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Manufacturing Training

Katie Ingison

Participants who enter Orion’s training program work one-on-one with a mentor, learning technical skills and soft skills as they gain valuable job experience. Being a mentor in Orion’s program is a great responsibility, but the rewards are equally great.

Katie Ingison is a mentor in Orion’s Manufacturing Training Program at our Mukilteo location. She mentors in the Wire Shop, Quality Assurance and Inventory. Katie prepared for her role with a five-week mentor training course that included classroom learning and role play exercises.

Mentors understand that each person learns differently. Depending on if a participant prefers hands-on training, visual learning, written directions or verbal instruction, mentors adjust their teaching style to what works best. “I have found that a key to success is being able to teach a new idea in an organized step by step way,” Katie related. “This helps the participant to not become overwhelmed with new information.”

Mentors support each other by sharing teaching techniques and methods. Mentors are also supported by Orion staff, including vocational counselors, job developers and employment consultants. “Communicating really helps,” Katie said. “As participants move from one area to another, mentors will share what has been worked on so that the training can continue without skipping a beat.”

Gradually a participant will become more independent as their confidence grows. It is gratifying to see them realize that they can work on their own without me with them every step. It’s just a great feeling!

– Katie Ingison / Orion Mentor

The goal with each mentor and participant relationship is to teach the correct way to perform a job, while encouraging the participant as they go through the process of building their self-esteem. “Gradually a participant will become more independent as their confidence grows,” Katie explained. “It is gratifying to see them realize that they can work on their own without me with them every step. It’s just a great feeling!”

Orion helps participants overcome barriers that have been holding them back from getting a job. “We provide a path,” Katie shared. “We help them learn new skills. We show them that there is hope. As a mentor it is amazing to see people reach their goal.”

“I’ve grown a lot from being a mentor,” Katie said. “Helping others achieve their ambition has helped me also. Confidence grows in participants through the program, but it also grows in mentors. Being a positive example for someone is a big thing.”

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