WTC ‘From Uniform to Crane’ with Erik Struebig

In this episode: Christi and Angela interview Erik Struebig, Technical Coordinator for North America at MGX Manitowoc Crane, a nine-year US Army veteran who moved from field technician roles in agriculture, Yellow Iron, and mining to overseeing technical coordination for 218 technicians. They discuss attracting more people into heavy-equipment and construction careers by showcasing the wide range of trade-adjacent roles, improving marketing and “cool” visual branding, and communicating earning potential and apprenticeship advantages without college debt. Erik emphasizes the need for clear advancement paths through regular employee reviews and leadership investment, plus ongoing technical training supported by manufacturers and partners. He describes Manitowoc’s community engagement—Touch-a-Truck events, school outreach, funding a welding program, internships across departments, scholarships, and tooling support—and his work with Crew Collaborative. He closes with mentee advice: listen, ask questions, and volunteer.

Supported by: NPK