Next Start

June 23

GRADUATE TESTIMONIALS

Todd Glaze Transforms His Career After Energy Technician Training

"My education means a lot to me."

For Todd Glaze, attending the Energy Technology program was about completing a program that would help him pursue a career that brought him excitement. “Growing up, I enjoyed working with my hands on go-karts and small motors, but the reason I went to MIAT (now UTI) is mainly for the program and all the good things it had to offer,” he shares.

Todd graduated from the Canton, Michigan, campus (formerly MIAT), with a 4.0 GPA and obtained his associate of applied science degree from the Energy Technology program, which combines the curriculum of the Wind Power Technician and Industrial Maintenance Technician training programs. He’s now working as a switchgear technician at Birclar Electric & Electronics.1

“My education means a lot to me,” he says. “I got to learn a lot, get a lot of certificates and understand the core foundation of everything we do here in the trades.”

Although Todd is thrilled to be in the field working, he’s already thinking about the next steps in his career. “Some of my goals for my future personally is to work a little bit. Get some job experience on my résumé and then I plan to go back to school to become an engineer.”

Throughout his training, Todd says he was able to put himself ahead in his career aspirations. “I earned all of my certificates while I was at school. All the classes walk you through it,” Todd explains. But it was up to him to take advantage of this opportunity, leverage his classes and pass his tests.6

Todd’s daily duties now revolve around the industrial power breaker, and his days are often split between power plants.

He explains, “Day to day, when I’m working on the power breakers and I have to retrofit them, I have to rewire and check the voltage on the motors. If we go out into the field and we’re working on breakers and transformers, we have to make sure we ground everything, check the voltage, check the amperage.”

Todd finds that he often refers to what he learned in his classes. “A skill I learned and still use now is the electrical courses. The 120 DC, AC and three-phase. I use that every day,” he says.

But it’s not just the curriculum that he carries with him each day on the job, it’s the expertise shared by his instructors. “My instructors at MIAT were absolutely phenomenal. They’re really what made the school that much better.”

For some of us, transitions can be hard. Whether it’s transitioning from high school to trade school, or from trade school into the field. Fortunately for Todd, he found the transition into his career to be easy and natural.

“The transition from MIAT to work was nice and smooth,” he says. “The foundation, everything I learned at school was applied here, and it just made grasping everything here a lot easier.”

Many students who have used the school’s Career and Student services have reported an experience similar to Todd’s. For someone to be successful in their career after attending school, he recommends paying attention in class and utilizing the resources provided for you.

For example, Todd was able to find his current employer through the help of our Career Advisors.1 “My MIAT advisor would text me openings from different employers and whichever one I wanted her to submit my resume for, she would. She did that for this job, they called me and gave me an interview and we went from there.”

Wondering if a career in the skilled trades would be a good fit for you? Contact us to learn more about our programs. And you could heed Todd’s advice, “If you like working with your hands, then go for it."


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1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.6) UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.7) Some programs may require longer than one year to complete.8) Does not include time required to complete a qualifying prerequisite program such as UTI’s 51-week Automotive Technology program.9) Does not include time required to complete a qualifying prerequisite program such as UTI’s 45-week Diesel Technology program.10) Financial aid, scholarships and grants are available to those who qualify. Awards vary due to specific conditions, criteria and state.11) See program details for eligibility requirements and conditions that may apply.14) Incentive programs and employee eligibility are at the discretion of the employer and available at select locations. Special conditions may apply. Talk to potential employers to learn more about the programs available in your area. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.15) Manufacturer-paid advanced training programs are conducted by UTI on behalf of manufacturers who determine acceptance criteria and conditions. These programs are not part of UTI’s accreditation. Programs available at select locations.18) UTI now offers all of its automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine technician training in a blended-learning format consisting of online lecture courses along with in-person, hands-on lab training.20) VA benefits may not be available at all campus locations.21) GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.24) UTI prepares graduates to work as entry-level automotive service technicians. Some graduates who take NASCAR-specific electives also may have job opportunities in racing-related industries. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.79) UTI aviation maintenance programs prepare graduates to apply and test for FAA mechanic certification. Graduates who don’t obtain certification may have fewer career opportunities. Some graduates get jobs in aviation or related industries other than as aviation maintenance technicians. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment, salary or FAA certification.128) UTI will pay for certain third-party FAA certification exam fees for qualifying students. See catalog for details and requirements.

Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

*Registration Fee Waiver will apply to any student who enrolls by July 31, 2025, with a start date between March 31, 2025, and September 25, 2025.

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