LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
With NWA’s ever-growing population, a career in road building has longevity
APAC-CENTRAL builds roads like Interstate 49 and the new
Springdale bypass, and its quarries produce the asphalt and
concrete used in construction projects throughout our community.
Some of APAC’s careers include construction supervisors, equipment
operators, maintenance mechanics and diesel technicians. The
company is helping build communities and futures.
Julio Torres joined APAC shortly after graduating high school. He
says he first learned about the company at a school career fair.
“I’d never heard of APAC before,” he recalls. “It was the last career
fair of the year, and I knew I needed to find a job. I’d thought about
college, but didn’t really have a way to pay for it. I saw APAC’s
booth and started asking questions.”
A few weeks later, his phone rang. It was APAC asking if he could
interview. He aced the interview and was offered a job in the
company’s quarries.
“I didn’t even know what a quarry was,” Torres admits. He knew
that he liked being outside,
being active and doing
hands-on work.
“I went in with the mindset
to learn everything I could,
and I’ve loved it ever since,”
Torres says. That positive
attitude and willingness to
learn have paid off. Torres
soon moved up and is
learning new skills to help
keep APAC’s plants and
equipment working.
Torres says he sees a long-term future at APAC. “They really take
care to make sure I’m doing ok, and that motivates me to do well. I
want a career here and am always thinking about what my next step
will be. I feel like I have a bright future.”
Jessica Thomas is also looking to the future at APAC. She recently
joined the company after moving from Little Rock.
“I wanted to move to Northwest Arkansas for more opportunities
and came across APAC,” she says. “I was hired within two days.”
Thomas considered college, but an injury meant a planned athletic
scholarship wasn’t going to happen. “I didn’t want to get into
a lot of debt,” she explains. She knew construction was the right fit
for her. “My parents work in construction, so it’s all I know.”
Previous experience helped prepare Thomas for her job doing site
layout work, which involves using GPS to mark the locations of
planned roads or structures. She says more women should think
about a career in construction. “A lot of people think girls can’t do it,
but they can,” she says.
Thomas says she likes working in
construction because it gives her a
chance to be outside and there’s always
a new project to work on.
“I can grow with this company,” she says.
“You can move up quickly if you have a
good work ethic, and I just try to do my
best every day.”
Thomas also has some advice for any
students thinking about a career in
construction. “Pay attention in math –
you’ll use it every day in this job.”
At APAC, you’ll have opportunities to advance, whether you have
a college degree or not. The company has a culture that values
opportunities for growth, development and internal promotion.
APAC offers competitive pay, medical, dental and disability
insurance, a group retirement savings program, and health and
wellness programs.
To work at APAC, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high
school diploma or GED, pass a drug test and background check,
and pass a physical.
Scan the code to learn more about APAC and search current career
opportunities.
FAYETTEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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