Customizing a Career

A high school co-op experience and flexible learning in Automated Manufacturing Systems at FVTC are helping define a great career for Jennifer Fink.

Jennifer Fink began mapping out her career while still a student at Kaukauna High School. “I took on a co-op experience at Industrial Ventilations, Inc. in Greenville and later went on to work at Control Concepts Corporation (C3) in Appleton my first year of college and really liked it,” she says. “These opportunities allowed me to explore various aspects of electrical and mechanical design as a career while still in high school and my beginning years of college. I knew this was something I wanted as a career.”

At age 27, Fink is now an electrical designer at Jacobs Engineering in Appleton, a worldwide provider of professional technical services. She is also pursuing two degrees—one through Fox Valley Technical College’s Automated Manufacturing Systems Technician associate degree program and a bachelor’s in engineering at UW-Platteville Extension in Menasha.

“I’m attending classes at Fox Valley Tech to help me immediately take on more responsibilities and advance in my current job,” states Fink. She credits FVTC’s flexible scheduling and hands-on learning approach for part of her continuing success.

While her approach to education can be exhausting, Fink points out that combining work with school can be an outstanding investment. “I have a great job, which has helped me gain experience in my field of choice and absolutely no school debt,” she says. “It is going to take me a while to complete both degrees, but I just keep pushing toward my goals.”