In the summer of 1988, Permatile Concrete Products in Bristol, Virigina, needed some seasonal help at its precast production plant.
Mickey Arnold, a student at John Battle High School across town, needed a summer job. So, he joined Permatile on a part-time basis, working with “a pile” of others from the high school.
It was just the start of his #precastlife journey. Nearly 40 years later, Arnold is still shaping it one opportunity at a time.
FINDING HIS PLACE
Arnold was born and raised in Bristol, and he learned the meaning of hard work at an early age. But when he arrived at Permatile, he didn’t realize just how difficult the work could be.
“I knew absolutely nothing about concrete. I thought, ‘It’s concrete. How hard could it be?’” Arnold said. “And then I quickly realized there’s a lot that goes into it design, reading drawings, making sure steel spacing is correct, and making sure your concrete right. All that stuff is just things that I had never thought about.”
He still lives in Bristol and works at Permatile now as Quality Control Manager and Safety Director. He’s been with the company full-time since 1992, transitioning from his part-time position after finishing community college.
“I worked as just a normal guy out in the plant,” Arnold said. “Cleaning forms, oiling forms. Running a forklift, loader, crane. Tying steel. Just doing the normal daily activities.”
His hard work as “a normal guy” led to advancement opportunities. In 1995, the plant’s quality control manager asked Arnold if he’d be interested in learning about the QC side of operations.
“He went to bat for me with Charlie and Jim (Rainero),” Arnold said. “So, I started learning, starting out small with local DOT schools and education.”
He completed his ACI certification and, when the QC manager “retired” from the position in 1996, Arnold took over.
“I had a couple people early on that believed in me and saw potential in in me,” Arnold said. “They put their faith and trust into me, and just kind of blossomed from there.”
THE LONG WAY ROUND
Arnold continued to learn on the job, mentored by Charlie and Jim. He joined NPCA’s QA/QC Committee and attended The Precast Show several times. Then, in 2004, he was a member of the first Production & Quality School Level I class and among the first to begin his Master Precaster journey.
“One of the best classes I’ve ever had,” Arnold said. “Those guys were phenomenal.”
And, for 20 years, that’s right where his quest for the Master Precaster’s golden hard hat stayed.
It wasn’t a lack of desire that stalled his journey. Life just got in the way.
“As the sons got older – Mitch, John and Hank – they kind of started riding me a little bit about taking more stuff with NPCA,” Arnold said. “I was like I just don’t have time.”
He had a son playing high school baseball that took a lot of his time. Arnold felt fortunate the Rainero family made sure he never missed anything his son was involved in. They were just as supportive when he decided to resume his Master Precaster journey.
“I just said I’m gonna do this Master Precaster thing,” Arnold said. “I think I’ve managed to finish it in like a year. I pretty much jumped on it and got it done.”
Arnold graduated with the record class of 94 Master Precasters in February at The Precast Show in Indianapolis. The crowd at the Keynote Luncheon included a large contingent from Permatile, there to support Arnold on this final leg of the Master Precaster journey.