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8 S T U F F M A D E I N M A I N E \ F A L L 2 0 1 9 Faces of Manufacturing Back Cove Yachts: 3 Go-Getters At Back Cove Yachts, a Rockland maker of motor yachts, Damien Ball, 23, is team leader in the lami- nation shop, making large parts like decks and windshields. Ball began at Back Cove at age 17. The work suits his interests. "My stepfather has been a fish- erman his whole life," he says. "Pretty much anything to do on the water, I want to be there." At Rockland's Mid-Coast School of Technology, he studied marine technology to learn fiberglass boat- building skills. After a couple of early jobs, he heard about Back Cove and applied, attracted to the steady work, pay and benefits. The four-day workweek, with an optional fifth day for overtime pay, was also attractive. "I have a son who's 3 years old," he says. "You can have that full weekend where you can spend time with your family." Like Ball, Haley Follett-Thomas, who builds boat furniture, is work- ing her way up. After high school, she had a variety of jobs. But she wanted something solid. "I was just ready for something new," she says. "I never had car- pentry experience before this. I CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: Haley Follett-Thomas, Damien Ball, and Luke Chadwick of Back Cove Yachts are part of a workforce that combines younger and more experienced employees. changing face Manufacturing's By Laurie Schreiber A new generation of workers is making things P H O T O S / D A V I D C L O U G H W hether they're straight out of high school or college degree in hand, young people in their teens and 20s are discovering a manufacturing industry that offers stable positions, good pay and benefits, the chance to move up, learning opportunities and — perhaps key to the process — older colleagues interested in helping a younger workforce succeed. ¶ Manufacturing accommodates a variety of backgrounds, from zero experience to skills gained through family businesses, previous jobs, vocational training or degree programs. Either way, newcomers find manufacturing companies are eager to bring them in, provide training and give them leadership responsibilities when they're ready — resulting in personal rewards and inspiration to go further. ¶ Here are some examples around Maine: