Businesses invest thousands of dollars in state-of-the-art power and building
systems. They need qualified personnel that can maintain expensive equipment
-- and expertly repair it. Stationary engineers maintain air conditioning,
heating and boiler systems. Their expertise is valuable to a business -- and
they are usually well rewarded for their efforts.
Marcia Venema, a stationary engineer, fully understands her value. Outside
of monitoring energy consumption and maintaining equipment, Venema performs
other money-saving tasks. "I make sure that the intelligent lighting controls
are working to peak performance, use the temperature economy to its maximum
efficiency and utilize the newest technologies to keep the building upgraded
for efficient use."
Venema never expected to be a stationary engineer. Years ago, she was working
as a carpenter. One day, she walked into the boiler room and had an intensely
emotional experience. "I walked into the boiler room and saw all the equipment
working -- heard all the noise -- and knew I was home. It was an epiphany."
Venema does enjoy a good mechanical challenge. Rather than view herself
as a mechanic, she sees herself as a super sleuth. "As a stationary engineer,
you're actually a detective. You're in search of a problem without the help
of anything but your training and your knowledge of equipment."
And like any good detective, Venama believes in managing by facts -- not
assumptions. "You can't assume you know what's wrong without knowing all the
facts. You need to walk around a problem and see it from all sides."
This attitude quickly impressed her male co-workers and earned their respect.
"The best day I ever had was when a few of the guys were mulling over a situation
for three days. I walked in, looked at it and suggested a change of plans.
They looked at it, gave me a high-five and went with it. I'd been accepted."
Venema has advice for future stationary engineers. "Know that you want
it and be willing to dedicate yourself to it for as long as necessary. This
includes the grunt part of the job -- which is actually the best way to know
your responsibilities."
Dave Napolitano understands dedication and responsibilities. He needed
a minimum of 33 months of experience to qualify for his second-class power
engineers license. Even with almost three years experience, Napolitano had
to pass 21 qualifying exams. Now he works as a power engineer.
Napolitano firmly understands how he saves his employer money. "Be it in
regards to fuel, chemicals needed for boilers, equipment we need to maintain
the plant, right down to the cleaning supplies we use throughout the plant.
Things at a modern power plant are fairly high-tech, so it helps to have a
keen interest in things and not a 'just a job' attitude."
Napolitano works at a small plant with minimal staff. Chances for overtime
pay are frequent. Napolitano estimates that his yearly overtime is around
600 hours a year. The resulting pay is generous.
But it's not just the pay that Napolitano enjoys. It's also the intrinsic
satisfaction. "This is a career I enjoy. What I work on all day interests
me. It really helps me during my time off because my hobbies are mechanical
as well. It's interesting and I can honestly say I'm not bored at work. This
is one of the better-paying jobs for a guy like me, and it enables me to afford
my passion of exotic motorcycles!"