In this episode of Sandburg's Trading Up, host Craig Williams sits down with Draven Leady, a recent Carl Sandburg College graduate who’s charted an inspiring course through the college’s automotive and welding programs. Draven’s story is one of resilience—navigating learning differences, family moves, and unexpected detours to emerge as a standout young tradesman at Heat and Control, a Galesburg-based manufacturer of food processing equipment.
Joining him is Russ Craig, Draven’s supervisor and a driving force behind Heat and Control’s local talent pipeline. Russ shares why he’s passionate about mentoring students like Draven and how partnerships with Sandburg are transforming workforce development into something more meaningful.
Whether you’re an educator, employer, or just someone who believes in the power of second chances and hands-on learning, this conversation will leave you inspired.
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