Chuck Howard

2012 Marine Service Technician Graduate Technician, Bassett Marine

Winner of the Gold Wrench, Highest Academic Average, and Marine Trades Scholarship Award

 "I learned about MTTI through the internet. I was looking at other schools and even though I had never heard of MTTI, I decided to go and check the school out.  The other school got back to me too late. I had already met Eddie Ring and toured the  MTTI campus and was very glad I did. Once I came in and saw the school and the marine shop I didn’t bother to visit the other school.

 I chose MTTI because of their overall approach to teaching. I liked how the school worked. They train you specifically for the career of your choice. MTTI's mission statement is education for employment.  I met with the instructor and discussed what I was going to be learning during the seven month course; it appealed to me. Instead of attending a 2 year course I would be performing hands on work and not have to be buying other books, and learning English, algebra and other topics that are unrelated to Marine Mechanics.

It was difficult to give up full time work to work part time and go to school.  On my first day of class I was a little overwhelmed, and I was a little intimidated, but it didn’t take long to fit in. Studying was easy once I started. It helped that I got support from my wife. The instructor was great.  I tip my hat to him; he does a phenomenal job teaching.  Within the first month, I new I was on the right track.  I definitely knew I was enjoying what I was doing. 

Toards the end of the program I acquired an internship at Bassett Marine in Warwick, RI. They said that they were impressed with me from my first day. John knew by the second day of internship he was going to hire me.  I took everything I learned at MTTI, listened to what they said about how important it is for interns to show up on time, be neat, and to exhibit a strong work ethic. I work hard and it paid off in a job offer. Everything I learned in class has helped me in my job. On my second day after graduation, I took a Sea trial for a 185 Sea Ray Sport that was not idling well. I was able to trouble shoot the engine and get it running properly for the customer.

MTTI gave me a lot of hands on training time. The instructor was well prepared and taught us everything he could during the course. His knowledge of marine industry culture his instruction methods, combined with using the terminology and vocabulary ended up with my leaving MTTI with the confidence to be able to fix things and with a job in the Marine industry. I am able to work unsupervised for the most part. If I have a question I know who to ask.  I check out new boat systems to make sure they work properly.

I would absolutely with out reservations recommend MTTI to anyone thinking of attending a trade school. The way the marine program was run, I feel confident the school mission makes all the programs successful. They are very hands-on in training, and everything the school does, from the admissions process, the instruction, the financial aid and career services makes it work.  There is a lot of support for the students from the school.  The one thing that sticks in my mind is that the owner Ward Ring interviewed me. I remember he came walking around the corner with a greasy wrench in his back pocket and we talked about why I wanted to attend the Marine program.

When I started I had a little mechanical ability but absolutely no experience in the marine industry. MTTI’s systematic approach is geared toward finding you a job when you are done.  My life is looking a lot brighter these days. Basset Marine is a positive place, working hard is paying off. Attending MTTI was an enjoyable, rewarding experience. "