Twenty-three year-old Scott Thomas says he finds his job as an electrician at Rex Heat Treat challenging. "There's something new every day, something new to learn, something new to do." Thomas, who began working at the Bedford County Business Park in September 1999, shortly after the firm opened its plant, says his position requires knowledge of both electronics and computers. "I do a lot of work with programmable controls," he explains. The company treats metals with heat - using precise temperatures and timing to give metal properties needed by manufacturers. "It's critical that the furnaces heat evenly - that all places in the furnace reach the same, uniform temperature. One of my jobs is to do temperature uniformity surveys to make sure that's happening." Thomas helped install the original equipment. He now performs regular maintenance on the state-of-the-art furnaces, troubleshoots problems and installs new wiring. "I enjoy coming to work every day and my position here in Bedford has allowed me to stay close to my family," Thomas says. His education equipped him for the position. Following high school, the Blue Knob resident received a two-year Associate of Arts degree in electrical maintenance and construction. He advises anyone considering a career as an electrician to follow his course and pursue a technical education. "There's no way I could have entered this business without the coursework I had," he says. "I feel I was very well prepared and wouldn't change a thing about my education."

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