“SC4 has all the gadgets and gizmos.”

Blue Water Controls Shares Their Thoughts on SC4 Engineering Tech Programs

It can be intimidating for first-time students looking to enter the manufacturing and engineering fields. SC4 is a wonderful place to start your path and explore your interest if you are looking to get into these fields. But don’t take our word for it. We interviewed nine former SC4 students who now work at Blue Water Controls to hear what they have to say about our programs.

Blue Water Controls is a custom automation equipment provider that designs and builds custom equipment, including robotic integrations. The business was started by Wayne Wolfe in 2007 as a start-up in the corner of his garage. Now, the company has grown into a major business in the Port Huron Area. In 2024, they were awarded the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” award.

Blue Water Controls employs nine SC4 alums, including Debby Wolfe, Wayne’s wife (see below for a full list). We interviewed their team about their experience with SC4. Here is what we found:

First, SC4 integrates real-life experience into the classroom, and courses gave hands-on training with the actual equipment they use in the field.

SC4 has all the gadgets and gizmos. It’s like James Bond’s laboratory.

– Debby Wolfe.

SC4 used manufacturing in a lot of their real-life examples like logistics and accounting.

– Marissa Sawdon (Administrative Assistant)

Part of what made courses so applicable to this group was that SC4 trains students on the same robots and machines they use in manufacturing. Blue Water Controls is an Authorized System Integrator for Fanuc, one of the world’s largest robot and automation product distributors. For Alex Callewaert (Mechanical Engineer), his courses gave him the experience and training he needed to work with the machinery he does now.

To actually have as many robots as SC4 has is a pretty big deal for a community college. That’s not a common thing…SC4 actually has Fanuc robots there that we were able to program hands-on and watch it run and everything.

-Alex Callewaert

Others mentioned SC4’s hydraulics/pneumatics lab and electrical lab as major draws to the tech program.

For most of my jobs, they had the PLC, robotics, electronics, that’s all been a daily thing [for me].

– Nathan Wright (Controls Engineer)

In addition to courses and resources, the group shared experiences that stuck out from their time at SC4.

Debby shared that she was the only female in her machine tools class that she took in 1992. However, what stuck out to her was that her instructor was also a woman. Though she sometimes hesitated to ask questions, the instructor was helpful and kind.  

It was just nice that there was another female, and it was the instructor. It was really cool and it gave me the encouragement and confidence that I was in the right place.

-Debby Wolfe

She also shared that for one of her projects in the class, she chose to machine an aluminum meat tenderizer, which she still keeps in her office.

Alex Callewaert and Kevin Jensen shared that one of their professors wanted to make sure students knew their wiring, so he did hands-on testing. He would have students leave the room and switch all of the wires around on their projects, then have students return to figure out what was wrong. Sometimes, he did this spontaneously to make sure students were paying attention. According to Alex and Kevin, this exercise stretched students to find and solve problems.

It was good to learn the whole troubleshooting process; I use that every day now.

– Kevin Jensen.

The group also expressed that the engineering tech courses allowed for flexibility in their schedule. Some said that because they could design their schedule, they could continue working full-time while finishing their degree. Others on the team marked interesting field trips to local companies and manufacturing plants as highlights of the program because they offered an in-person look into the field.

To close, we asked them, “What would you tell a student thinking about studying engineering tech at SC4?” Here are a couple of their responses:

It’s a great foundation for any kind of manufacturing career. I’ve been surprised at the stuff that I’ve done. I started out in cost estimating, moved to project management, worked in a  mold build shop and also as a tool room supervisor. You can  go a lot of different directions with  an SC4 foundation.

-Debby Wolfe

Brian Kelly (Engineering Manager) shared that he was a non-traditional student who returned to school in 2009. He took mechatronics courses at SC4 and found a home at Blue Water Controls. His encouragement to students was this:

There’s a lot of different things you can get into if you go into engineering tech. There are a lot of different fields— it’s a growing field. Every aspect of manufacturing requires technical knowledge, so there are a lot of opportunities.

So, if you enjoy hands-on projects, a flexible schedule, working with advanced machinery, or if you’re like Kevin and just think, “Robots are cool,” SC4’s engineering tech program might just be the place for you.

For more information on Blue Water Controls, please visit https://bluewatercontrols.com.

List of SC4 Alumni Employed by Blue Water Controls

Alex Callewaert- Mechanical Engineer, Capac, Graduated in 2018

Joe Meyers-Machinist, St. Clair, Took Courses in 1994

Connor Dann- Project Manager, Jeddo, Graduated in 2013

Kevin Jensen- Electrical Technician, Applegate, May 2024

Nathan Wright- Controls Engineer, Port Huron, Graduated in 2011

Brian Kelly- Engineering Manager, Port Huron, Took Courses from 2009-2011

Scott Austin- Automation Engineer, Port Huron, Took Courses in 2009

Marissa Sawdon- Admin Assistant, Port Huron, Graduated in 2018

Debby Wolfe- HR, Finance and Business Strategy Kimball, Graduated in 1992