Never Too Late for a Restart: Embracing a New Career at 54
Most people settle into their careers by middle age, content to stick it out until retirement. Not Mary Williams. A year ago, Mary, now a Technician Apprentice at Johnson & Towers, embarked on a bold career change to a new field at 54 years old – proving that age, gender, and background are no barriers to success.
From tinkering in the garage with her grandfather and brothers to navigating male-dominated fields like the Navy and warehouse industry, Mary has always been comfortable and confident with hands-on work in traditionally male roles. However, she wanted to do more than forklift repairs – she wanted to tackle “something bigger.”
During an Indeed search, Mary came across a listing for the technician apprentice program at Dovell & Williams; their shared name sparking her curiosity. Further research led to their parent company, Indel Power Group, and its expansive network of locations, including Johnson & Towers in Egg Harbor, NJ – not far from her home. Mary took a risk to leave her current role and applied, ready to start over as an apprentice.
Her determination was evident before even securing an interview. Two online applications, multiple phone calls, and a hand-delivered resume to the On-Highway Service Manager Gary Wright showcased her desire for this opportunity. “I knew I had to give her a shot,” said Gary, impressed by her initiative.
In her interview with Gary and Project Manager Dennis Huber, Dennis emphasized the importance of showing up, saying, “If you keep your positive attitude, we’ll teach you everything you need to shine.” Mary knew she could deliver. During the shop tour, Gary showed Mary a trash truck ensuring she understood the hands-on, often messy work involved. “From family life to my career in the Navy and other jobs I’ve had – dirt and grim have never bothered me,” says Mary. With her commitment to showing up and tackling anything thrown her way, Mary started in January 2023.
“I jumped in right away. Unlike programs where they promise you opportunity and you end up mopping floors for weeks, everything about this program was true,” Mary reflects. From learning the hard way where the main pressure plug is on a control module during her first week, to shadowing technicians at the Mt. Laurel, NJ location and receiving hands-on Allison Transmission 1K, 2K training in South Charleston, WV, Mary has fully embraced every experience in the program.
Lead/Diagnostic Technician Erik Sigtermans, Mary’s mentor, proved to be an invaluable “fountain of knowledge,” as Mary refers to him. Instead of offering shortcuts, Erik insisted Mary research solutions and specifications herself, honing her ability to learn and retain information. He also knew when to pull her back from overthinking, reminding her it’s important to take breaks. Their partnership fueled Mary’s growth, evident in her impressive accomplishments.
Mary recently earned Allison Transmission Maintenance & Overhaul certification in all products (1K, 2K, 3K, and 4K), allowing her to take on more complex tasks with trust from management. Each day brings new challenges, sharpening her skills and pushing her to find creative solutions. Mary wants to continue to improve until she becomes the resident “Allison Transmission Master.” She would also like to expand her knowledge to engines to be a fully well-rounded technician and, one day, retire from Johnson & Towers.
Mary’s impact on the program extends beyond her technical knowledge, proving that women can thrive in this traditionally male role. Her strong personality, coupled with her willingness to learn and collaborate, earned her the respect and camaraderie of her colleagues. Any initial hesitations regarding her gender and what that would mean for their work environment quickly gave way to acceptance and teamwork.
For other women or career switchers interested in this path, Mary advises “Don’t be afraid to be yourself. You’ll go further being you and communicating what you can and can’t do. We all need to work together, respecting and understanding each other’s strengths and limitations, to get the job done safely and successfully.”
