Loyal Apprentice Gained Through Wake Tech Program
Underfoot Engineering, who has partnered with Wake Tech Community College in their WakeWorks® Apprenticeship program since 2022, was featured in a recent WRAL spotlight regarding the program.
WRAL spoke to Rowan Wiles, who began his apprenticeship with Underfoot in 2023 with a goal of becoming a civil engineer. Now, almost 18 months later, Wiles said he considers himself a loyal employee.
“It’s a really awesome, small-firm family,” said Wiles of Underfoot. “It feels like working with family.”
Wiles works 40 hours a week with two “awesome” mentors. He receives training on anything that would come up in a normal day’s work, according to engineering standards and the specific processes at Underfoot.
Wiles also benefits from networking through the apprenticeship, such as attending events and making connections with people in the Raleigh Home Builders Association and similar groups in surrounding counties.
Ultimately, Wiles will gain 3,000 hours of work experience at Underfoot through the apprenticeship, and the hours will apply toward his degree program. Apprentices also earn compensation commensurate to predetermined goals and milestones with the firm.
Wiles plans on graduating from Wake Tech and continuing to pursue additional education, including finishing his bachelor’s degree. He plans to stay with Underfoot “for as long as they’ll have me,” he said.
“It’s a great place to work,” Wiles said. “It’s a great work dynamic and promotes a really healthy work-life balance, which is really important.”
