Meet Our Graduates

Ryan Taylor is an Electrician at Georgia Pacific and oversees the day-to-day production of lumber products. He enrolled in the PLC Technician II Certificate program "as it was a well-balanced program that helped to reinforce theories that I was familiar with and helped me gain knowledge in concepts where I wanted more information. In my current role, I now use SLC 500, PLC5 and RSLogix 5000/studio daily to troubleshoot problems or program improvements."

"While my core responsibilities have not changed I did receive a raise after I received my Certificate."

Ralph Young is the Plant Manager at Wyman’s, a major grower and processor of wild blueberries. When the new blueberry packing line was installed Ralph enrolled in the PLC Technician Certificate program at GBC. He felt it ‘would help him learn their new system, minimize downtime and improve efficiencies.’ 

Since completing the PLC program Ralph has re-programmed fillers, replaced modules and boards, re-wired carton metal detectors and designed small PLCs within the automated system. In addition he is better able to troubleshoot and oversee the Electricians, PLC Technicians and contractors.

‘I particularly enjoyed working on the modules covering the overview of PLCs, Input/Output System and Ladder Logic.’

Brett Seely works at Santa Rosa Systems (SRS) as an Electrical Engineer. He designs extendable conveyor systems, specifically by writing and modifying programs, as well as providing backup to the primary programmer.

Brett appreciated the PLC programs' flexible format, stating, "I was able to progress at my own pace which was especially important while working full time. During busy times I could stop the program and during slow times spend more time on it.”

"The simulation software was incredible," Brett continued. "It taught me a great deal with hands on programming which was exactly what I needed to understand the material and learn to the best of my ability.” 

Working as an Industrial Electrician within the automotive sector, Kevin, registered into the PLC Technician II program "to enhance his PLC knowledge but also prepare for a position change as a Controls & Automation Specialist."

Kevin was able to apply much of what he learned in the program to his current job. "We have many Siemens PLC's at work, however the GBC program gave me a broader sense of PLC's in the industry. Although I am programming Siemen's PLC's I found that it was fundamentally the same as taught in the GBC program. I work with robotics in my job so the module on Robotics was very informative."

"The 'go at your own pace' was important as it allowed me to work around my full time job. As well the interactive hands on' approach to the programming made it much easier to understand.

Mike Diomartich is a Mechanical Processing Engineer at FlowDynamics Inc., a company delivering food and beverage liquid processing services to the food and beverage industry. Part of Mike’s work mandate is to ‘bring PLC installation, programming and maintenance to the company.’

Mike felt the PLC Technician Certificate program, through George Brown College, ‘offered the best value in terms of price, convenience and providing a complete package of educational tools, including the simulation software.’ He most appreciated that the modules had ‘detailed step-by-step examples and allowed me to work at my own pace.'

Once he has finished the PLC program he will ‘continue training and register into the PLC Technician II program.’