When we think about bringing manufacturing back to the United States, we might want to begin with the people who will make it possible — their daily efforts, dedication to their craft, and inspiring stories.
One such story is close to home.
A Family Story
Our two daughters grew up in our small machine shop in Chicago — and when Ana, the youngest in our Bulgarian immigrant family, said she wanted to become an engineer, it felt like a natural continuation — the family talent for working with machines and solving problems finding expression in the next generation.
Admitted to one of the best public universities in the country — the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Ana began pursuing her dream of becoming an aerospace engineer. As a sophomore, she became an apprentice in the Talbot Lab machine shop, where she worked for three years. Closely collaborating with shop supervisor Dustin Burns, she set in motion a dialogue with the department about creating a student machine shop.
“It is hard to start a student shop correctly,” Mr. Burns said. “You need funding, space, personnel — all the right people in all the right places. I know a few people who tried and failed. Ana is the only one who never gоt discouraged.”
A Dream Realized
This year, Ana’s dream became reality. Beginning this fall semester, students at UIUC can take a new course of study in the student machine shop, with brand-new machines and proper instruction. There they will learn safety procedures, machine operation, and design principles — a hands-on experience that no amount of theory can replace.
As professionals dedicated to our craft and nearing retirement, we are grateful to Professor Jonathan Freund — the Aerospace Department head at the University, to Ana’s supervisor Mr Burns, and her former colleagues at Talbot Laboratory.
Why Skills Matter
Going to the Moon so many years ago was a dream rooted in practice — in the daily efforts of thousands of scientists, teachers, and workers. In the end, the practical application of knowledge in real conditions was the ultimate proof of success.
Learning machining and fabrication skills may not be as thrilling a leap as bringing humans to the Moon, yet these skills remain a small but vital step in the right direction — toward bringing manufacturing back to America.
With deep appreciation,
The team at International Revere Machining, Chicago
