Achieving a Career Goal Through the Diesel Technology Program

“When I started working at Warren CAT, the benefits of what I did here helped what I was doing over there. Taking what I learned from this program, especially in the engine section, was very beneficial to what I could apply for my job.”

As a student in the Diesel Technology Program at Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Robert Chynoweth had one goal in mind – to secure a job at Warren CAT. He achieved that goal in summer 2023 when he joined the Oklahoma City location as an engine technician for the oil and natural gas field. 

Growing up around the equipment sparked his interest in the brand. One of his grandfathers was a farmer and the other was the CFO for Wyoming Machinery, which is the Caterpillar dealer in the state. 

“I’m pretty sure my classmates were sick and tired of me saying my goal was Warren CAT, and that I didn’t want anything else,” Chynoweth said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else, and this program helped me reach that goal.” 

Chynoweth connected with representatives from the company while at a SkillsUSA competition in Tulsa. When the competition was over, they stayed for an hour and talked with Chynoweth and Brad Wake, Diesel Technology Instructor, an opportunity Chynoweth said he would not have had if not for the program. 

After graduating high school in 2010, Chynoweth went to work in construction. When that company went out of business, he joined another construction company before going to an asphalt company. He then worked at a grocery store, where he realized he wanted to continue his education and start on a new career path. 

That prompted him to explore local technology centers, and Francis Tuttle’s Diesel Technology Program caught his attention. Along with equipping him with necessary skills for the workforce, Chynoweth said his time at Francis Tuttle was valuable because he was able to develop connections with both his classmates and within the industry. 

“It’s a great program, and I look back on it with a lot of pride,” expressed Chynoweth, who completed the program in December 2023. “I was one of the oldest students in my class, but it was a very eye-opening experience, and I gained a lot of knowledge.”