Mechanical skills and a willingness to learn could add up to a good-paying career at Midwest Block and Brick.
“ Some of our line workers make $ 35,000 to $ 45,000 a year,” said Darryl Winegar, Chief Operating Officer of Midwest Products, the parent company of Midwest Block and Brick in Springdale.“ If the quality of the product is good and meeting quotas, supervisors can make around $ 75,000.”
Midwest Block & Brick manufactures and distributes concrete blocks, retaining walls, pavers, brick, stone, and other masonry and landscape products. The company operates 16 manufacturing and sales locations in seven states. Managers said Midwest is focused on finding good employees who take pride in their work.
“ You can see what you have done,” Winegar said.“ The products you
68 make contribute to the construction of schools, businesses, shopping centers and homes.”
The company needs workers who want to be part of a team, someone who is willing to go above and beyond the minimum job requirements. Someone like Luis Alcala, who runs the machines that make the blocks and pavers, Winegar said.
“ I started loading trucks in the yard in 2005,” Alcala said.“ I moved into the plant to help on the line after two months. I started training as a machine operator.” Machine operators are supervisors at Midwest.
“ On the old lines, you needed a strong back,” Winegar said.“ Now many of the machines are computer controlled.”
Alcala said he went to school in St. Louis to learn more about the machines and how to trouble shoot.
“ You have to fix it if it breaks down,”