From the time she was a kindergartener, Molly Childers knew she wanted to work on engines. Introduced to that world by her father and mentor, Molly is now the first female – and 251st member – of the Gold Master Certified Technician family from INNIO Group‘s Waukesha engines brand. This high honor is reserved for technicians from Waukesha Platinum Solutions Providers who have taken all available Waukesha courses and have at least one current engine certification.
As service manager for the northern U.S. for Waukesha Platinum Solutions Provider Compass Energy Systems, Molly is a jack of all trades, assisting customers with their parts needs, helping with condition identification and commissioning new engine packages in the field. Her job takes her away from her Casper, Wyoming, home two to three weeks a month.
It’s not an easy career, but it’s one at which she’s always strived to excel. “Being a woman in this field of men drove me, because I didn’t ever want to be left behind or overlooked, “Molly said. “I pushed myself harder than anyone else has pushed me. “
A family legacy
Her father, Bill Childers, now retired, was a mechanic who worked mostly in the drilling industry, traveling worldwide during Molly’s formative years. By the time she attended Wyoming’s Casper College to earn an associate’s degree, Molly already had learned the basics of engines and their technology. And that quickly became a passion.
Achieving the gold standard
Molly’s studies at Casper focused on engines in the drilling industry, however, which was not her career plan. Instead, she achieved Gas Engine Technology (GET) certification at Waukesha engines, and learned about the Waukesha Gold Master program at that time.
In 2009, she began working in the natural gas industry for a company that overhauled compressors and engines. Upon joining Compass in 2014, the company offered to send her to additional classes.
“Without the support from Compass and our leadership – from the directors of service all the way to our president – I never would have even realized getting the gold wrenches was attainable,“ said Molly, who has received a number of additional certifications.
She took her first class toward the Gold Master program in 2001, but most of her progress occurred in the last 11 years. “I’ve been driving toward that goal ever since joining Compass,” she said.
Although Gold Master Technician honors can be achieved much quicker, Molly felt it was beneficial to back up the courses with experience. The program was especially helpful because she worked on the equipment involved – and continues to do so.
Balancing work and home
Molly chose to work closer to home when her children were small. “This lifestyle is not achievable for a lot of women with small children, so that can be a struggle, “ she said. “When you have small children, you can’t be gone two or three weeks, or sometimes even months at a time. I waited to travel more until my children were in school. Now that they are a lot older, I can travel even more. “ The family has developed a “good system” and is supportive of her travel.
She encourages women to work in her field, with the understanding that the job can be difficult. “Of course, it’s not a walk in the park for the men in the field, either, “ Molly said. “There are times when you head into the field at 6 in the morning and don’t get something running until midnight. And then things go sideways and you sleep for a few hours and then go back to start all over again.
“It is very time-consuming and passion-required to become successful. You must be motivated and dedicated. Most of all, you must love it. “
What is Gold Master certification?
This special recognition, begun in 1987, is for certified technicians who fulfill the following criteria:
- Attend and pass GET, Engine Systems Management (ESM) and Failure Analysis (FA)
- Attend and pass all three engine courses
- Maintain a current certification in at least one engine at the time of achieving Gold Master status
Upon successful completion, a new Gold Master Technician is awarded with an exclusive set of gold-engraved snap-on wrenches and a name-engraved brass plate, which is on the wall at the Waukesha Training Center.
