There’s no single path into welding, and no single place it can take you. At Woven Metal Products (WMP), you’ll find welders just getting started, people who’ve mastered their craft, and those who’ve built entire careers off what they learned under the hood. This National Welding Month, we talked to four team members at different stages of that journey. Here’s what they had to say, in their own words.
“You have to try before you ever get it right.” – Brian Alberto, Basic Welder, 1.5 years with WMP
For some, welding starts with something simple: just seeing what’s possible. “I got interested seeing people make art out of scrap. Just taking whatever they had laying around and turning it into something.”
Working at WMP is Brian’s first welding job, and like most first jobs in the trade, it’s been a mix of learning, pressure and figuring things out on the fly. “I’ve learned a lot here. You start realizing pretty quick that you’ve got to think through everything. You’ve got to look at every angle before you start.”
His first big win wasn’t a promotion; it was passing a test. “Passing that first weld test—that was big for me. That’s when it felt real.”
And if there’s one thing he’s already learned? “Don’t be afraid to mess up. You’re going to fail at some point. You’ve got to try before you ever get it right.”
“Nobody starts out knowing everything.” – Jesse Coronado, Combo Welder, 8 years with WMP
For others, the path starts with something more practical. “Honestly? I was drawn to the pay and working with metal.”
Like a lot of welders, Jesse started in structural MIG welding, which is repetitive, demanding, and all about building reps. “It was a learning process, and I got a lot of experience.”
The turning point was when he understood the bigger picture. “Learning to read blueprints at WMP, that changed everything.”
It’s what allowed him to move toward working independently. “Now I can take prints and run with it on my own.”
He’s still pushing himself and looking to expand into TIG welding. But his advice for future welders is simple. “Have a good attitude. Be willing to learn from the guys who’ve been doing it longer than you. Stay in it for the long haul. Nobody starts out knowing everything.”
“At some point, it’s not just about your welds anymore.” – Randy Smith, Shop Foreman, 13 years with WMP
Some people get into welding because they like working with their hands, but they stay because of what it becomes. “I liked building things. Taking raw material and turning it into something solid…you can stand back and actually see what you did.”
Randy’s early days were focused on the basics: fit-up, prints and consistency. But the shift came when others started depending on him. “At some point, it wasn’t just about my welds anymore. I was helping newer guys, fixing issues, making sure things went out right.”
That’s when the job started turning into a career and a leadership opportunity. “I realized, this isn’t just a trade. There’s a path here.”
Now as a foreman, that experience matters every day. “I’ve been in their boots. I know where things get tough, and I know what actually works —not just what looks good on paper.”
He’s also seen how the trade is evolving: “The technology’s getting better: automation, quality control, all of it. It’s helping with consistency and safety, especially when you’re trying to keep production moving.”
But his core advice hasn’t changed: “Don’t get comfortable. Keep learning. Take pride in what you put out and help the next guy coming up.”
“I didn’t plan this career, but I showed up for it.” – David Quinn, VP of Operations – 21 years with WMP
Not every story starts in a shop. “I was 18, working in a hospital in imaging for MRIs. I was working double shifts on weekends. And I just knew, it wasn’t for me.”
It wasn’t the work ethic, but rather the fit. “You’re dealing with people who are hurting, and I didn’t have the personality for that kind of work. I knew I needed something different.”
A connection led David into industrial work with oil refineries, then into field service, and eventually to WMP as a shop helper. “I came in helping welders on jobs. I didn’t know much, but I was willing to learn.”
That willingness turned into something more. “When I got into the shop, I started running equipment, like the robotic welders, CNC equipment, press brakes. That’s when it clicked. I wasn’t just working; I was learning how things are built.”
His hands-on understanding became the foundation for everything that followed: “That’s the difference. A lot of people know what we build. I know how and why we build it the way we do.”
From welding to equipment maintenance, then later estimating and project management, and now overseeing multiple departments, David’s progression wasn’t luck. “I showed up on time every day. I listened. I took on more when it was offered. The opportunity was there, and I didn’t pass it up.”
Even with all the advances in automation, he’s quick to set the record straight: “Everybody talks about robots, but to run a welding robot, you still have to be a welder. You’ve got to understand what good looks like.”
His advice for welders getting started with their careers is straightforward: “Be willing to learn. Be willing to listen. Show up. That alone will put you ahead of a lot of people.”