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Heavy Equipment Service Technician Students

The Immokalee Foundation:
Heavy Equipment Is the Backbone of Southwest Florida

by Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO,
The Immokalee Foundation
hether you are a full- or part-time “It’s heavy equipment that delivers water, power and food,”
resident—or here on vacation— explained Don Fites, HEST program champion and retired
W heavy equipment is directly or chairman and CEO of Caterpillar, Inc. “All the things that we take
indirectly responsible for everything our region for granted require heavy equipment to deliver and produce them
offers. and make it possible for the sort of lifestyle that we have. Florida,
This term describes machinery used for especially Southwest Florida, is also in a significant building boom.
construction, mining, farming and more. Heavy People want to live here and all the housing you see would be
equipment also comes in various shapes and impossible without heavy equipment.”
sizes, each with a specific purpose. Some are familiar—especially to Through classroom training and internships, HEST students
imaginative youngsters with a strong desire to build things—and receive practical experience in engine operation, rebuilding
some are not. diesel engines, hydraulic system testing, heavy equipment fleet
In addition to childhood favorites, such as bulldozers and dump maintenance, and rebuilding transmissions.
trucks, there are excavators, loaders, backhoes, compactors, motor They also learn specialized skills in electronics, including the use
graders, scrapers and cold planers used to dig, load, transport, of manufacturers’ diagnostic tools.
compress, flatten, level, haul and/or mill. “One of the biggest challenges facing the construction and
The primary heavy equipment used in agriculture—a agriculture industry is the lack of skilled technicians that can work
considerable part of Florida’s economy—is our good friend, the on machinery,” said Katherine Kelly of Kelly Tractor. “The HEST
tractor. program is helping young people make a living wage while meeting
Once fitted with various attachments such as plows, harrows, the needs of our ability to build roads/infrastructure and harvest
seed drills, fertilizer spreaders, mowers, and balers, tractors can crops, which benefits society as a whole.”
perform different tasks like soil preparation, planting, harvesting, HEST Program graduates are equipped with industry and state
and hay baling, depending on the attachment. certifications such as Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exams
Consider this: heavy equipment helped create the road that in diesel engines, brakes, electrical and preventive maintenance and
takes you to your favorite restaurant, just as it helped build the inspection.
eatery’s physical structure before harvesting the crops you’re about Kelly, who has long championed the Foundation’s impact,
to eat. continued, “The Immokalee Foundation’s mission aligns very well
And who maintains these impressive machines so they can with our business and community goals as we believe education is
continue to impact almost every aspect of life in Southwest Florida? the key to making our community a better place for all and helping
The answer: Heavy Equipment Service Technicians. develop young people to meet the future needs of our industry.”
For over 33 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been …and the needs of a community we share with the world.
preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus About The Immokalee Foundation
on education, career readiness, and professional development For over 33 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been preparing
for students in the underserved, primarily agricultural town of the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus on education, career
Immokalee—35 miles east of Fifth Avenue. readiness, and professional development for students in Immokalee—from
The Immokalee Foundation has been instrumental in kindergarten through postsecondary education.
developing and funding a two-year Heavy Equipment Service To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor,
Technician (HEST) training program, a collaboration with host an intern, volunteer as a career panel speaker or host, donate, or
Immokalee Technical College. include the Foundation in your will, please call 239-430-9122 or visit
immokaleefoundation.org
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