Welding Students Learn at Schoharie-area Business with National Presence

SCHOHARIE/CENTRAL BRIDGE  – Students in the Welding and Metal Fabrication program at Capital Region BOCES recently toured a local business that has forged a national footprint in the fabrication industry.

Juniors and seniors in the program on the Schoharie Campus toured MDRM Industries Inc.’s operation in Central Bridge on Nov. 18, learning about the operation, meeting its owners and watching as workers fabricated parts and equipment.

Dan Rivette, part owner of MDRM, told students during an afternoon tour of the facility that the company is evolving its operation and that there is “no shortage of work. We stay pretty steady work wise.”

The company—which bills itself as caisson fabrication specialists—started work solely in the power line industry, but has expanded to structural and bridge work, added a mobile welding service, and is planning on developing and opening a fabrication shop.

During more than two decades, he said, “we have adopted to the economy and grown our workforce.”

Looking forward, Rivette said the company—which is involved in the Amsterdam-area construction of an Amazon facility—hopes to partner with the company when it builds in Schoharie and use that partnership to build an online presence.

Students learned the variety of welding and other skills needed to work for the operation and watched as workers fabricated parts.

During the morning session, students met with Mike Rivette, founder of MDRM. A unionized iron worker since the 1970s, he started in the industry right out of high school in 1973 on the South Mall in Albany. It was supposed to be a summer job, but he went on to complete the apprenticeship. He ventured out on his own 20 years ago to start MDRM to fill a need for caisson fabrication.

Offered on the Schoharie and Albany campuses, the Capital Region BOCES Welding and Metal Fabrication program prepares students with the skills they need to either directly enter the workforce or expand their skills in a college or trade school. During the two-year program that is taught on the Albany and Schoharie campuses, students learn American Welding Society standards and earn certifications that prepare them for a career in the welding industry.

For more information on the Welding and Metal Fabrication program, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/welding-metal-fabrication/.