Moving Up With Kloeckner Metals’ Training Programs

One way Kloeckner Metals stands out is by the breadth and depth of its training programs. Professional development spans multiple intensive programs designed for different career stages. Just a few include Leading for Success, the Rotational Management program, and the College Intern Program, with more on the way. Hear more from just a few graduates of Kloeckner’s training programs.

Leading for Success

Isacc Moss is Kloeckner’s Regional General Manager of North Texas. He’d been an Assistant Operations Manager in Dallas about three years when he was nominated to participate in the 2018 inaugural cohort of Leading for Success (“LFS”), a management development program for new or soon-to-be managers and supervisors.

In three intensive modules, participants learn about – and practice! – management skills related to communication, delegation, handling complaints, managing projects and tasks efficiently, and leading organizational change. The core fundamentals introduced in the program provided the confidence and knowledge to consistently make the right decision for the company and its employees. It had a lasting impression on Isacc.

“Overall, I cannot praise this program enough. In my past, I have been lucky to participate in numerous conventions, events, trainings, and seminars but I can confidently say, I have yet to find a program that provides myself or our team as much value as LFS did.”

Summit Pahlas, the Regional Operations Manager Chicago University Park/Cincinnati, participated in LFS in 2019 agreed. “It’s a terrific program,” he says. One of the highlights for Summit is that the development programs aren’t just aimed at certain emerging leaders, “It doesn’t matter what level you’re at or if you’ve managed people before. Kloeckner recognizes potential regardless of what part of the organizational chart you’re in, you can participate.”

The College Internship Program

The College Internship Program is a 9-week immersion into a department at Kloeckner for rising Juniors, Seniors and new graduates with majors in business administration, supply chain management, engineering, organizational development, marketing and communications, or others.

Sarah Geise is a recent alum of Kloeckner’s College Intern Program. She completed the program on a Friday in August and enthusiastically began her full-time position as a Digital Products Analyst the following Monday.

“I really liked the internship program because I felt like they genuinely just wanted to make sure you learn valuable skills. There aren’t any petty tasks. Everything was purposeful about making an impact. It’s about helping young people learn about the workplace and actually do it in real life… Kloeckner trusts that you know what you’re doing they don’t make you feel afraid to ask for help or voice struggling or not being able to finish. They trust and believe in you.”

Rotational Management Training Program

Scheldon Paulk was a 2019 Summer Intern who has recently completed our relatively new Rotational Management Training Program (the “RMTP”). Designed for new graduates or operations employees with supervisory aspirations, participants are hired as full-time Management Trainees (“MTs”) who spend a year going through intensive on-the-job training in three rotations.

Upon completion of RMTP, Scheldon was offered and accepted a position as a Supervisor at Kloeckner Nashville, American Fabricators (AFI). He shares how at AFI they have continuous improvement cards all throughout the shop. These cards put into action the power of feedback, one of the core concepts of Kloeckner’s training programs. “Ask people – Where do you think we need to improve? Just listen to their ideas,” says Scheldon. It makes innovation accessible and gets everyone involved in the problem-solving process.

Upcoming Opportunities

Each of Kloeckner’s training programs are about making an investment in our people. Regional General Manager Sergio Torres has contributed to Kloeckner’s training programs both as a participant and as an assessor of prospective program candidates. For Sergio, “Some might say, well, why would you want to invest in people and they leave? But it’s worse if you don’t invest in them and they stay.”

Coming in 2022, Kloeckner Metals will be launching a mentor program for highly motivated future leaders to be paired with current senior management. Mentees will spend five months learning critical leadership skills and expertise about our business from the people who run the business.

Across the board, these professional development opportunities encourage skill-sharing, creative problem solving, and relationship building to facilitate a company culture where people—no matter what stage they are at in their career— feel both supported in their desire to learn, and challenged enough to level up.

Learn more about careers at Kloeckner.