and engineers do. In the classroom, we are given tasks ranging from tests and quizzes to technical visualization worksheets and drawing assignments, which reflect the dynamic ebb and flow of task management and workflow in the real world. Yes, drafters draft and designers design, but more-often-than-not, these specialized individuals will have extraordinary tasks assigned to them that require extra care, attention, finesse, etc. So not only did the varying nature of the classwork assist in real-world drafting work, the types of specific drawing and drafting assignments very closely aligned with the type of work being done in the professional world. Some assignments would be to draw a claw-hammer, or build a framed steel table, and I cannot relate to you how many similar things I've modeled at work, from actual product we intend to sell to customers, to fixtures and tables for our own employees to use.
4. Would you recommend the drafting program at SRTC to someone who is into drafting and design?
Absolutely. The simple choice I made to just visit the campus and give it a shot has changed my entire world, my entire life, all for the better.
5. What advice would you give current/future students who are interested in the drafting program?
Just try it, talk to the instructors, have them load up some of their students' work to look at. If you think it's interesting before you even get a chance to play with the software, you will more than likely enjoy it. Get out of your comfort zone, watch some tutorials online, and then draw something cool!