Raymond R. Duran has always considered himself a “Jack of all Trades.” He once owned a trucking company, tree trimming company, worked as a mechanic, has done residential construction renovations and of course welding.

Raymond’s hobby includes restoring classic cars, fabricating welding art and designing andbuilding Bar-B-Que pits; one in particular in the shape of a dragon and his most recent a sixteen(16’) foot pit on skiffs for “easy moving.”

After completing an Associate Degree in Code Welding from Austin Community College (ACC),Raymond’s life changed when he had the opportunity to teach Welding at Gary Job Corps in San Marcos, Texas. Raymond took interested in the Students’ not only as an Instructor, but also as a Mentor. Everyday Raymond would begin the day with a different quote on the whiteboard to re-enforce the students their self-worth. One of Raymond’s favorite quotes is “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right” by Henry Ford.

After obtaining an American Welding Society, Certified Welding Inspector (AWS-CWI) certificate Raymond moved on to take Certified Welder Inspector position in San Marcos and in the semi-conductor industry in Austin.

Although these positions offered a better financial benefit than a teacher’s salary, Raymond missed the benefits of teaching students a new skill. He missed how rewarding it was to see the student go from doubting to doing; from failing to passing; and from low self-esteem to self-confidence.

Thus, Raymond decided to build a shop in an acre of land and to turn the Shop into a place where he could teach people how to weld to acquire a new skillset or as a hobby. Or for current welders who need to get qualified in various positions and processes.

This new endeavor is as much a commitment to Raymond as it is a leap of faith. So is the “Jack of all Trades” settling down? Probably not, but the benefits of teaching are enough to keep him grounded.