“The TRE apprenticeship opened up the welding career field for me”
That’s what Mason said about the high school opportunity that helped him determine his future career path, including his current employment at Two Rivers Enterprises (TRE). Jacob also works at TRE – and a high school apprenticeship at the company also helped him decide on his career path. Their stories highlight the importance of youth career exploration and work experience opportunities in manufacturing – and other fields – to build Minnesota’s skilled workforce. Below are their stories.
Mason’s education and employment journey
Mason graduated in 2024 from Holdingford high school and graduated in 2026 from the Welding Technology program at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton.
Now he’s working fulltime as a welder at TRE – but his experience at the company dates back to 2022 when he was a junior in high school and started participating in Youth Skills Training and then a Youth Apprenticeship.
“The TRE apprenticeship opened up the welding career field for me – it sure gave me a head start on college. I picked up all the tips and tricks from the guys who have been around a long time,” says Mason. “I learned all the tips and tricks on the job that you couldn’t really learn as easily in a classroom, all the temps and amps and how to fit things up nice.”
Mason worked at TRE through high school then off and then off and on while he was in college. He got hired fulltime at TRE after graduating from NDSCS in May of 2026.
“TRE is really close by where I live and they worked around my schedule,” explains Mason. “They helped me out as much as I helped them out.”
The apprenticeship helped Mason figure out what he wanted to do after high school “The apprenticeship really opened up my eyes to it and I knew this is what I wanted to do,” says Mason, who says his career path is clear to him. “It’s been straightforward for me. TRE is helping me grow in my career and the apprenticeship really jump started it.”
Apprenticeship provides Jacob with roadmap for the future
Jacob thought he might want to launch a career in manufacturing after high school in Holdingford, but his apprenticeship at TRE confirmed that career goal.
After graduating in 2023, Jacob started working fulltime at TRE and he hasn’t looked back.
“It’s a good place to work – they are willing to work with you,” says Jacob. “I won’t be changing anything soon.”
Jacob says the Youth Apprenticeship he entered into with TRE when he was a senior at Holdingford High School helped him prepare for working as a welder fulltime after high school.
“It helped build discipline to go to work every day and want to do it,” says Jacob who worked 4-6 hours a day Monday through Friday. “It was a good balance of work and school.”
Jacob also says he learned things on the job at TRE that he couldn’t have learned in a classroom. “Actual fabricating skills, figuring stuff out on the fly. Discipline too. It’s different showing up for school than showing up for a job.”
Headquartered in Holdingford, TRE was founded in 2001 and has grown into a national leader in stainless steel equipment manufacturing. The Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association named TRE as its 2024 Manufacturer of the Year, recognizing the company’s industry leadership, commitment to workforce development and impact in the local community.
The company’s commitment to workforce development includes partnerships with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Youth Skills Training and Dual-Training Pipeline programs, as well as the Minnesota Department of Education’s Youth Apprenticeship Program, which Jacob participated in.
- Learn more about TRE
- Find out about the Youth Apprenticeship Program
- Explore the Youth Skills Training in manufacturing, health care, agriculture and other fields
- Connect with your regional Workforce Strategy Consultant
Access Manufacturing Month resources including a calendar of events, career exploration materials and more
