CIM Graduates

CIM Graduate

Robby Adkisson

School: Middle Tennessee State University

Graduation Date: May 2015

Employer: Wirtgen America

“No other major will compare to the great jobs that CIM has created for its graduates. This major isn’t the easiest and probably isn’t for everyone, but with hard work you will have a very rewarding career.”

What school did you graduate from and in which year?

I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2015.

Who is your current employer and where are they located?

I am working for Wirtgen America in Nashville, Tennessee. (Wirtgen Group: Windhagen, Germany)

When did you start your current job, what is your position and what are your job responsibilities?

I started with Wirtgen Group as an intern May 2014 and began full-time employment in May 2015. I am currently a field service engineer for concrete slip-form pavers, curb-gutter machines and concrete texture-cure machines. Once an order has been placed for a slip-form machine, I will review job specifications and prepare the machine accordingly for the job. I then travel to the jobsite and set up the required machine and train the customer on proper operation. I also work with the customer’s ready mix supplier to ensure that we will have a good mix design for the job to achieve the best finish.

Why did you choose this position and company?

I chose Wirtgen Group because they are the world’s largest manufacturer of road construction equipment and have been in the concrete slip-form paving business throughout the world for decades. Wirtgen Group introduced slip-form products into the American market five years ago, and because of the concrete knowledge I learned from the CIM department at MTSU, I felt that I could be a great fit to help grow our business.

What made you decide to join the CIM program?

I started as an agriculture business major, but quickly realized that there were no jobs upon graduation for that degree. CIM was already a major I was interested in before I made my final decision. I went to the CIM department and learned at that time that job placement before graduation was around 70 percent, even at the end of the recession!

What advice would you give to someone considering joining the CIM program?

Look at the other majors you might be interested in and compare them to CIM and its career placement. No other major will compare to the great jobs that CIM has created for its graduates. This major isn’t the easiest and probably isn’t for everyone, but with hard work you will have a very rewarding career.

What advice would you give a student about to graduate and enter the working world?

Go to every event and attend every social, talk to everyone that you can and network with industry professionals. Go to World of Concrete in Las Vegas and talk to people at the show. I have travelled throughout the United States and discovered a lot of people know of the CIM program and are ready to hire students.