Photo: Chris Elmore and Mike Autry are ready to speak with future boilermakers.
The Kentucky Welding Institute 2025 National Senior Welding Competition in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, on April 16th offered students real-world training and scholarships—and opened the doors to future Boilermaker recruits. Chris Elmore, Southeast Recruiter for the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund, was happy to speak with over 100 seniors in the competition, as well as 100 more KWI students, plus most of the competitors’ parents who were observing the event.
“Most of these kids in my area know what a pipefitter is or what an ironworker does, but not who the Boilermakers are. These events allow recruiters to close that knowledge gap. These events are where our most qualified candidates come from,” Elmore said.
He said he’s already received multiple calls from seniors eager to graduate and join the apprentice program.
Elmore knows the value of utilizing different recruiting techniques, from hanging posters and business cards in the school’s welding shops to social media posts. However, his favorite way of connecting is meeting with recruits in person.
“I plan on attending as many of the KWI events as possible,” he said.