Why We’re Here Planes, teams and automobiles For this 777 mechanic, it’s all about teamwork—on the line, in the garage and in the community By Joe Young In this Frontiers series that profiles employees talking about themselves and what they do for Boeing, Joe Young, a mechanic on the 777 program in Everett, Wash., explains his three passions—working with kids, working on cars and helping build Boeing airplanes. PhOTO: GAIl hANuSA/BOEING Aand mentoring teams—and working on airplanes. well with Engineering and Quality.Our job is to give our customers what they want—the bestcrew. We know how to get along with one another and we workBut I also love working on cars!s a mechanic and now a team lead, my passion is leading My family has a connection with cars. We race them and rebuild 777 we can build. them. In fact, the Young family Scrap Iron racing team has been in- My other passion is working with kids. Years ago I volunteered ducted into the Evergreen Speedway Hall of Fame in Monroe, Wash. with my son’s middle school football team. Even though he moved I started working on cars in my dad’s engine rebuild shop when on long ago, I stayed. I continue to coach football, but when the I was only 13 years old. After my dad lost his building lease, I held regular season is over I hold weight-training classes. a number of jobs. Seeking more financial security, I started working Although weight training is the objective, my real emphasis at Boeing nearly 25 years ago. is on working with the boys and girls. For me it’s about stressing Working on cars and airplanes has a lot of similarities. And education, fitness and eating right. An added benefit is that many while it requires a mechanical aptitude, it’s often the teamwork that of the former students return to the middle school as volunteers brings the most rewards. I’ve worked regularly on the 777 since to meet their high school community service hours. the very first airplane. I’ve touched every system from wing tip to I’m happy I’m able to use the skills I’ve learned at Boeing to wing tip and from nose to tail. make a difference in the community. I started volunteering more What we do in Final Body Join is really unbelievable. As than 10 years ago, and every once in a while, a former student who team lead, my job is to make sure my team has what it needs to is now a Boeing employee shows up in my work area. It’s satisfying install the hydraulics and pneumatics, complete the rigging, and knowing that I may have made a difference in one person’s life. n complete the flight deck in only three days. This is a phenomenal joseph.e.young@boeing.com BOEING FRONTIERS / SEPTEMBER 2012 9
Frontiers September 2012 Issue
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