When Dan Hackbart of Kitchener was told by his father to "never stop learning," he took that advice very seriously. "Today," he says, "everything I do in my job is related to courses I have taken at Conestoga."
Now shop supervisor at Excalibur Crossbow, the family business, Dan oversees fifteen employees and programs eight CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machines that deliver precision-controlled crossbows for hunters.
The path to his present career has taken a few different directions. When Dan finished high school, he wasn't certain of his exact career objective, but knew he wanted to work with his hands. He started at Conestoga in 2001 as a full-time student in the Woodworking Technician program, and then began an apprenticeship as a Machine Tool Builder and Integrator.
A chance meeting with a Conestoga faculty member in 2008 at a Tool & Machine Show in Chicago sent Dan in a new direction that would change his approach to life and work.
Based on their conversation, Dan began to research the field of CNC programming and returned to Conestoga on a part-time basis to learn more. He has successfully completed a number of CNC/MasterCAM courses and is thinking about registering for another one this fall.
Dan is particularly enthusiastic about the hands-on experience he's gained through the courses, and really enjoys the programming design aspects. With his new knowledge, Dan can take on the challenge of making a part both faster and more accurate. That's important, he says, because "for safety reasons, precision is very important to the business I'm working within."
Dan's advice to others who are considering going back to school is to "take the opportunity to keep learning even if it is just for a few night classes." Now that's wisdom that spans generations!